DEVELOPING A WINNING ATTITUDE
The COACH is the most significant person in developing a young athletes attitude. The coach influences the activities, dispenses their rewards, measures their success or failure, and helps establish the atmosphere and discipline. In short, the coach is the main model for controlling the work out sessions and developing positive attitudes towards success.
Research indicates that in the classroom, the teacher’s personality has a great influence upon the student. The same holds true with an athlete and a coach within a sport. The athlete often acquires the coaches attitudes and values. If the coach is highly motivated towards success, the athletes are much more likely to be equally motivated towards success.
Since we, as coaches, trasmit our attitudes and values to our athletes, we should constantly be examining our own attitudes and motives. We must be certain we keep our attitude and motives in the positive. Eliminate any negatives and replace them positives. An athlete develops an attitude – good or bad – by how he sees himself, his coach, his peers, and his environment. The athlete gains insight about themselves by the way they are treated. Some young people are taught they are a failure by the attitudes, critizism, and interaction of their coaches, adults, and peers. The importance of positive interaction cannot be over stated.
As coaches, we need to become familiar with our athletes problems, fears, and frustrations. By showing a genuine concern and treating everyone in the positive, a coach can go a long way in instilling a positive and winning attitude. Often, remaining positive may come down to the coach having a good self-concept and confidence in themselves as both a person and a coach.
Suggestions to help develop a winning attitude:
1. Beat your athletes to the punch – Talk to them or praise them before the seek attention by inappropiate means.
2. Remember praise can be non-verbal – a smile, pat on the back, etc.
3. Make yourself available for any problems that may arise. Let your athletes know you are there, want to help, and will listen to them.
4. Keep your method of instruction simple, somewhat brief, and understandable.
5. Make certain you explain the techniques you have elected to teach are fundamentally sound, at will enhance their success and the highest level.
6. Praise immediately and often.
7. Try to call each athlete by name with a positive comment each and every practice and/or contest.
8. Avoid arguments and open conflicts with your athletes, and if you have such a conflict with a parent, encourage them to see you in private – not in front of their child.
9. Remain positive – this may require looking past some minor irritations.
10. Remember you are dealing with kids – these are not professionals. They do not deserve to be beaten up emotionally for their errors. Let them know mistakes are part of the game, and you will help them eliminate many of them as you continue to help them grow.
In conclusion – positive environment helps develop a winning attitude – and the most important ingredient in developing that positive environment is the coach. Have a great practice.
