By Vince Gabriele MS CSCS
Owner Gabriele Fitness and Performance
Being able to empower lifelong success in youngsters as a fitness educator goes well beyond warm-ups, sets, and reps.
As a PE teacher, coach, or fitness professional what you can do to give your students an educational experience that will last a lifetime?
Exercise techniques, games, and other methods are an important part of the lifelong fitness toolbox. However, the fitness environment can provide opportunities to learn other powerful life skills as well.
We have a foundational principle we teach to our youngsters. It is called the “growth mindset”. A growth mindset is a belief that mistakes and failures are simply opportunities to learn.
The principle of the growth mindset underlies the way we teach, coach, and talk about every challenge. It’s amazing to see how our kids have responded in their resiliency to challenge and overall attitude and effort.
Here are 3 things teachers and coaches can do to incorporate the growth mindset into their programs:
1. Read Mindset by Carol Dweck!
Carol Dweck out of Stanford is one of the most prolific researchers on the mental aspects of success in sports, business, and life in general.
Her book, “Mindset” outlines not only how to create your own growth mindset, but how to help your students, players, and employees do the same.
As a fitness mentor, learning and practicing this growth mindset yourself is the first step in creating success with those you intend to inspire.
In our programs, we recommend parents read this book so they can help reinforce these principles at home.
2. Make it a foundational part of your program
We have a pyramid structure that outlines the intended “big picture” goal of our youth programs.
The growth mindset is the foundation of this pyramid. All nutrition, training, and other goals and assignments in our program are discussed in context of the growth mindset.
Having a visual on your walls, shirts, website and in your articles and assignments will keep the growth mindset at the forefront of their minds.
3. Ask Questions
As coaches and teachers we are always doing the talking.
One of the best ways to make a difference with our athletes is listen to them
Asking questions like “How was your game last week?” or “How did you do on your tests yesterday?” leads to opportunities to discuss confronting challenges.
For instance, just yesterday I had one of my young athletes tell me how disappointed he was that is team was 1 and 5. I asked what he has learned from the situation. After a short discussion in the context of the growth mindset and seeing opportunities to improve, we arrived on some short and long term training goals.
He become more focused and engaged than ever.
Working through this process can be challenging and frustrating. However, learning to address challenges pro-actively is an extremely important skill that can and will benefit every aspect of a youngster’s life.
Vince Gabriele is the owner of Gabriele Fitness & Performance in Berkeley Heights NJ. Vince and his team work with hundreds of middle and high school athletes and have quickly become one best training facilities on the east coast.
www.gabrielefitness.com/mentorship
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