Whether you coach or play a sport, maintaining a positive attitude can lead to good performances and success. Improving your overall attitude can help improve your performance in sport, by reducing any negative thoughts and emotions, thus improving your proficiency. There are a number of ways that you and your players can improve their attitude, all contributing to positivity, not negativity!
Improve confidence and self-esteem
By maintaining constant training and exercise with your players, your players will get to a standard where they can repeat good performances on the pitch. By working on areas that need improvement, they'll become more confident and proficient, therefore boosting their self-esteem. It is important to provide feedback but it must be constructive and feedback that'll benefit the player, rather than put them down. Emotional pressure and nervousness can affect your player's performance, so it's important that they have confidence in their own ability; the feeling of success will build up their self-esteem, therefore increasing their physical abilities. You can help improve this by frequently praising their skills and providing support, but most importantly showing your players you are confident in what you are saying and confident in them.
Cut out any negative emotion
Any negative emotion from any of your players or coaching staff can affect your team's performances. It's vital that you cut out any negative thinking or poor behaviour and replace this with positive thoughts, cutting players out of falling into a habit of making negative remarks. When positive thinking becomes a habit, you'll experience a more positive environment and your players' overall attitude will improve. If you, as a coach, allow poor behaviour and attitudes, it only sends out a message to the players that this behaviour is acceptable, as well as potentially signalling a weakness in your leadership.
One way your players can cut out any negative thoughts is the use of mental imagery - by picturing success on the field or court, this will improve positive thinking and also improve your player's confidence. Take a look at this other recent blog post, for more information on how mental imagery can help your players succeed.
Positive team-mates
Make sure you have positive players in your team and keep those with positive attitudes. It's important that you have players that remain optimistic, as persistent negativity can drain any positive morale from the rest of the team, leading to potentially a bad team environment. Discuss or get rid of any players with a negative attitude who could impact on the rest of your team, ensuring everyone is on the same page and willing to support their team-mates.
Have fun!
Did you know that the act of laughing relaxes the body and improves circulation? If your players enjoy the sport or activity they are taking part in, then this will help improve their overall attitude! By making your training sessions fun and creating an enjoyable atmosphere, this will keep your players looking forward to taking part and reduce negativity in your squad. Make sure your players are all happy and will leave training with a smile!
Attitude is something that needs to be positive and can be controlled by the players themselves. As a coach, you need to support, motivate and encourage your athletes, getting them through any bad patches and work on maintaining a positive attitude. By doing so, you'll find your performances as a team will improve and help you on your way to success!
For more information, take a look at his factsheet, and get your players thinking positively on the field!
