07/26/2023
We often put a lot of emphasis on the actual art or sport itself when working with athletes. What’s going wrong in practice/rehearsal or in the game/performance? What skills are they lacking to successfully perform? Etc.
However, there’s a lot that needs to be addressed that may not even be related to said art/sport.
This is a hierarchy of needs that really EVERYONE needs to look at.
1. PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS - are their hydration, nutrition, psychical activity, physical safety, shelter, sleep, rest/recovery, etc. needs being met? You’d be surprised at this answer! START HERE!
2. PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS - Next. Do they have a sense of belonging, trust, consistency, and collaboration?
3. CULTURE/VALUES - What about different roles, boundaries, standards, structures, expectations? Are they different from what they are use to? How are they adjusting to it if so?
4. SELF-EFFICACY - How’s the athlete/performer’s self-esteem, confidence, respect, recognition, autonomy? Let’s dig and build it up if needed!!
FINALLY!!!
5. PERFORMANCE - Now that the basics have been addressed look at the performance aspect. The commitment, risk, approach, learning/growth orientation that the athlete/performer has.
It’s a play on Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, but it’s applicable in many ways. Again, it’s easy to hyper focus on the actual sport/art. Realistically, it’s typically much more than just that.
