One of the most valuable lessons I ever learned about leadership and coaching didn’t come from a playbook. It came from my mentors.

Early in my coaching journey, they introduced a simple habit that has shaped the way I coach, lead, and interact with players to this day.

Catch people doing things right.

It sounds simple, but when practiced consistently, it produces powerful results.

What You Reinforce Gets Repeated

As coaches, it’s easy to focus on mistakes. We see the missed assignment, the bad pass, the missed slide, the effort that falls short. Our instinct is to correct it immediately.

Correction matters. Accountability matters.

But what my mentors taught me is this: what you reinforce gets repeated.

When you notice and praise the right behaviors — the hustle play, the smart decision, the teammate who communicates early, the player who picks someone up after a mistake — you make those behaviors visible. And once players know those things are valued, they start doing them more often.

Research in leadership and performance consistently shows the same thing:
positive reinforcement drives repeated behavior.

When people know what “right” looks like, they naturally move toward it.

The Habit That Builds Confidence

For young athletes especially, confidence grows when effort is noticed.

When a player hears:

• “Great hustle on that ride.”
• “I love how you communicated on defense.”
• “That was the right decision with the ball.”

… they begin to understand what success looks like.

Over time, those small recognitions build something much bigger:

• Confidence
• Trust
• Consistency
• Strong habits

And those habits carry far beyond lacrosse.

This Isn’t Just for Coaches

While I first learned this habit through coaching, it applies everywhere.

• Parents can use it with their kids.
• Teachers can use it in the classroom.
• Leaders can use it in their organizations.

When people feel seen for doing the right things, they are more likely to repeat those actions. Positive habits create more positive habits.

Accountability Still Matters

Some people hear this idea and wonder if it means ignoring mistakes.

It doesn’t.

Holding people accountable is part of leadership. Players need correction. They need guidance. They need to understand how to improve.

But the reality is that many environments already spend too much time focusing on what’s wrong.

We’re quick to point out the mistake.

We’re slower to highlight what’s working.

The research is clear: high-performing teams and organizations spend far more time reinforcing the positive behaviors they want repeated.

Becoming Intentional About It

The key is intentionality.

Instead of only reacting when something goes wrong, start actively looking for moments when someone does something right.

• Notice the extra effort.
• Notice the smart decision.
• Notice the teammate who lifts others up.

Then say something.

Those small moments of recognition can completely change the tone of a team.

Over time, players begin to hold themselves to those standards — not because they fear correction, but because they understand what excellence looks like.

A Habit That Changes Culture

When you consistently catch people doing things right, something powerful happens.

Confidence grows.
Communication improves.
Effort increases.
The culture becomes stronger.

And as a leader, your influence grows as well. It’s a small habit that produces big results. And it’s one I’m grateful my mentors taught me early.

Because the more we reinforce what’s right, the more our players — and the people around us — become the best version of themselves.