Categories: Good things to knowSports psychology

‘Pushing’ Athletes: Good or Bad?

The post by Allistair McCaw

Allistair McCaw

Especially in my area of expertise, I can’t tell you how many times a parent or coach has asked me to push their athletes.

Well, here’s my answer: I never ‘push’ athletes. I deeply believe that that must come from within the athlete or child themselves. They must want to. It must be their intrinsic motivation.

I’ve always believed that ‘pushing’ someone is doing something that’s not within their own desire and will. In fact, over the years, I’ve seen coaches and parents push athletes right out of sport completely.

Every parent of a talented kid should read this: 70% of talented kids drop out of their sport before age 13.

Pushing athletes can eventually lead to resentment. A resentment of the coach, but even worse, a resentment to the sport eventually.

You see there’s a difference between pushing and making it tough. I believe in making it tough for them. I will challenge and make it hard for my athletes, physically and mentally, because at the end of the day it’s their choice to how much they push themselves. They have got to make that choice.

One of my favorite sayings is that as coaches, it’s not on us to teach effort, that’s on the athlete.

As a coach, I will motivate and facilitate my athletes ‘push’, but making sure its safe and contributing to the better of the athlete and his or her goals.

The best athletes in the world WANT to push themselves, they don’t need ‘pushers’, they simply need motivators and facilitators. And that’s our jobs as coaches.

Because Intrinsic motivation always wins in the long run.

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