fundaMENTALs?

Happy Memorial Day.

I really enjoy some of the traditions my family has started, but one of my favorites is to head down to the Arizona State Capitol and look at all of the memorials and monuments.  It really puts things like sports in perspective.  Thanks to all of those who served.

Last week I had the chance to talk to a "consultant" - but not the kind named "Bob" who come to your office and look for efficiencies.  Pamela Brooks IS - as it turns out - a management consultant, but she's also interested in helping coaches understand the mental aspects of themselves, and of sports.  

One of the things that came out of the conversation with Pam - an experienced coach herself - was how much of sport is mental.  This point is self-evident, and we see examples all the time... only we may not realize it.  When my man Braylon Edwards drops a sure TD pass, surely that is not from an inability of his eyes to see the ball and for his hands to close around it.  When Eric Byrnes drops a sure out in the outfield - that is not because his glove has a hole in it, nor because he is incapable of squeezing the ball in his glove...

Why do pep talks (see related post) work?  ...or not?  Why does getting frustrated just make the next play that much worse (usually)?  I say this next statement only in relative terms - Humans are an intelligent species.  Our ability to think provides us tremendous advantage - sometimes, this includes an advantage over our opponents in athletic competition where we are not the best athlete.  This can also be a disadvantage - especially if you are frustrated, depressed, or mentally inferior to your opponent.  

What does this have to do with youth sports?  ...plenty.  It is the very reason feedback should be positive and constructive in the key formative years (up to around age 8).  It is then that young people are ready to compete and think more deeply about the game.  At this point, they begin to strategize, and find advantage.  

It is also occasion to discuss one of my collegiate roommate's favorite phrases - Mental Toughness.  This is everything from focusing on the game and nothing else to keeping your cool when a call goes against you.  The earlier kids can learn to concentrate on the game they are in, the better their chances of success.  Of course this can go to extremes, but we'll focus on the positive for now.

Pam probably provided content for 2-3 more posts...  but for now, consider not just the physical part of youth team sports - but also the mental.  How kids think about sports directly impacts their performance on the field and in the game.

Pep Talks

My thoughts on this one might surprise you...

Pep talks (the "good" ones at least) really don't work on the younger kids.  It's not even worth your time, don't bother.  Huh?!  No... really.  Up to age 7 or 8, all the kids really care about is going out and playing.  There's so much information swirling around in their heads about what to do, when to do it, and how to do it, that there's just not capacity to get fired up enough to "beat" the other team.

For a while, I ignored this discovered truism and thought I could somehow inspire excellence by providing a stirring "Win one for the Gipper"-type oration.  Nah.  I'm sure it sounded good, and the other parents were ready to go out and get at 'em (I can hope), but the kids looked exactly the same after the speech as before...  there were even a few times when I got questions immediately after the speech about random stuff - sometimes game related, sometimes not.

It might surprise you to find out that I'm an over-communicator.  As such, pep talks not working was quite a problem.  Luckily, all is not lost.  The younger kids do seem to respond to basic, positive reinforcement - "Go out and do your best", "Just like we did in practice", "Don't worry about the last play", etc.  All of these somewhat generic, yet positive messages seem to focus the young players on what they're supposed to do, and they seem to inspire confidence.

At age 8 or so, all of this begins to change.  Some of the players have become very competitive by this point, and have mastered the basics.  They are now looking for motivation to go out and achieve, and to win.  This age opens a whole new era, a challenge all its own.

There's no harm in pulling out your best Dean Smith or Bear Bryant for the 5-year-olds... just keep your perspective when Little Sally listens intently, but then says "I have to go to the bathroom".