As coaches you have a unique perspective on how your athletes talk to themselves. You also know your athletes well enough to help them develop confident self-talk. You should suggest a few ideas, such as, “You work hard. You’re really fit. You’ve got a lot of talent. You’re a great communicator on the field.”
Be careful about saying things that your players can turn into negative self-talk. Rather than saying, “You always freeze up when a big player approaches,” you might say, “When you’re playing against someone who is bigger than you, remind yourself that you’re smart and quick.”
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Check out the Mental Game Coaching Professional course for more information on coaching the mental game.
