Page 30 - Reinforcement & Feedback Module

Some Do’s and Don'ts for Coaches
Do: Reward with immediate encouragement that demonstrates the value of the athletes focus and effort levels. State what they did well and how it adds to their game. Genuine compliments will add to their self-esteem
Don’t: Expect perfection and thereby fail to notice improvements
Do: After mistakes encourage effort and give corrective instruction so they have a way for improving that motivates
them to execute correctly rather than de-motivating them to avoid the poor technique.
Don’t: Negatively sanction the athlete for a mistake in a way that negatively impacts their self-esteem and reduce confidence.
Do: Keep control and order in training by having clear expectations for how a training session should operate thus avoiding disruptive behaviour
Don’t: Threaten punishment if there is a lack of appropriate behaviour. Remove disruptive players from a game or drill to emphasize respect for others and the sport
Do: Create a culture that helps to learn the game by encouraging questions and practice with deliberate thought. Encourage them to learn from their mistakes and to increase intent.