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Realize That Feedback Is The Breakfast Of Champions
The familiar coaching adage that "what you do speaks so loudly that no
one can hear what you're saying" is especially important to remember
when dealing with athletes. Players benefit most from coaches
whose actions reflect both their implied and stated values.
The ability to observe, analyze and communicate are three of a coaches
most valuable assets. A word of caution, however, is that the
beneficial effects of verbal instruction decrease in direct proportion
to the amount given. Remember: Keep it Short and
Simple. Take time to videotape yourself coaching, not only at
practice but also in games. Observe yourself as others see you.
Frequently there is a significant difference between now coaches think
they are talking, acting and communicating and what athletes perceive.
Practical suggestions for
coaches:
- Give specific, performance-contingent
feedback to athletes rather than general comments lacking
performance-related information.
- Be liberal with praise. Most
athletes perfer coaches who shout praise and whisper criticis.
- Tell athletes what improvements need
to be made, why and most importantly, how to make those corrections
successfully and consistently.
- Observe and provide meaningful
feedback to every athlete at least once each training session and
game.
- Combine verbal praise with consistent
non-verbal forms or encouragement (i.e. a pat on the back, smile, a
high five, etc.).
- Maintain your credibility as a coach
by being accurate and sincere in your feedback and praise.
Ignoring errors, giving excessive praise for mediocre performance or
excessive praise for performance on simple tasks conveys to the
athlete that either you don't know what you're talking about or else
you have very low expectations of them as performers.
- Correct performance errors in
non-threatening and non-punitive ways. Finding problems is the
role of a critic not a competent soccer coach. Good coaching
requires the ability to not only recognize problems but also to
solve them through effective, practical and successful solutions.
- Reward effort as much as outcome.
Repeated effort, especially in the face of failure and adversity, is
one of the most important ingredients for future success.
- Use the "feedback sandwich" when
correcting youngsters. Find something the player did well and
praise it. Next tell the athlete what they did incorrectly,
what they need to do to improve and why. Finish with a
positive, encouraging or motivational statement.
- Foster an environment that allows for
trying new skills, approaches and strategies without the fear or
reprimand and punishment. Mistakes are integral to sport
improvement. Ridicule, sarcasm and fear are impediments to
both the imediate and future performance success.
Dr. Colleen Hacker
Sports Psychology
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, Washington
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