Positive Reinforcement For Athletes That Actually Works

Culture Builders

Want to build a positive team culture? Focus on what you want more of! If you constantly point out the negatives, you'll see more negatives. But if you highlight the positives, you'll see more of that goodness!
🔑 The Secret: Positive Reinforcement with Affirmations, Not Praise!
Praise celebrates outcomes:
🏆 "Good job on that win!"
🎯 "Great shot!"
🛡️ "Nice defensive stop!"
Affirmations celebrate behaviors:
🔥 "I loved your focus today!"
💪 "That was an incredible effort!"
🦁 "Your courage out there was amazing!"
How to Start:
Catch Them Doing Good:
Stop practice not just for mistakes, but to highlight something done right.
Use affirmations: "Great second effort!" or "I can tell you've been working on moving your feet!"
Focus on Behaviors, Not Outcomes:
Even if they lose the game or miss the shot, highlight their effort and attitude.
This reinforces positive behaviors regardless of the result.
Encourage Peer Affirmations:
After practices or games, do "Put Ups."
Have players affirm 5-8 teammates before calling it a day.
Example: "I noticed how you hustled on defense today!"
This simple shift from praise to affirmations can transform your team dynamic. When players hear positive affirmations from both coaches and teammates, it builds a supportive and uplifting environment. Let's start training our athletes to lift each other up!

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