The amazing thing about young hockey players is that they
are often excited and enthusiastic about the sport…until they’re not.
Young people go into a sport excited and ready to have some
fun. Over time, however, their interest can naturally wane. This is especially
true if they are subjected to a lot of pressure or harsh practices and
treatment.
The good news, though, is that enthusiasm for the sport can
come back. Sometimes, it happens on its own. Other times, however, a little
encouragement and the careful use of motivation techniques can go a long way.
Address Discouragement Right Away
One of the key factors in keeping young athletes motivated
is being able to recognize discouragement.
Players can get discouraged for a variety of reasons.
Whether it’s a lost game, failure or difficulty with obtaining a skill, or even
poor treatment from teammates, discouragement happens for all kinds of reasons.
Good coaches (and parents) should keep a careful eye on
players. They should notice when discouragement, often disguised as a lack of
interest in the sport, occurs, and they should take immediate steps to end it.
A few positive words, some extra time spent with a player,
or just a hug of understanding can go a long way toward ending discouragement
in its early stages.
Include Praise with Every Criticism
For many young hockey players and, honestly, even adult
players, criticism can be hard to take.
After all, no one likes to hear that they’re not doing great
and that they need to improve.
Too much criticism can often lead to discouragement. For
this reason, all of the people in a young player’s life are encouraged to give
criticism in as kind and positive a way as possible and to try and follow up
each criticism with a little bit of praise.
By following these tips and just working hard to be kind and
supportive in general, young hockey players can easily stay more encouraged and
motivated.
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