How to Provide Feedback to Athletes
Providing feedback to athletes can be difficult. You must be honest, motivating and encouraging at the same time. Every athlete is different so you must adjust the feedback according to what works best with a particular athlete. It is a delicate balance. If you aren't harsh enough the athlete may not improve. If you are too tough the athlete may lose confidence.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
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1
Identify the problem. Don't criticize an athlete with a general insult like she is terrible or is doing everything wrong. It won't help her get better. Instead figure out exactly what she is doing wrong. Is she in the wrong position or failing to follow through or shuffling her feet? Be specific.
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2
Figure out how to fix the problem. There is no use telling an athlete that he is doing something wrong if you can't tell him how to correct it. Again, be specific. It could be something simple like straightening an arm or something complex like anticipating what a quarterback will do. Whatever it is, the athlete must be told exactly what he needs to work on.
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3
Find the positives. At the same time you are offering feedback to the athlete, you should tell her what she is doing right. This does far more than boost the athlete's self esteem. Often feedback messes up something they were doing correctly. Make sure they keep doing the right things while correcting their mistakes.
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4
Demonstrate to the athlete how the feedback will make a difference. Telling an athlete to make a correction when he doesn't know why will only confuse him. Help the athlete understand the end result of your feedback. This will motivate him to get there.
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5
Offer positive reinforcement. It may take a while before the athlete can do what you are asking her to. This can be frustrating and she may be tempted to give up. It is up to the person giving feedback to encourage the athlete and assure her that she can do it. When she gets close, offer praise. That way she knows she's getting it.
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Tips & Warnings
When providing feedback determine which approach works best with each athlete. Some respond well to being yelled at and ordered around. Others need to be coddled and slathered with positive reinforcement. Don't make the mistake of assuming one style of feedback will work for all athletes. If your goal is to help athletes succeed, then the way you offer feedback should be more about them than you.
