One of the most difficult parts of being a great player is being able to take feedback and sometimes criticism put it into action in order to get better. High level athletes have an incredible gift at seeing coaching as exactly what it is and work on improving in the way they have been told. The level of accuracy used by the athlete will definitely determine the level they will achieve over the course of their career.
Some athletes are incredibly sensitive or disinterested in learning how to get better this way. They seem to be more interested in being right and protecting themselves than in improving.
Resist the Urge for Excuses - Sometimes it is hard to resist the urge to explain why something has happened the way it has. When a coach is fixing something it's important to not make excuses or explain away a situation by simply dismissing it. This is a really bad habit to get into. Instead own what has been done even if the coach or the referee is wrong and learn the lesson from it. Always explaining away the problem really develops a poor mechanism to take direction and just adapt. On a team this is a very valuable characteristic to develop because if one player starts to make excuses other players start thinking that is normal or acceptable behaviour. It is a mess when an entire team starts showing this sense of entitlement and weakness.
Listen to the Feedback - Probably the biggest urge when feeling threatened is to block out the feedback or just make it seem like you are listening until the information can be dismissed. Some of the hardest things to hear are the most valuable items to pay attention to as a player. If your coach starts in on something you feel you have heard a thousand times maybe ensure you are actually doing it.
Put the Feedback into Practice - The sooner you can put the feedback you have received into practice the better it is. Focus on solutions rather than obstacles. If other teammates see you saying "Yes Coach!" and you then turning around and doing it then it will help to encourage them to do the same. Overall, your team will be a lot more cohesive and chances are more successful as a result.
Ask Questions - Players that really make the biggest strides are those that go one step further and when appropriate ask questions for further clarification. Sometimes it is the wrong time to ask a coach a question because there just isn’t time to stop and answer. But, during a break, before or after practice it is a really good idea to get further clarification. It is really important to take the right tone when asking the question. The wrong tone can really escalate the situation in a bad direction. If you think it is appropriate try to ask the coach in that moment though so that you can try to get the right answer when you need it.
In closing, coaches have to know that often the level of trust they have developed with an athlete will determine the level of their willingness to implement what they are being asked to. Delivery from the coach and the aptitude of individual athletes is or course important to take into consideration as well. Coaches are often prepared to adapt to their players. However, players definitely need to find a way to adapt to their coaches too. This is critical for the success of the team long term.
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