Dear Parent-Guardian,
As your daughter's coaches we are committed to the principles of Positive Coaching and against a “win-at-all-cost” mentality. I aim to be a “Double-Goal Coach”, who strives to win, while also pursuing the more-important goal of teaching life lessons through sports. I hope you will help me by reinforcing three principles
1. “FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL” (ELM). Not everyone can win every game, but youth athletes are winners, regardless of what the scoreboard says, when they focus on what they can control. We will use the acronym ELM for Effort, Learning and Mistakes are OK, just Learn and give Effort. Youth athletes who keep these things in mind develop habits that will serve them well throughout their lives. As an added benefit, athletes who focus on ELM have more fun and increased self-confidence, because they focus on things they can control. Therefore, they are more likely to perform better.
2. “FILLING EMOTIONAL TANKS” (5-1).An “Emotional Tank” is like the gas tank in a car. When it’s empty, we go nowhere, but when it’s full, we can go most anywhere. The best fuel for an Emotional Tank is an average of 5 honest praises for every 1 constructive criticism. How do we fill an Emotional Tank? 1. Encourage your children with honest praise. 2. Tell your children it’s OK to make a mistake, just give Effort and Learn. 3. Tell them you appreciate their best effort even if they fall short of the desired result. 4. Recognize that improvement is hard work and ongoing; this can fuel great conversations with your children about sports and life. 5. Be honest, but remember the value of that 5:1 ratio.
3. “HONOR THE GAME” (ROOTS). Not everyone can win every game, and everything will not always go the way we want it to go but we can still do what is right by respecting ROOTS, an acronym for Rules, Officials, Opponents, Teammates and Self. Here’s how you can help: 1. Review ROOTS with your children and talk about what each letter means 2. Model “Honoring the Game” yourself as you watch your children compete and even as you watch sports on TV together. 3. Encourage other spectators to “Honor the Game.” 4. THIS IS A BIG ONE: Avoid an immediate and critical debrief right after the game. 5. “Honoring the Game” To help remember the ideals of sportsmanship.
LIFE IS LIKE SOCCER…….EVERYONE NEEDS GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLS!:-)
As your daughter's coaches we are committed to the principles of Positive Coaching and against a “win-at-all-cost” mentality. I aim to be a “Double-Goal Coach”, who strives to win, while also pursuing the more-important goal of teaching life lessons through sports. I hope you will help me by reinforcing three principles
1. “FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL” (ELM). Not everyone can win every game, but youth athletes are winners, regardless of what the scoreboard says, when they focus on what they can control. We will use the acronym ELM for Effort, Learning and Mistakes are OK, just Learn and give Effort. Youth athletes who keep these things in mind develop habits that will serve them well throughout their lives. As an added benefit, athletes who focus on ELM have more fun and increased self-confidence, because they focus on things they can control. Therefore, they are more likely to perform better.
2. “FILLING EMOTIONAL TANKS” (5-1).An “Emotional Tank” is like the gas tank in a car. When it’s empty, we go nowhere, but when it’s full, we can go most anywhere. The best fuel for an Emotional Tank is an average of 5 honest praises for every 1 constructive criticism. How do we fill an Emotional Tank? 1. Encourage your children with honest praise. 2. Tell your children it’s OK to make a mistake, just give Effort and Learn. 3. Tell them you appreciate their best effort even if they fall short of the desired result. 4. Recognize that improvement is hard work and ongoing; this can fuel great conversations with your children about sports and life. 5. Be honest, but remember the value of that 5:1 ratio.
3. “HONOR THE GAME” (ROOTS). Not everyone can win every game, and everything will not always go the way we want it to go but we can still do what is right by respecting ROOTS, an acronym for Rules, Officials, Opponents, Teammates and Self. Here’s how you can help: 1. Review ROOTS with your children and talk about what each letter means 2. Model “Honoring the Game” yourself as you watch your children compete and even as you watch sports on TV together. 3. Encourage other spectators to “Honor the Game.” 4. THIS IS A BIG ONE: Avoid an immediate and critical debrief right after the game. 5. “Honoring the Game” To help remember the ideals of sportsmanship.
LIFE IS LIKE SOCCER…….EVERYONE NEEDS GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLS!:-)