If you’re waiting for your coach, manager (for those that have one) or teammates to tell you how good you are, you’re wasting your time. Not only are you wasting your time, you’re giving them far too much power.
The never ending pursuit to please your coach will not guarantee you success. It might guarantee you a starting jersey but it will not hand you a professional contract, far from it.
Waiting for praise or demanding it could be a dangerous exercise. What happens when the appreciation or the pat on the head is not forth coming?
Feedback is important and so is constructive criticism, so ask for that instead.
Praise, applause and the pat on the shoulder are nice, but too many young players rely on them.
Feedback is important. Training is important. The pat on the shoulder is nice, but not all that important.
Before you hand over the power to your coach, manager or teammates by thirsting for praise, keep it. Don’t hand over the power to someone who doesn’t care nearly as much as you do.
Most players (I’d bet you’re one of them) respond to praise and the occasional pat on the head. Why not, it boosts confidence and broadens your shoulders. Great if you can get it, but don’t despair or quit if you don’t.
Replace the need for praise with questions. Ask your coach, manager or teammates for feedback instead of trying to align your head with their hand, pat, pat.
If you commit to the game and you’re honest with your efforts, you have nothing to worry about. So keep the power, train hard and the rest will fall into place.
The warm fuzzy feeling you get from a pat on the back might last a few seconds, big deal. The euphoria, happiness and bravado you get from signing a professional contract will last a lifetime.
“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”
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