Takedown Report

What are the Best and Worst Things to Say as a Coach?

By Jude Swisher November 25th, 2019
As most people may know, I am a dedicated high school wrestler.  As a result, I competed throughout the preseason at several different events and as I progressed through these tournaments, I found myself paying close attention to the things that coaches would say to their wrestlers.  After observing so many coach-wrestler interactions, it’s clear to me now that a coach’s attitude and tone when talking to their athlete can have a profound impact on the athlete’s performance, for better or worse. With that in mind, my partner (Sam Herring) and I decided to compile a list of the best and worst things that you can say to your competitor.
As an active high school wrestler, I can say that the things that my coaches say to me DO make a difference. All sorts of thoughts – positive, negative, and everything in between – go through my ears and into my brain for me to either dwell on or replace. As we all know, it’s easier to compete at your best when you’re enjoying wrestling and thinking positive thoughts, so it’s that much more important for a coach to stay positive with their athlete!  Here are some positive guidelines to follow while coaching to help your wrestler think positive thoughts:

• Compliment them! Tell them that their attacks look sharp, their defense is stingy, they’re wrestling great, and they are powerful. Compliments are an easy way to put positive thoughts into a wrestler’s head and can distract them from thinking negatively. Be genuine!
• Remind them of the work they’ve put in. Remind them of the hard work they’ve put in, and keep them focused on the things that they do best. Explain why they have earned their right to win. 
• Rest of the story with other good ideas at http://www.hmawrestling.com/article/what-are-the-best-worse-things-to-say-as-a-coach/?mc_cid=d3b3a1a68e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

December 6, 2019 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized