As an athlete growing up I was taught to welcome feedback as it meant the coach saw something he or she could correct and help me improve. When I was just a freshman on the Varsity Tennis team my coach taught us how to poach. During the next match she came over to the fence and simply said, "You need to move at least once this game." On the first point I took off to the middle just how she taught me in practice and to my surprise the ball came right to me. I got so excited I forgot to connect with my racket, instead the ball hit me in the center of the chest. I looked over at my Coach mortified and she simply put her hands up and said, "Nice move next time use your racket." Now when I think back to that moment I always get a smile on my face. Two decades later I still remember my error but more importantly remember that my coach challenged me to try something new. While I did not succeed at first it was the push in the right direction I needed. 

It reminds me of a powerful quote from Allistar McCaw's "Championship Mindset," which says, "Surround yourself with those who tell you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear." At Mercy, all our coaches approach practices and games with the sole intention of improving their teams. When they identify areas for correction, we should welcome their guidance. It's essential understand that no practice is perfect, but when our coaches provide feedback, they're doing it with the genuine desire to help our athletes become better. So, let's not shy away from feedback; let's welcome it and strive for continuous improvement together.