Celebrating 'your' success

Why do we use certificates?

In the gym we often use certificates at the end of sessions as well as at various points of the year. We wanted to take the opportunity to remind everyone that these are given for a range of reasons, including:

• Behaviour

• Effort

• Achievements

This means that the recognition isn’t simply for ‘being the best at the sport in comparison to others’, which is what a lot of children often assume.

Please remember:

We are celebrating something that is important to that child, in that moment, on their journey.

Helping young people understand rewards and motivation:

As the support network for young people, we need to help them pause and celebrate when they get the positive reinforcement from coaches through certificates. However, we also need to remind them that we don’t want certificates to be the sole focus of their success.  

If they get a certificate - Coaches often give children specific reasons for getting certificates. Try to help your child remember the reason or reasons that it was given to them. This will encourage them to understand more about 'why' they received it or what they got it for.

If they don’t get a certificate - It can feel really disappointing for a child in these moments if they don't receive a certificate but those around them do. This is ok and a normal reaction in these moments as it is a big deal for them. Try not to get drawn in to the emotion with them and help them to navigate through it in a way that works for them.

These reflective questions may help you to navigate the conversations with them:

• Did you have fun today?

• What was your favourite part of the session?

• What do you think you did well today?

• Did you find anything difficult or challenging today? How did you work through it?

• What would you like to work on in your next session?

Can you encourage your child to:

• Listen to coaches and the instructions they are given during sessions.

• Take initiative when they are given a choice or options in the gym.

• Notice praise and recognition they get during a session (not simply wait for the reward at the end).

• Work on the areas they need to improve, based on how things feel for themselves and the feedback that they are getting from coaches.

• Be kind to other children in the gym.

• Try their best, on the basics, on new skills and all the things they love as well as the things they are afraid of or don’t enjoy.

  
  

If they focus on all of these things in the gym, then they will be doing the best that they can and learning valuable skills for life.