Developing & Junior Coaches
Developing athletes do not simply need more technique and more repetitions. Under pressure, attention, confidence, decision-making and the meaning of mistakes can change before the coach sees a clear technical problem. The task is to recognise what changed, where it began and what the athlete needs to learn next.
Teach the response, not only the movement
Young and developing athletes need to learn what to do when attention, timing, confidence or decision-making changes under pressure.
Do not turn mistakes into identity
A mistake should provide information about the task. If correction becomes judgement, the athlete may begin protecting self-worth instead of learning.
Correct the mechanism, not only the visible error
The movement the coach sees may be the end of the chain. Before adding instruction, look for what changed first and what may be driving it.
Articles for Developing & Junior Coaches
Articles on what changes under pressure in developing and junior athletes, why the visible error may not be the mechanism, and how coaching responses can support learning without creating dependence.
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