Fifty years ago, Frank Herbert began the Dune series with the eponymous first novel.
In the novel, the Reverend Mothers are the elite of the Bene Gesserit, a sisterhood with a profound influence over the Dune universe. They have special training in using the Voice to control others.
Why is this important?
The coach's VOICE is our greatest asset. Content and tone matter. We can destroy a player, lose the team, or change a player forever by what we say. At the extreme, Del Harris says one form of communication is "Go nuts," in the rare circumstances that extreme measures are called for.
I've mentioned the Wooden "Sandwich technique," sandwiching specific criticism in between praise. I believe that the most powerful four words in English, not just coaching, are I BELIEVE IN YOU. Confidence is self-trust and promoting self-trust is a vital element of coaching. Kevin Eastman says you can't fool kids, dogs, and basketball players. We can't hand out consistent unearned praise and remain credible.
Silence can make a point, but hearing Coach John Killilea at camp forty plus years ago would wake the dead. If you did it wrong, you knew it.
Everyone wants to feel appreciated. Coach Dean Smith made it a point to praise contributors who weren't recognized for "box score" contributions. He believed in recognizing the important roles of everyone on his teams. That Voice earned both trust and loyalty.
One coach says that every player should hear her name in the first ten minutes of practice. Nothing is closer to us than our name, and players need to know we see them and care.
Some players are sensitive about being criticized. My coach used to say, "if I'm not yelling at you, then I've given up on you (because you can't play)." That clarity meant correction equalled caring.
What we say matters. How we say it matters. But how the players hear it may matter most.