Effective listening...

"Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply"

Listening is closely related to questioning; better listening can help the coach to ask better questions at the right time.

We listen at three different levels

Internal listening which is listening to self-talk inside our heads, which can act as interference & prevent the coach from giving the athlete undivided attention. Coach must learn to filter out the interference.

Active listening occurs when the coach is paying full attention to the athlete & is able to ask powerful questions. AL can also motivate the athlete by acknowledging their self-esteem & showing genuine respect.

Intuitive listening is where the coach learns the thought process of the athlete, detects areas that are left unsaid & senses the feelings that lie under the surface of the conversation.