MotivationFeedback

Motivation and Feedback
Why is a player trying to learn?
Why should a player mprove their skills?
Why does a player want to win?

Goals are important.

Remember this;

“Excuse me Sir,” Alice inquires. “Could you please tell me which road to take?”

Wisely the caterpillar asks, “Where are you going?”

Somewhat dismayed, Alice responds, “Oh, I don’t know where I am going Sir.”

“Well’’ replies the caterpillar, “if you don’t know where you are going, it really doesn’t matter which road you take .”

Lewis Carroll. Alice in Wonderland.

Positive attitude and will
Neil Barras, RMIT Human Movement senior lecturer, in his Bowls coaching seminars highlighted the following
points about motivation,

- people who feel good perform better

- every bowler has limitations

- focus on your strengths

- positive affirmations and self-talk can help

- look like a positive thinker

- project an ‘I love the challenge..” image.

Confidence can be developed
A player's confidence is a feeling and it can be changed. Setting achievable targets in practice is the start to
gaining confidence. Working on weaknesses whilst not ignoring strengths will improve confidence. Confidence
is that feeling when you believe you can manage anything an opponent does and triumph whatever the
conditions.

It is worth mentally rehearsing previous victories and successes in order to prepare the mind and improve
confidence. Over confidence is arrogance and although sometimes it can prevail it is a hindrance to inner peace
and will eventually cause a serious reality check. Bowls is a game for calm, control and composure, not
adrenalin rushing anxiety. It is preferable to develop a strong inner belief and control in order to manage the
concentration required for success under pressure.

Feedback

Motivation of athletes

Confidence and player self esteem should be reinforced at every opportunity during practice sessions. This can
be done by positive feedback on performance and practice, individual acknowledgment of a players strengths,
reinforcing past achievements, emphasis positive benefit learned from disappointments and mistakes.

Feedback to player

The value of feedback depends largely on a coach’s skill to identify errors and apply a remedy.

Each player should be given positive feedback about their performance at the main team practice session.
Suggestions about improvement in certain areas can be given and the players then be directed to practice
shots which had been identified as needing attention. Players should be encouraged to additional practice on
these skills in addition to the main team practices.

A video camera can be used to provide visual feedback to the player on the green. This is important so that the
player can identify and accept that change is necessary.

Feedback to team

At the first team practice after a game a report should be given to the players. This would highlight the
performance of the team, which parts were good and which parts were poor. The focus of the next practice
session will be determined from the results of the analysis. The team will to be told the things they did well and
the things that could do better. The result of the previous game needs to be kept in context with the longer term
goals of the team. The players need to be directed to re-focus their efforts on the next game ahead.