ELM TREE OF MASTERY

Effort, Learning & Mistakes are OK

by David Jacobson

One of the major principles of a Double-Goal Coach®

— a coach trained

by Positive Coaching Alliance to develop “Better Athletes, Better People” by pursuing wins and the more-important goal of teaching life lessons through sports — is teaching athletes the “ELM” Tree of Mastery.

WHY AN ELM TREE?

In PCA online courses and in the 2,000-plus live group workshops the organization leads nationwide each year for schools and youth sports organizations, PCA uses acronyms to help coaches remember certain principles and pass them on to their athletes. ELM stands for Effort, Learning and Mistakes are OK.

E EFFORT

Coaches should emphasize effort for a variety of reasons. Effort is just about the only thing skaters completely control about their performances. Te quality of

opponent, judging, and even differences in ice conditions from venue to venue are just some of the factors that influence the outcome of a competition. But nothing keeps a skater from making maximum effort. Even before competition, making the

effort to get the right rest and nutrition is important, as is the effort required to maintain focus in the minutes before and during routines. Tose can pay off in terms of competitive results, but even if they don’t the coach’s emphasis on the value of effort is a lesson that your skaters will use throughout their lives — in sports and beyond.

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ISI EDGE SUMMER 2016