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Coaches
Corner - Article
"Attitude" in NJB Coaches Set the Tone
Attitude is defined as "a person's behavior, which indicates
his/her thoughts, feelings, or opinions." In NJB, you can
tell kids' attitudes by watching their behaviors during
practice or a game. If they see the game as a game, with an
opportunity to learn skills, compete, increase confidence,
and have fun, they're able to go with the flow, have fun,
and relax. Overall, they show a sense of humor and a sense
of good sportsmanship. They're able to learn from their
mistakes. However, if they see a game as a pressure-filled
event, with winning as the only acceptable outcome, most of
their energies will be spent trying not to make mistakes. If
they make mistakes (which is inevitable in NJB), they'll
spend lots of energy making excuses, blaming others,
complaining about officials, etc.
How do kids develop their attitudes? As the saying goes,
"The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree." As coaches, we
have to be aware that our behaviors often set the tone for
our kids' attitudes toward NJB. We often tend to focus on
the "end product", rather than the "process". What are the
first words out of a parent's mouth who arrives at game's
end, and sees kids coming out of the gym? It's usually, "Who
won?" or "How many points did you have?" With our emphasis
on the end product, we run the risk of teaching our kids to
focus on outcome rather than process. Their idea of success
then becomes based upon outcome (winning) rather than
process (skill improvement). Mistakes are no longer viewed
as opportunities to learn. They are seen as occasions of
failure.
Research has shown that elite athletes focus on tasks, not
trophies. That is, they focus on the process of their skill
development, measuring their progress in terms of frequency,
duration, or intensity. They have an intense desire to win,
but most of their energy is spent competing against
themselves. Success in their eyes is measured by progress,
not trophy size.
As coaches, if we're looking to develop a positive attitude
in our kids, we would do well to watch our own behaviors at
athletic events (Do we give positive encouragement, or
critical judgment remarks? Do we show a calm demeanor, or
heated overreactions to mistakes? Do we praise
participation, or game statistics?). Next time you go to a
game, remember, your attitude is showing, and your players
are watching.
Dr. Darrell Burnett
Dr. Darrell Burnett is a clinical
and sport psychologist, author, and lecturer.
Email:
djburnett@pacbell.net
Website:
http://www.djburnett.com
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