The answer is far more complex than that, of course.
For younger and less sophisticated learners, positive feedback is best.
As they gain confidence and ability, the coach can be increasingly critical. If you are teaching me how to snowboard — for one sad example — give it to me straight. I don’t need any false praise. I can take it.
I’ve seen great coaches use entirely different strategies with different athletes in the same group. Critical and demanding with one, supportive and encouraging with the next.
… Jacoby was practicing her double back dismount off the high bar into the pit. She opened prematurely, stating she “got lost”, before her 2nd flip was complete and landed on her neck on an 8 inch mat. …
The extent of the spinal cord damage is still being determined.
Follow her recovery on a new dedicated blog – GET WELL JACOBY.