Treat All the Same, Only Different

Any team needs rules that are uniformly enforced. In that sense, all players should be treated the same. However, any good coach establishes a unique relationship with each player. One-on-one, a coach can give encouragement, reprimand, punish, or reward in ways that can best motivate the individual player. Some players respond to scolding. Others need constant positive feedback. The coach must “read” newcomers as quickly as possible in order to sense the best approach to each one.