Do our students know how to practice?

If they aren't practicing don't assume they are lazy, they may not know how to practice what you've taught them...

Love this statement! I found this sentence on a educational website for classroom teachers and thought it could be applied to our profession. Think about that statement for a second. How many times do we get a student that comes back a week later and you chat with them and learn that they haven't practiced at all... Often times we decided that it's lack of time dedicated, effort, and/or even laziness on our students behalf. Well, what if it is our fault? What if we haven't explained the material or desired results in a way that our students will UNDERSTAND and KNOW the information? What if it IS our fault? So often I hear teachers complain about their students not getting better, not achieving goals they've set for the season, not able to comprehend why a student doesn't understand why the ball goes places off the clubface, etc. Is it our student's fault? I have taken many lessons from various teachers, good and not so great. I like to practice, I like to work on my game, but if I am going to put in the time, I HAVE to know how! Golf instruction has changed significantly in the last 10 years. Things I was told when I learned golf are incorrect now. Explanation's on what the club face and path do to the ball are clearer (at least to some) but we still see lack of practice from our students. So do our students know how to practice? Are you an instructor that can say your students want to practice? Are you willing to look into what you do now for them and find ways to motivate them? Are you providing information and drills that will ignite a passion for practicing? I have been working on my communication to my students so that they "know" how to practice.

Things I have done/suggestions to encourage practice:
- find out what way they are motivated (games, drills, goals, scores, stats, visual)
- create a way for them to practice using how they are motivated
- clearly show the drill to them and ask them to recreate for you or "teach" it to you
- give them a clear picture of the desired outcome
- make sure you know what they are trying to achieve
- compromise or explain how what you are asking them to change will get them to their desired goal
- make it fun!
- if I see them at the club working on their game, I stop by, check in and encourage
- I practice - interesting concept, but my students see me working they know I stand by what I share with them

"getting better at getting better"