In every profession, every walk of life, there are things that one must do and must avoid. This week I have taken my top five practices from a 20-point list I have compiled on philosophies of coaching. I firmly believe that if a coach practices these five habits they will build a successful program.
The first trait is to praise loudly and criticize softly. No one likes to be screamed and yelled at. Screaming and yelling at mistakes will only cause more mistakes. It also causes embarrassment for the athlete and makes the coach look childish. If mistakes are made, they need to be corrected and should be done so in an appropriate manner. It is always best to use the sandwich method. When criticizing mistakes first point out something positive the athlete does, follow it with the critique, and conclude with another positive remark. People are much more likely to respond to praise. I have found that athletes will give you more when you are praising their efforts.