1. EFFECTIVE FEEDBACK Overview
Always try to praise the effort, not the outcome. Research has shown that praising a young person’s hard work or strategies when they’ve done well – ‘process praise’ – has a number of positive effects.
Praising a young person’s ability (“You’re really good at this!”; “Aren’t you clever”) conveys what’s known as a fixed mindset – the belief that abilities are fixed and come naturally. Such praise may feel good in the moment, but it makes players worried about difficulty and mistakes, worried about losing their ‘clever’ label.
‘Process praise’, on the other hand, conveys to young people that they can develop their abilities. Research has shown that ‘process praise’ makes young people more likely to challenge themselves and to persist when the work gets more difficult.
When players/athletes try hard but fail to progress, parents should appreciate their effort with effective feedback, “Show me what you’ve tried, and let’s figure out what you can try next” or “Tell me exactly what your thought process was when you did it this way, and let’s see if there are other ways that you can try.”
The parents and player/athlete (along with the coach) can then take steps to collaborate on how to move forward more effectively. Young people need a range of options when they are confronting difficult tasks. Simply telling children “Try harder and you’ll get it” is often misleading.
The following template can be printed double-sided and cut out as a little reminder to keep in your pocket about how to give effective feedback. You can edit the language to reflect your sport.
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2. OUTCOME PRAISE EFFORT PRAISE
Well played, you’re the next big star!
Well done, it’s clear you’ve been working on your shooting
You are brilliant
Great performance, your passing is getting better with practice
You’re so talented
You’re getting better every week through training
You are the best player
Great level of performance, you were the hardest working player today

3. AVOID PRAISING OUTCOME/TALENT ENCOURAGE EFFORT/ PROCESS PRAISE
Praising talent discourages
effort.
Recognise that good play is a result of effort.
RESULT: YOUR CHILD BELIEVES THAT TALENT SHOULD COME NATURALLY AND AVOIDS CHALLENGING SITUATIONS.
RESULT: YOUR CHILD IS MORE LIKELY TO TRY HARDER IN THE FUTURE WHEN FACED WITH A CHALLENGE.