Attitude Starts with You: How Coaches Shape Players' Mindsets

Coaches are often seen as leaders on the field, but they’re also leaders in shaping attitudes. The attitude of a coach directly influences the attitude of their athletes. Your actions, words, and even body language tell players how they should approach the game and life. Understanding this power is the first step in creating a winning mindset in your players.

One way to begin teaching attitude is through “self-talk” techniques. Often, athletes struggle with negative thoughts, especially after a poor performance. You can teach them to reframe those thoughts. Encourage athletes to replace “I can’t” with “I’ll try again” or “I’m not good enough” with “I’ll improve.” These simple shifts in thinking can lead to big changes in performance.

Equally important is teaching athletes to focus on what they can control. In sports, there are countless things outside of their control—referees, the weather, or even the opposition’s skill. But what players can control is their attitude, effort, and focus. Help them see that these are their superpowers.

Another vital piece of the puzzle is reinforcing accountability. Help your players understand that their attitude is ultimately their responsibility. They get to choose how they respond to challenges. When athletes take ownership of their mindset, they become more empowered to rise to any occasion.