Say These 5 Phrases Each Practice

Each practice, a coach has the opportunity to engage their athletes by interacting with them in a meaningful way. By adding these phrases to your practice plan (and meaning its delivery) – you are creating a healthy environment for growth. #DailyMight

As a youth sports coach, the way we speak and interact vocally with our athletes has a tremendous impact on the rate of success of our teaching. Words matter, and how we use ours can either make or break an athlete’s confidence or execution of the practice plan. To better help with your connection to your athletes, try and incorporate (and mean them) these 5 phrases into each practice plan.

“I have total confidence in you.”

A coach must believe in a player’s ability. Want to ruin a high confidence player fast? Don’t remind them of your confidence in them. There is a reason they are on the team, you’ve already signaled they have the talent. Let them prove it. Give them opportunities each practice to rise to the occasion. Build their confidence up by being vocal about having confidence in them.

“This is what I want us to accomplish.”

What separates good coaches from great coaches is the ability to communicate what the plan is and how that correlates to the skill growth of the player. Always take the time to explain the “why” behind the drill, practice, or group of practices. By charting a clear course for the practice, the athlete (and the team) foster a sense of direction and goal to work towards.

“I want to play to your strengths.”

Truly gifted athletes are rarely interchangeable. I’ve seen too many good coaches fall victim to believing that athletes and their relationship with you are interchangeable. The moment you realize that athletes can’t usually be forced into roles they are not suited for, you’ll either have to get them up to speed – or speed up to allowing them to do the work they were put on the team to perform. Every player on the team has a special gift or talent. Embrace it, and help the player embrace it too.

“Let me know if you have any questions.”

Too often as the subject matter expert, we are unintentionally intimidating to our athletes. When you care about open communication and their drive and desire to get better, you create a level of comfort in the training environment that allows for the best possible skill growth. When questions are answered quickly and with purpose and direction (like with the why included) the faster you can get back to what is most important — skill growth.

“Good work.”

No matter how good a player is, or isn’t – they’ll always want to know that someone cares about them and their work ethic and effort put forth. Always take the time to invest in well-deserved praise. Celebrate what you want to see, set the example. And encourage your players to recognize good work in their teammates too.

Give everything your everything. And then some.