What It Takes: A Letter from Team Canada Shortstop Sara MacDonald

When I was younger, I thought reaching the next level was mostly about talent. I thought if you were skilled enough, everything else would eventually fall into place.

But as I got older and started competing at higher levels, I realized talent is only a small part of it.

The biggest differences come from mindset, discipline, consistency, and how you handle the hard moments nobody sees.

A lot of younger athletes only see the highlights, accomplishments, or success on social media, but they don’t always see the sacrifices, failures, pressure, and daily habits that happen behind the scenes.

They don’t see the early mornings, the frustration after bad games, the self-doubt, or the amount of repetition it takes to improve.

These are some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned throughout my journey so far, and honestly, the things I wish someone explained to me when I was younger.

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From Good to Great

What separates good players from elite players is not just talent, it’s how they think and how they carry themselves every single day.

Good players can perform well when things are going right, but elite players stay locked in no matter the situation.

Whether they’re having a great day or struggling, their approach stays the same.

Elite athletes are consistent in everything they do. They don’t wait around for motivation because they understand motivation comes and goes.

Instead, they rely on discipline and habits they’ve built over time. They understand that every practice matters, every rep matters, and every opportunity is a chance to improve.

They also understand the game on a deeper level.

It’s not just about athletic ability or skill. It’s about reading situations, understanding timing, making smart decisions under pressure, and always thinking one step ahead.

At higher levels, almost everyone is talented, so the small details and mental side of the game become what separates players the most.

One thing I noticed around elite athletes is that they make difficult plays look natural.

From the outside, people sometimes think it looks effortless, but what they don’t see is the amount of repetition, preparation, and attention to detail behind it. Elite players react quickly and stay calm under pressure because they’ve practiced those situations so many times that their instincts take over.

What looks natural on game day is usually the result of years of consistent work behind the scenes.

A lot of younger athletes also get distracted by comparisons, rankings, followers, or social media, but elite players stay focused on what actually matters: improving.

They compete with themselves more than anyone else, and that mindset is what keeps them growing while others stay the same.

One thing I’ve realized is that a lot of athletes today spend more time trying to look like athletes than actually developing into one. Posting workouts, highlights, or accomplishments mean nothing if the work behind the scenes isn’t real.

The athletes who truly improve are usually the ones focused more on development than validation.

There’s a quote by Tim Notke that says:

“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard,”

…. and I think that perfectly explains what separates athletes who stay the same from athletes who continue growing.

Talent can give you opportunities, but work ethic, discipline, and consistency are what help you keep improving and reach higher levels.

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The True Secrets of Success

Consistency is one of the most important parts of becoming a better athlete.

Anyone can work hard for a short period of time, but not everyone can stay disciplined over months and years. Motivation will always come and go, but discipline is what keeps you improving even on days where you don’t feel like working.

Some of the biggest improvements in my game came during periods where nothing exciting was happening. No big moments, no recognition, no spotlight, just showing up every day and repeating the same work over and over until it became part of who I was.

A lot of athletes underestimate how much progress comes from doing small things consistently for a long period of time.

Work ethic is about doing the extra work when nobody is watching. It’s about pushing yourself in training, taking reps seriously, and never cutting corners just because something feels repetitive.

The athletes who reach high levels are usually the ones who treat every practice like it matters, because over time all of those small moments add up.

Accountability is just as important…. you have to be honest with yourself about where you’re at and what you need to improve.

Instead of blaming coaches, teammates, playing time, or situations, you learn to focus on what you can control. That mindset shift changes everything because real growth only happens when you take ownership of your own development.

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Not All Sunshine and Rainbows

Failure is part of sports no matter how talented you are.

Every athlete will go through moments where they struggle, lose confidence, make mistakes, or feel pressure in important situations. Learning how to respond to failure is one of the most important parts of becoming successful.

I’ve had games where I felt like nothing was going right and I started overthinking everything. In those moments, I learned that confidence isn’t about never struggling, it’s about being able to reset quickly and trust your preparation anyway.

Elite athletes don’t let one bad game or one mistake define them. They learn from it, move forward, and continue competing with confidence.

There were definitely moments throughout my journey where I doubted myself or questioned whether I was good enough, especially after failures or difficult stretches.

But I learned that confidence isn’t something you always naturally feel. Sometimes confidence is built by continuing to show up and compete even when things feel difficult.

Pressure is also something every athlete has to learn how to manage.

At higher levels, pressure never really disappears, but athletes learn how to trust their preparation and stay calm in big moments. Confidence doesn’t come from being perfect, it comes from knowing you’ve put in the work and prepared yourself the right way.

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Internal Belief

Confidence is one of the biggest differences between athletes who hesitate and athletes who compete freely.

A lot of younger players think confidence means never making mistakes or always feeling good about yourself, but that’s not realistic. Every athlete struggles at times.

Real confidence comes from preparation. It comes from putting in enough work that you can trust yourself even during difficult moments.

The athletes who appear confident are usually the athletes who prepared consistently long before the game started.

Confidence also shows in body language, communication, and how you respond after mistakes.

At higher levels, coaches and teammates pay attention to how athletes react when things aren’t going well. Anyone can be positive when everything is going perfectly, but mentally strong athletes stay composed even during difficult moments.

One bad play should never completely change your energy, effort, or attitude.

Learning how to reset mentally and focus on the next play is one of the most important skills athletes can develop.

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Every Single Rep

The small details matter more than most younger athletes realize. At higher levels, almost everyone has talent, so the little things become what separates players.

Extra reps, footwork, communication, body language, hustle, preparation, recovery, and focus all make a huge difference over time.

Coaches notice the athletes who stay focused during drills, communicate with teammates, hustle on and off the field, and take every rep seriously.

Small habits may not seem important in the moment, but over time they build stronger athletes and better teams.

At higher levels, the game also moves much faster. You don’t have time to overthink everything. That’s why preparation and fundamentals matter so much.

The athletes who master the basics and stay disciplined with details are usually the ones who succeed consistently.

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Its A Marathon, Not a Race

One thing younger athletes need to understand is that development takes time.

A lot of players quit too early because they think they should already be where someone else is. Everyone’s journey looks different. Some athletes develop earlier, some later, but consistency over time matters more than quick success.

Improvement is rarely a straight line. There will be periods where you feel like you’re improving quickly and other times where progress feels slow or frustrating.

That’s normal.

Some of the biggest growth happens during the moments where you feel challenged the most.

Comparing your journey to someone else’s can hurt your confidence and distract you from your own development. Instead of focusing on where everyone else is, focus on becoming a better version of yourself little by little every day.

A lot can change in one year when an athlete stays patient, disciplined, and committed to improving.

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Team Canada

Playing internationally with Team Canada was one of the most surreal experiences of my life.

Stepping onto the field for the first time wearing “CAN” across my chest is a feeling I know I’ll never forget. Every single time I stepped on the field, it reminded me of how much work, sacrifice, and preparation it took to get there.

The feeling wasn’t exactly nerves, it was more excitement and the realization that the dreams I had ever since I was young were finally becoming real. In that moment, everything started to feel worth it.

Every early morning, every hard practice, every mistake, every setback, and every lesson I learned along the way had prepared me for that opportunity. I like to think of it as, “be proud, but don’t be satisfied.”

It’s not about feeling like you’ve made it or becoming complacent, but instead appreciating the moment, recognizing the work it took to get there, and being grateful for how far you’ve come, while still understanding there is always more to improve and more to learn.

Playing at that level also felt completely different because everything became faster and more intense. The game moved quicker, hitters were stronger, and there was much less room for error.

I realized there was no time to overthink anything, you just had to react and trust what you had been working on your whole life.

My reaction time had to be faster, my communication had to be sharper, and every small detail mattered.

At that level, preparation shows because the game moves too fast to hesitate. I also learned how important confidence and composure are in high pressure moments.

The best athletes at that level aren’t perfect, but they trust themselves, stay calm, and compete no matter the situation.

What made the experience even more special was realizing I was representing something bigger than myself. Wearing the Canada jersey made me appreciate every single person, coach, teammate, family member, and moment that helped me get there.

It showed me how far hard work and dedication can take you, but it also reminded me how important gratitude is throughout the journey.

One of the biggest lessons I learned from competing internationally was that talent alone is never enough at the highest levels. Everyone is skilled, so the difference comes from preparation, mindset, discipline, and attention to detail.

It also taught me how important it is to stay present and appreciate opportunities while you’re living them, because moments like that are what athletes dream about when they’re younger.

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Is It Worth It?

Chasing big goals comes with sacrifices that people don’t always see from the outside. There are early mornings, long practices, hard workouts, travel, and moments where you feel mentally and physically exhausted.

Sometimes you miss social events, free time, or normal experiences because your sport becomes your priority but after a while, it gets to a point where you genuinely would rather be at softball than anywhere else because you become so focused on your goals and improving.

There are still moments where you question yourself or feel frustrated when progress feels slow, but those sacrifices become part of the journey. Success at a high level takes commitment, discipline, and the ability to keep pushing even when things get difficult.

If you truly love the game and the process of improving, those sacrifices start to feel worth it because you understand what you’re working toward.

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Focus On the Details

Younger athletes should focus more on improving every day instead of constantly comparing themselves to others. Training should always have purpose, not just effort.

It’s also important to work on both the physical and mental side of the game because softball is just as mental as it is physical.

Game knowledge is something a lot of younger athletes overlook. Understanding situations, reading the game, and knowing why things happen is just as important as skill.

Being coachable is also one of the most important traits an athlete can have.

You need to be able to take feedback from coaches and teammates without immediately taking it personally or seeing it as negativity. Feedback is there to help you improve, not tear you down.

The athletes who grow the most are usually the ones who listen, apply what they learn, and stay open to improving every day. Coaches notice athletes who are dependable, positive, hardworking, and willing to learn.

It’s also important to support your teammates and celebrate their success just as much as your own. Strong teams are built on trust, communication, and genuine support for one another.

Competition should push you, not destroy your confidence. There will always be difficult moments where you need to slow down, reset mentally, and focus on the next play instead of dwelling on mistakes.

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Enjoy The Journey

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned throughout my journey is that you have to learn how to enjoy the process of improving, not just the achievements or big moments.

If your happiness only comes from winning games, getting recognition, or reaching goals, it becomes very difficult to stay motivated during hard times.

There will be moments where progress feels slow, where you struggle, or where things don’t go the way you hoped. Those moments are part of growth too.

Learning to enjoy practices, hard workouts, competition, and even challenges is what

helps athletes stay committed for a long time. The players who usually go the

farthest are the ones who truly love showing up every day and putting in the work even when nobody notices.

When you focus on improving little by little every day, the results eventually come naturally.

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Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, reaching the next level is about much more than talent. It’s about how you respond when things get difficult, how consistent you are when nobody is watching, and whether you’re willing to continue improving even when progress feels slow.

There’s no perfect path in sports.

Everyone struggles, everyone doubts themselves at times, and everyone faces setbacks.

What matters most is continuing to show up, continuing to learn and continuing to compete with confidence and purpose. Growth happens in those difficult moments, and some of the biggest lessons come from the challenges you face along the way.

The biggest thing I would tell younger athletes is to enjoy where you are right now and not rush the process.

Some of the best memories and biggest lessons come from the journey itself, not just the accomplishments at the end. Don’t focus so much on being perfect, focus on getting a little better every single day.

Keep working, stay coachable, trust your preparation, and never stop believing in what’s possible for yourself.

The athletes who reach the next level usually aren’t the ones who never struggle, they’re the ones who refuse to stop growing!