http://www.nscaa.com/news/2014/02/pink-elephants-and-performance

I think this concept can apply to all coaching youth sports, but it is hard one learn.

This is great.... I had a coach say something similar to me about this years ago.... simple, speak in positives vs negatices.

Front the post
Deny with the near hand
pass fake
shot fake
shut off the baseline
force the cutter behind you

Its hard to never say something negative but once you are speaking positively, it gets easier. Believe me, I was no saint
but they knew that I cared about them. I just met up with a young man that told me that... he has 3 kids and he says I wsa his favorite coach - junior football and high school. Of course us going 9-0 might have had a little somethjing to do witth it. We talked through all 4 years of high school, the varsity coach said he would never play varsity football... he was pretty small. I kept encouraging him, played very little sophomore ball. NEVER as a junior and in the 2nd game of his senior year he got a chance and started every game after.

The head coach apollogized to him and the awards night. I told the head coach that you cant measure heart.

When I became the varsity basketball coach I caught myself becoming very negative.... and I asked myself, "why the heck am I talking to them like this?" I changed my ways and they thiought there was something wrong with me... told me, just be yourself. We know you care.... but that year did help me become more positive.