Providing feedback is the number one way you can help your players improve. The challenge of course is wondering not only if will they use that feedback, but if they will even listen.

There are three important things to keep in mind when providing feedback:

1. What you say. Choosing your words and choosing your tone are very important when communicating with your athletes. No one likes to be made foolish or put down. When a player knows that you have their top performance and their success in mind, they will respond to both positive and negative criticism and can thrive. A positive tone, encouraging words and showing them you have confidence in their abilities will go a long way.

2. How you tell them. Are you communicating with your players one-on-one? Do you speak to them in a group? One-on-one verbal communication is incredibly potent. There is less opportunity for misunderstanding. When you're communicating directly with a player one-on-one, he doesn't have to worry about the impressions of other players. You let him know that he is integral to the entire mission of the team.

3. When you tell them. The sooner you can give feedback to your players about their performance on the field the better. This allows them to connect that educational information to their muscle memory more quickly and easily for lasting impressions.

GSC's Coach-to-Player™ helmet communication allows you to communicate with your players during practice before and after each rep. You are able to give pointers and suggestions immediately. And you are able to choose whether you are communicating privately with your players or if the entire position group is in on the instruction.