Successful coaches know the one instructional technique necessary to be able to correct and still: _____

• A. To focus on physical drills
• B. To avoid criticism
• C. To criticize the person to their face
• D. To criticize the act, not the person

Answer: (D)

The key idea is delivering feedback in a way that preserves the athlete’s dignity while still guiding improvement. When you focus on the action or behavior that needs correction rather than labeling the person, the athlete can see exactly what to change without feeling personally attacked. This builds trust, keeps motivation high, and makes it more likely they’ll accept and act on the critique.

Why the other approaches don’t fit: focusing solely on physical drills misses the opportunity to address technique or decision-making, which is where improvements happen. Trying to avoid criticism isn’t realistic in coaching, and some critique is necessary, but it should still target the behavior, not the person. Criticizing the person to their face erodes confidence and trust, making learning harder, whereas criticizing the act keeps the relationship constructive.