What's Wrong?

What´s wrong with you? 

We learn at a young age about being wrong. Our school tests are marked in red. We missed five questions. School essays highlighted in red. We misspelled five words. Red lights, red cards, red alert. Wrong answer. Wrong way. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

We teachers and coaches are actually trained to find what´s wrong. Look for the error, freeze the play and correct. We are determined to identify what´s wrong and rewarded with licenses for doing so.

We need only spend five minutes on social media to see that pointing out flaws has become a community endeavor. We need only spend five minutes on a field to verify that pointing out flaws has become a sideline endeavor. We need only spend five minutes at a youth tournament to hear a coach detail the negative quite vociferously.

What if this were not so?

What´s right with you?

Well, in the case of every child I have ever coached quite a lot actually. Our children show up, shake hands, compete and carry on. Our kids pass, shoot, dribble, attack and defend. Our kids try to win, deal with losses, and move on to the next activity. In school, they read, write, calculate, compute, act, sing, doodle and draw.

If we look at a child as a miracle, then magic emerges in abundance. Then stumbling is sensational. Then an error is a marvelous act. Then a positive intent is a positive, period.

For those just waiting in the wings to tell me of the value of critical feedback, I get it. Point conceded.

However, go with me here.

Imagine pulling out a green pen highlighting every word spelled correctly. A green check for every math problem answered well. Imagine every dance step, every note, every effort highlighted for what it is – amazing.

Imagine speaking to every pass executed, every shot made, every attack thwarted. Imagine how bizarrely radical that might sound on the training pitch.

We live our lives perched on many deep-rooted assumptions. So many modes of operation unquestioned. We train our children in ways that sprout from the soil of critique. But it need not be this way.

The next time we lead a practice, let´s catch a child doing something right. Let´s speak to the positive. Let´s detail the good and let our kids benefit from our keen eye and kind voice.

In the end, we are not blind to what´s wrong. There will be ample time to make the needed adjustments. But for one moment,

let´s focus on what´s right. Let´s pause and applaud. Let´s praise and play on.

Nothing wrong with trying that, no? 

written by: Todd Beane - https://tovoacademy.com