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Positive coaching

01.

Why give positive feedback

02.

Why positive coaching

03.

Steps of positive feedback

04.

Tips positive feedback 

Why give positieve feedback

The Importance of Positive Feedback
Providing positive feedback is invaluable to the development of athletes, especially children and young people. When you, as a coach, take the time to provide positive feedback, you build your athletes’ self-confidence. They feel supported and know that their efforts are being noticed, even when they are not perfect. This increases their intrinsic motivation to learn and improve.

An athlete who receives positive feedback is more likely to take risks, try new skills, and persevere through setbacks. Positive feedback creates an environment where athletes enjoy the learning process and remain motivated, even when progress seems slow. Especially with young athletes, this approach can help them grow, not only as athletes but also as people.

Why positive coaching

Research shows that people respond better to positive feedback than negative feedback. When you focus on what’s going well, you reinforce the behavior you want to see. This principle applies to athletes, whether they’re beginners or advanced. Positive coaching doesn’t just mean handing out compliments. It means being focused, specific, and constructive in your approach.

A good example of positive coaching is how you respond to mistakes. Say a young soccer player misses a pass during training. Instead of saying, “You did it wrong,” you might respond with, “You had a good idea, you saw the open space. If you stay a little calmer, you’ll get it right next time.” This makes the athlete feel positive about their intention, while also pointing out an area for improvement without undermining their motivation.

Steps of positieve feedback

  1. Focus on the process, not just the outcome
    ​    Example: If an athlete is struggling during a difficult routine, compliment them on their effort and perseverance, even if the end result isn’t perfect. For example, say, “I saw you really worked hard to master that jump. If you keep it up, you’re bound to succeed!” This encourages the athlete to keep practicing, regardless of immediate success.
  2. Give Specific Compliments
    A sincere compliment can be much more powerful than general praise. Instead of saying, “Great job today!”, be specific about what went well. For example, “You really improved your defense today. You were in just the right spot!” This way, the athlete knows what they did well and can repeat it in the future.
  3. Use the Sandwich Method for Feedback                                                                                              This is an effective technique where you sandwich negative or corrective feedback between two positive comments. For example, “You were very active today and your passes were sharp. You might want to move a little faster when you receive the ball.” But keep up the energy, it really helps your team move forward.” This ensures that the athlete does not feel discouraged by criticism, but rather remains motivated to work on his game.

  4. Encourage Perseverance
    Athletes will inevitably make setbacks and mistakes. It’s important to reward perseverance and emphasize that mistakes are part of the learning process. For example, say, “Things didn’t go your way today, but I can see you’re still trying. That’s the right attitude. Keep at it!” This helps athletes learn that failure is temporary and that they can make progress through effort.

  5. Discuss Mistakes
    A big part of positive coaching is creating a safe environment in which mistakes are allowed. Encourage athletes to view mistakes as learning opportunities. For example, “What can you do differently next time? What worked well and what could be improved?” By allowing athletes to reflect on their own performance, you give them the space to learn and take responsibility for their own development.

Tips positive feedback

  1. Always use concrete examples in your compliments. This ensures that athletes understand what went well.

  2. Make sure that positive feedback is genuine. Athletes can sense when compliments are not genuine, which can have the opposite effect.

  3. Reward the effort, not just the result. This keeps the focus on learning and improving, not just winning or losing.

  4. Create an environment where making mistakes is part of the process. Encourage your athletes to take risks without fear of being criticized.

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