If success means scoreboard victories, there are always losers. If success means achieving an objective, there are never losers.

Here are five ways to create a successful program in which everyone will "win".

If you evaluate at all, do so on an individual basis. Compare the person to their own past performance, and praise any improvement.

Set Achievable Goals

Make goals challenging but achievable so your athletes feel successful. Once achieved, goals should be progressively increased on an individual basis.

Scale Down Games

For children or adult beginners, reduce the demands of your sport by adapting the rules, equipment, areas, goals, etc. This way, skills are easier to learn and therefore more fun.

Provide Varied Opportunities

When planning a practice, incorporate different kinds of "positive play" such as:

• equal time for all participants
• the opportunity to play all positions
• individual, dual and team activities
• non-competitive, self-paced activities
• cooperative activities
• time for free play with no direction

Encourage Self-Responsibility

Give athletes increasing responsibility for making their own decisions. Encourage them to:

• give you their ideas and advice
• make up new games
• do their own officiating
• make their own rules
• organize and lead parts of the practice
• help one another improve