Unsolicited Advice Part 3

Unsolicited Advice Part 3

Praise the Effort, Not the Performance

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I would like to offer you some unsolicited advice. This advice is backed by 16+ years of training and coaching experience, take it or leave.

Keep it positive.

 

Throughout my years in basketball, I have seen far too many young players carry high levels of tension and anxiety onto the court. You see it when an athlete is overly afraid of making a mistake.

In the worst cases, players fall out of love with competitive basketball altogether, stepping away from the game just to find a space where playing is still fun.

As parents, we often create this pressure without realizing it. We tell our children that we love them no matter what and that hard work is all that matters, but our behavior after a tough game can send the opposite signal.

When our kids struggle to perform, we sometimes react with body language, words, or frustration that we would never tolerate from them. Saying a tournament was a waste of time or visibly showing disappointment wipes out everything we said about working hard and having fun.

My advice is simple: focus on praising your athlete's effort instead of their stats. Highlight their persistence, their hustle, and the time they invest in their craft.

Sincerely,

Coach Miller 

proveitsd@gmail.com

414-315-0256

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