How to successfully communicate with athletes

• Encourage the players to discover their own answers.
• Try and reward a question rather than giving the answer.
• Silence is a powerful tool. Use it to elicit thoughtful responses.
• Listen attentively.
• Ask open ended questions.
• Maintain good eye contact.
• Praise the process.
• Allow players to vent their emotions.
• Highlight lessons learnt.
• Review what was learnt.
• Show interest when athletes respond.

Support athletes

• Be aware of body language.
• Send clear messages.
• Try and ask questions that begin with what, how and why.

Encourage athletes

• Ask relevant questions.
• Apply question and answer technique
• Think about how you want messages to be interpreted.