Coaching and Using the Law of Attraction to Your Advantage to Motivate Players
In my previous article I discussed the importance of coaches communicating with players through positive affirmations to eliminate negative player thoughts. Since we know the brain focuses on and achieves what we are thinking, it logically follows that if a player is thinking about not making a mistake rather than on achieving a positive result, more than likely the negative thought will manifest itself into a negative on field event. If a player is at the plate and thinking he might strike out, this becomes their dominating focus, and thus the result they will probably achieve. The same holds true for a player at a free throw line, attempting a field goal, or on a starting block. The words that coaches and other players use prior to the event will dominate the players thought process and become the on court or field behavior. Even slight changes in how words are spoken can make a difference in the player's mindset prior to taking the shot. Statements such as, "the ball is going in the goal", translates into positive visualization and focus. Statements such as "come on, we need this shot" are more vague and allow the player to create self-doubt. In all situations, communications should remain positive and describe the desired outcome in order to achieve the greatest results.
Another important concept that continues to gain support and notoriety is the Law of Attraction and its role in sports. Simply put, "like attracts like". There is a reason successful people socialize with other successful people, it is due to the Law of Attraction. The same can be said for a team that is full of negative comments and energy. Teams with negative energy will have lower team morale and usually have player's blaming each other when things don't go well. In reality, the coach serves as the CEO and is responsible for establishing the culture and tradition of the organization. By encouraging a positive focus, the law of attraction dictates more positive things will happen. The positive atmosphere will attract more positive thinking athletes, positive thinking boosters, therefore creating a more positive program that continues to grow.
A question we are frequently asked is how coaches, who often have very dominant personalities, make the transition to creating positive, nurturing environments without appearing weak or running timid programs. The answer is simple. Players are still held accountable for on field performance, but our accountability model calls for doing so through positive affirmations and communications. Coaches still hold players accountable, but with a focus for what they want the player to accomplish next time. The positive communications all support common goal accomplishment models and when goals are aligned and thoughts positive, it is possible to accomplish anything. I believe a quote from Earle Nightingale summarizes this best, "A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before we changed." This positive focus becomes contagious and is the first step necessary in creating a program steep and rich in tradition.
I often wonder what a coach is trying to accomplish when admonishing a player for an obvious mistake such as throwing a ball over the first baseman's head or making a critical fumble at a crucial moment in a game. Let's face it, mistakes are part of the game, and everyone will make them. The eventual difference between future success and failure is how the player and coach respond. Does a coach really think a player does not realize the significance of his error? When witnessing this behavior I'm reminded of a quote by Zig Ziegler, "Don't be distracted by criticism. Remember the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you". After years of witnessing coaches from all walks of life and all sports, I'm convinced it is the coach's ego that forces them to respond in a negative fashion, to appear as if they are doing their job for the fans, spectators and other players. In reality, if they are doing their job, they will be doing all that is possible to restore player confidence.
On August 4, 2007, Arizona Diamondback Manager Bob Melvin put a young Jason Upton into right field who was then the youngest player in the major leagues. That night he had two very critical errors including dropping a routine fly ball that bounced out of his glove which eventually allowed three runs to score. It would have been very easy for Bob Melvin to publically ridicule Upton after the game. Rather, he started him the next game to reinforce his confidence in the young man. Upton responded to his manager's confidence and came within a single of hitting for the cycle, one of the rarest feats in all of baseball two nights later.
The Law of Attraction is always at work and a major reason why so few teams have stellar tradition. During times of adversity it is challenging to maintain a positive focus, yet it is the ability to persevere through difficult times and restore team confidence that allows teams to consistently maintain their focus on achieving their goals and a major reason why the University of Arizona will make its NCAA best 24th consecutive NCAA Basketball Tournament Appearance. Winning traditions don't fade away and winning coaches always find ways to win. Previous NCAA tournament winner, Rick Patino is taking his third different team to the March dance, and I promise it is not by chance. The Law of Attraction works in many ways toward creating winning traditions and it all starts by constantly having a positive focus even at times of severe adversity. As Albert Einstein once said, "Somehow in the in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." Somehow successful coaches have this ability.
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