Leadership and Life Balance
How Do I Give Feedback to Athletes Without Discouraging Them?
Rhema Adelaja · National Champion & 4x DUX
Encourage first, then correct. Give feedback straight after a mistake, in a calm tone, and say what to do next, not only what went wrong. Keep it short and specific. Praise effort as much as results. Then ask your athlete a question so the conversation goes both ways.
The answer
- Praise effort as much as results, and do it straight away. Athletes remember it.
- After a mistake, start with encouragement. If the athlete already knows how to fix it, encouragement alone is enough.
- When you do correct, say what to do next and why it helps, not only what went wrong. Keep it clear and short, and show it if you can.
- Keep your tone calm. No sarcasm, no put-downs. Any sign of disapproval can feel like punishment, and it makes frustration worse.
- Make your point once, then leave it. Do not repeat it until it irritates.
- Make it two-way. Say what you saw, say what it means for the team, then ask a question such as "What do you think you can work on?"
- Look for the exact thing to fix, not more pressure. Fix that one place first.
Steps 1 to 5 draw on coaching guidelines by Frank Smoll and Ronald Smith, as summarised by the University of Washington. A 2020 position paper from researchers at German Sport University Cologne and Sheffield Hallam University also describes verbal instruction and feedback as a key tool for coaches, and says the type and manner of what a coach says can have an important effect on skill development.
For information only. This is general information for student-athletes, not medical, legal, financial or professional advice. Talk to a qualified professional about your own situation. Terms
Rules and amounts change. Check the official source before you act. Last checked: 14 October 2026.