Receivable Feedback With Kid-Friendly Criticism

Criticism and correction are important to learning, but they often drain people's tanks, which decreases their capacity to learn. Kid-Friendly Criticismprovides players with useable information that empowers them to improve while minimizing tank draining. Here are some practical ways to give players Kid-Friendly Criticism:

• Avoid non-teachable moments

Discipline yourself after a tough loss or a painful mistake. Wait until the emotion has dissipated before giving feedback.

• Criticize in private

Anyone can be embarrassed by public criticism, so wait until you can give a player feedback in private. Praise in public; criticize in private.

• Ask permission

Asking permission makes criticism easier to hear and apply. "Lindsey, I noticed something that might improve your ability to field ground balls. Are you open to hearing it?"

• Use If-Then statements

"IF you bend your knees more, THEN it will be easier to get your glove on the ground so you can field the ground ball."