Sports Girls Play

Girls youth sports news, tips and resources for raising a happy, healthy athlete

  • Home
  • About / Contact
  • Resources
  • Shop for Girls Sports Gear
  • Disclosures

Coaching Tip: Sandwich Your Corrections

megaphone As the old sayings go, “you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar” and “a little sugar goes a long way!” When coaching, do you keep these concepts in mind? Or do you simply yell out corrections like:

  • Don’t bend your legs!
  • What was that?
  • You are not even trying!
  • Ugh, you run slower than my Grandma!

What do those corrections mean to your athlete? Well, nothing really. They just tell her she did something wrong or she thinks you are mad at her. And, if you as a coach don’t have kids of your own, let me tell you that 99% of all kids want to do nothing more than PLEASE their coaches – especially girls.

Corrections like those do not give athletes ACTIONABLE tasks either – in other words, how will your athlete know what you are looking for if you do not specifically say it?

TIME TO SANDWICH YOUR CORRECTIONS

positive coaching tips Instead, try making a correction sandwich! In other words, sandwich the actionable correction in between two positive statements. So, next time Susie Q. Gymnast does her vault or Janie B. Swimmer finishes her lap, try this instead:

  1. PRAISE EFFORT – Tell Susie what she did RIGHT – even if you are just recognizing her for trying. Example: “Wow! I loved how fast you ran down the runway!”
  2. GIVE SPECIFIC ACTIONABLE CORRECTIONS – Tell Janie what she needs to do next – and why. Example: “Breathe every four strokes, it will help you swim faster.”
  3. CHALLENGE AND ENCOURAGE – Pump up your athlete. Let her know you have faith in her abilities. Example: “You can do this and I can’t wait to see it.”

I guarantee you will get athletes who are happier, more motivated, and your athletes will master their skills, decrease their times, and work better as a team!! Try it.

P.S. Giving encouragement and actionable tasks with a SMILE on your face also goes a long way.

September 3, 2010 2 Comments

Comments

  1. coachdave says

    August 4, 2011 at 11:23 am

    This is a thoughtful and helpful article, thanks! Just wanted to add that creating a positive learning environment is crucial for young athletes – this should mean that it is OK for youngsters to make mistakes, so that they can learn from them and develop their skills. There is an inspirational video clip to watch on this subject with a discussion between leading UK youth sports coaches. Check the link to see it http://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/Article-1856-1-Coaching-tips-from-leading-youth-sports-coaches-on-how-to-create-a-positive-learning-environment

Trackbacks

  1. How Do You Give A Corrective Statement To Your Athlete? | trackmom.com says:
    September 16, 2010 at 3:20 pm

    […] at SportsGirlsPlay they have shared this great article about just how we should “Sandwhich our […]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

  • Natural Post Workout Soreness Solution with LATHER’s Muscle Ease
  • College Golf Scholarships for Girls Going Unclaimed
  • How to Coach Your Athlete at Home
  • 68 Countries Where Women’s Soccer Dominates
  • Free Printable Training Journal Page for Girls

Reader Favorites

  • Free Printable Training Journal Page
  • Tips for Dealing with Gymnasts’ Hand Rips
  • Hairstyles for Gymnastics and Cheerleading
  • Getting Past I Quit
  • Mouthguards Are A Must For Field Sports
  • Coaching Tips: Sandwich Your Corrections
  • The Power of Youth Sports

Categories

Find Your School. Shop Your Gear.

School Banner

Sports Girls Love

Got Running Pains? Biofreeze - It's like ice, but better! Shop Now Evolve Fit Wear Banners College Ladies Gear at Fanatics.com

KT Tape | Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape | Train Longer. Finisher Stronger. | Shop Now

Let’s Connect

Email us Like us on Facebook follow us on Twitter

Copyright © 2018 · Jane Theme By, Pretty Darn Cute Design