Many women know their talents and strengths but when it comes to standing out from the crowd and being praised by peers many would much rather shy away and downplay their full potential in the hopes of blending in with the rest. We see this across all age groups and social interactions. In schools, 69% of girls rate their self-belief as good or very good compared to 79% of boys. Unfortunately, this lack of self-belief that women and girls have is what holds them back from participating in new sports.
It is important that as a coach you recognize these talents and skill sets early on, so you know what to affirm to in situations where a player needs it most. Affirming is when you acknowledge something inside the player that’s already there, which cannot be taken away, and that they can take ownership of and can feel proud about. Affirmations can be used at any time! You as a coach can show appreciation and understanding of your female players by looking out for evidence of qualities that might inspire them; in squash this might be things like flair, determination, creating opportunities and opening the court- a long list of positive qualities that could help them to develop as both people and players.
GIRLS ENJOYMENT AND MOTIVATION ARE DRIVEN BY 4 KEY ELEMENTS:
- Personal Achievement
- Belonging and familiarity
- Peer role models
- Feels good/sense of release
AFFIRMATIONS TO USE AS A COACH WHEN WORKING WITH WOMEN AND GIRLS
- “You perform well under pressure”
- “Your speed on the court is one of your biggest strengths”
- “Your determination to strive for better shines through you!”
- “You show strength and resilience in everything you do”
This page was written in courtesy of Player Project Development
Wright, D. (2023, January 10). Praise vs. affirmation. Player Development Project.
