PCA has developed an approach to winning called the ELM Tree of Mastery. It’s based on years of sport psychology research and provides any coach with a means to help any team member improve.

It doesn’t get rid of the scoreboard kind of winning; instead it places the focus elsewhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s see how the mastery definition compares to the scoreboard definition of winner.

E = EFFORT:

  • Scoreboard Definition
    • Focuses on results – “Who won and who lost?”
  • Mastery Definition
    • Focuses on effort – “Am I giving my best effort?”

L = LEARNING:

  • Scoreboard Definition
    • Focuses on comparison with others – “Am I better than she is?” “Is he faster than I am?”
  • Mastery Definition
    • Focuses on learning – “Am I better than I was two weeks ago?”

M = MISTAKES ARE OK:

  • Scoreboard Definition
    • Says mistakes are not OK – “Mistakes are terrible!”
  • Mastery Definition
    • Says mistakes are OK – “Learning can’t be maximized unless mistakes are happening.”