Coaching and Constructive Feedback

The goal of great coaching is to guide, inspire and empower athletes to develop to their fullest potential.  Much of coaching depends on the ability of the coach to communicate criticism in a way that fosters trust and positive outcomes.  Providing constructive feedback can be one of the most challenging skills for coaches to master but when done properly can yield great results. Every athlete and person is different, and as a coach you should determine what approach works best with each individual.

Some tips for coaches to remember:

• approach an athlete in a calm and non-threatening environment, ideally one on one
• feedback needs to be honest, motivating and encouraging
• first tell them what they are doing right and then move to the areas that need to be improved
• emphasize that making the suggested changes will bring them closer to their goals
• be specific and tell them what areas should be focused on and do one thing at a time
• if the athlete continues to fail at the task set out for them, offer positive reinforcement 
• never give up

Allowing people to fail can be very difficult for a coach but without getting past this point, athletes will never know how far they can push themselves for improvement. Giving an athlete permission to fail releases performance pressure, stops them from holding back and allows them to get past whatever they're afraid of.  This generally comes with the knowledge that it wasn't as bad as they had imagined and will help to build their confidence.

If you truly wish to move forward with your coaching skills you must be open to providing feedback constructively, which will allow you and your athlete to not only succeed with your goals but to have a great working relationship as well.

References from the SIRC Collection: 

1. Categorization, Performance Appraisals, and Self-Limiting Behavior: The Impact on Current and Future Performance. Journal Of Sport Management. October 2006;20(4):535-553.
2. COFFEE P, REES T. When the chips are down: Effects of attributional feedback on self-efficacy and task performance following initial and repeated failure. Journal Of Sports Sciences. February 2011;29(3):235-245.
3. Constructive Feedback and Coaching: Tips and Tools for Practice Observation. Interscholastic Athletic Administration. Spring2010 2010;36(3):30-31.
4. FEEDBACK METHODS THAT WORK. Swimming In Australia. September 2011;28(1):58.
5. Latinjak A, Torregrosa M, Renom J. Combining Self Talk and Performance Feedback: Their Effectiveness With Adult Tennis Players. Sport Psychologist. March 2011;25(1):18-31.
6. Mouratidis A, Vansteenkiste M, Lens W, Sideridis G. The Motivating Role of Positive Feedback in Sport and Physical Education: Evidence for a Motivational Model. Journal Of Sport & Exercise Psychology. April 2008;30(2):240-268.

Coaching - Motivating Young Athletes

A coaches job can assume many roles within a young athlete's life; they can be an instructor, a mentor, a role model and sometimes a friend or confidant. Coaches have the ability to positively influence a youth's decision to continue their involvement in sport. So what do you do if your player or team is lacking the motivation for success?

• Provide encouragement - acceptance and approval by coaches and peers strongly influence an athlete's perception of enjoyment and motivation. Provide frequent, clear and positive feedback. Focus on increasing skill and giving them information on how to improve the next attempt, rather than pointing out errors.

• Goal-setting - Long and short-term goals can be set and should be designed to be challenging but not unreachable. Keep in mind the capabilities of the athlete, set positive goals and ensure the goals are attractive to the athlete.

• Establish team camaraderie - It's important for players to feel comfortable with their teammates and coaches. Team cohesion can greatly enhance the enjoyment athletes experience through participation, as well as their performance. Teams who have a strong camaraderie are more likely to be successful in terms of team unity and seasonal improvement.

• Keep sport fun! - Young athletes and adolescents love when there are opportunities for high levels of action and being involved in that action. Practice activities can be structured to maximize action by eliminating waiting in line, having sufficient equipment and keeping things moving with short but intense and varied activities. If you wish, you can involve young athletes in the decision-making process by allowing them to choose a drill or activity at the end of practice.

To maximize motivation, coaches can positively affect their players motivation by providing positive feedback, creating challenging goals, encouraging social support, and first and foremost ensuring the sport experience is fun and enjoyable for all.

References from the SIRC Collection:

1. Bell K. Motivating Athletes to Train. American Swimming. March 2007;2007(2):30-38. 
2. Beyer C. Motivating Your Athletes Throughout the Season. Coach & Athletic Director. May 2000;69(10):68.
3. Fleck E. 10 Strategies for Motivating the Recreational Athlete. IDEA Fitness Journal. February 2013;10(2):62-64.  
4. Mahoe S. Five Ways to Improve Communication with your Players. Coach & Athletic Director. February 2007;76(7):44.
5. Nall E. 5 EASY MOTIVATIONAL TIPS. Volleyball. September 2007;18(9):16-17.
6. Pendleton S. Motivating Female Athletes for Success in Basketball. Coach & Athletic Director. February 2001;70(7):96.
7. Teeple G. Motivating Strength Training Athletes by Goal Setting. Coaching Youth Sports. May 2004;:1.
8. Weiss M. Teaching a Love of the Game. Soccer Journal. July 2007;52(4):8-9.