--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Playing against better competition makes…" description: "\"Playing against better competition makes you better and more focused, so you can do what you have to, to win.\" — Karch Kiraly" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/karch-kiraly-3070_can-do_playing-against-better-competition-makes_2472429.png" --- # Playing against better competition makes you better and… ![“Playing against better competition makes you better and more focused, so you can do what you have to, to win.” quote by Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/karch-kiraly-3070_can-do_playing-against-better-competition-makes_2472429.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/karch-kiraly-3070_can-do_playing-against-better-competition-makes_2472429.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/karch-kiraly-3070_can-do_playing-against-better-competition-makes_2472429.png) > “Playing against better competition makes you better and more focused, so you can do what you have to, to win.” [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Competing with stronger opponents sharpens skill and focus for victory. **In simple terms:** Better competition improves performance. Key Takeaway Seek challenging opponents to grow. Themes sports competition focus Mood motivational determined Type sports self‑help When to use this quote - training regimens - team selection - career advancement Key Concepts skill development mental toughness goal orientation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance challenge with recovery? - What strategies maintain focus under pressure? A Different Perspective Constant high-level competition can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-competition-748123/) [Better Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-focused-776477/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Focused Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused-win-776476/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Playing Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-better-315697/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [The beauty about the playoffs is how you make an adjustment, how you come back game-to-game, and to be locked in and focused to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-harris/the-beauty-about-the-playoffs-is-how-you-make-an-adjustment-how-you/) [Tobias Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-harris/) > [I thank my dad for my mental longevity and for the fact we played against better competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/i-thank-my-dad-for-my-mental-longevity-and-for-the-fact-we-played/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [The biggest difference between college and pros is a lot more games and better competition day in, day out. You don't really have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mullin/the-biggest-difference-between-college-and-pros-is-a-lot-more-games/) [Chris Mullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mullin/) > [Intel's a great company, and Microsoft is a great company. Everybody seems to do a lot better when there is competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/intel-s-a-great-company-and-microsoft-is-a-great-company-everybody/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [I sensed that my life was better when I focused on things that were working as opposed to focusing on the long list that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/i-sensed-that-my-life-was-better-when-i-focused-on-things-that-were/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [I want to leave Accenture better than I found it. I am focused on investing our people, our community and effective diversity and inclusion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/i-want-to-leave-accenture-better-than-i-found-it-i-am-focused-on/) [Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/) > [If you're not trying to do something better, then you're not focused on the customer and you'll miss the possibility of making your business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/if-you-re-not-trying-to-do-something-better-then-you-re-not-focused/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [Actually I do believe we need a proper licensed regime that works better and is much more focused on animal welfare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-leadsom/actually-i-do-believe-we-need-a-proper-licensed-regime-that-works/) [Andrea Leadsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-leadsom/) > [If there were more women heads of state in the world, the world would be more peaceful and better focused on the improvement of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalia-grybauskaite/if-there-were-more-women-heads-of-state-in-the-world-the-world-would/) [Dalia Grybauskaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalia-grybauskaite/) > [When we are with the national team we are playing against much better players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eran-zahavi/when-we-are-with-the-national-team-we-are-playing-against-much-better/) [Eran Zahavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eran-zahavi/) > [You have to be disciplined because if you lose your discipline and lose your shape, we're playing against better players, so they'll take advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-jewell/you-have-to-be-disciplined-because-if-you-lose-your-discipline-and/) [Paul Jewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-jewell/) > [As far as pedals are concerned, the test for me is if I step on it, do I seem to be playing better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/as-far-as-pedals-are-concerned-the-test-for-me-is-if-i-step-on-it-do/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [There's nobody playing better than J.R. Sweezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-carroll/there-s-nobody-playing-better-than-j-r-sweezy/) [Pete Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-carroll/) > [I thought maybe I'd stick it out for a year or two and then end up going back to Rugby but I was playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerwyn-price/i-thought-maybe-i-d-stick-it-out-for-a-year-or-two-and-then-end-up/) [Gerwyn Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerwyn-price/) > [You get better by studying and playing with better players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/you-get-better-by-studying-and-playing-with-better-players/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) ## More by Karch Kiraly > [Here I am, 11 years old, and these grown men have to give it everything they have to beat me. In one part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/here-i-am-11-years-old-and-these-grown-men-have-to-give-it-everything/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [The indoor game is much more of a team game, having to work effectively with a group of 15 to 20 people, striving to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/the-indoor-game-is-much-more-of-a-team-game-having-to-work/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I just think about what I am doing on my side of the net, which requires focus. Even after all the years I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/i-just-think-about-what-i-am-doing-on-my-side-of-the-net-which/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [It feels awesome to be back in the winners' circle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/it-feels-awesome-to-be-back-in-the-winners-circle/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [Any beach is more attractive than the inside of any stadium in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/any-beach-is-more-attractive-than-the-inside-of-any-stadium-in-the/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [Great passing and setting - I admire that more than the super big guys pounding the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/great-passing-and-setting-i-admire-that-more-than-the-super-big-guys/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I still get excited just attending a final four, because the process is so long, so arduous, so challenging, that when it finally arrives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/i-still-get-excited-just-attending-a-final-four-because-the-process/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I take a tremendous amount of punishment and abuse every weekend because every team serves at me. So I have to carry the offensive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/i-take-a-tremendous-amount-of-punishment-and-abuse-every-weekend/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I was fortunate to start the sport at a young age. I was 6 years old when my dad started teaching me. We started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/i-was-fortunate-to-start-the-sport-at-a-young-age-i-was-6-years-old/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [A lot of guys are out there with their iPods. I'm not one of them. I just never really got into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/a-lot-of-guys-are-out-there-with-their-ipods-i-m-not-one-of-them-i/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [And I really felt like I would regret never accomplishing my goals on the beach, or missing special moments with my kids, more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/and-i-really-felt-like-i-would-regret-never-accomplishing-my-goals-on/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [The men's game probably has a little more power to it, so the rallies aren't quite as long. Some people prefer that power and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/the-men-s-game-probably-has-a-little-more-power-to-it-so-the-rallies/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [Practice like it's competition and compete like it's another day on the practice court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/practice-like-it-s-competition-and-compete-like-it-s-another-day-on/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I didn't want to use anything as a crutch and ever have excuses heading into a match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/i-didn-t-want-to-use-anything-as-a-crutch-and-ever-have-excuses/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [It's a serve and pass game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/it-s-a-serve-and-pass-game/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) [Explore all 140 Karch Kiraly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) [Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Playing against better competition makes you better and more focused, so you can do what you have to, to win.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Karch Kiraly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/playing-against-better-competition-makes-you-better-and-more-focused/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Can do" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/playing-against-better-competition-makes-you-better-and-more-focused/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/karch-kiraly-3070_can-do_playing-against-better-competition-makes_2472429.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/karch-kiraly-3070_can-do_playing-against-better-competition-makes_2472429.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/karch-kiraly-3070_can-do_playing-against-better-competition-makes_2472429.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Playing against better competition makes you better and more focused, so you can do what you have to, to win.” — Karch Kiraly", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Karch Kiraly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Playing against better competition makes you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/playing-against-better-competition-makes-you-better-and-more-focused/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/playing-against-better-competition-makes-you-better-and-more-focused/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```