Take Five with Beat The Streets LA's Yero Washington

When it comes to sports, fans and athletes have come to expect one constant – the unexpected.

Liberty Mutual Insurance Responsible Sports sat down with USA Wrestling alumnus Yero Washington to get his thoughts on preparing for the unexpected. Yero currently serves as the Executive Director of Beat the Streets Los Angeles, Inc., where he primarily works with beginning wrestlers.

In our exclusive Take 5 interview, Yero shared that he helps his young wrestlers mentally prepare for a big match by encouraging them to “focus on positive outcomes and…an enjoyable experience.”

Yero told us that he views having “a plan” and “a well-thought-out strategy” as key to proper preparation in sports.

Yero stressed that “having a great team and support group to lean on” is also crucial to a young athlete properly preparing and succeeding during competition. He also shared how his program emphasizes focusing on individual effort more than the outcome or end result.

When it comes to parents helping their young athletes prepare for the unexpected, Yero believes that “great dialogue” is vital to success. Sharing stories from their own lives can also be a big part of that dialogue, according to Yero.

“Parents can draw from past experiences to advise their kids on expectations,” said Yero.

To read the full Take 5 interview with Yero, visit ResponsibleSports.com. Come back next month for another exclusive Take 5 interview!

At Liberty Mutual Insurance, we constantly look for ways to celebrate the countless acts of responsibility shown by people every day. We created Responsible Sports, powered by Positive Coaching Alliance, as part of this belief to help ensure that our kids experience the best that sports have to offer in environments that promote and display responsibility. We believe kids can learn valuable life lessons when coaches and parents come together to support winning on and off the field.

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