Discipline is often associated with a negative physical outcome or doing something that no one wants to. Ask just about any young athlete what discipline means to them and you will immediately get a response that is something to the effect of 'not fun'!
Creating a culture of fear can put handcuffs on an athlete's ability to play their best. Instead, empower your athletes by teaching them an alternative perspective of how discipline can impact their lives.
Old Definition- doing what we have to do versus doing what we want to do
New Definition- doing what we need to do so we can do what we want to do
Viewing discipline in this way can actually create a new found freedom for your athletes. Below are a few helpful tips for coaches when it comes creating the best environment for your athletes so they can perform their best:
- Establish discipline, not dominance- few athletes respond to an dictatorship style of coaching
- Daily discipline does not require a good attitude. You can still get up at 5am to workout and not be happy about it! Although if after a short period of time attitude does not change, consider changing the training time.
- When introducing this new definition of discipline apply the principle that 'sometimes athletes must act their way into a feeling'. Once a few repetitions of something have started then an excitment feeling will follow.
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