--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think most athletes want to be told…" description: "\"I think most athletes want to be told when they make a mistake. They don't want to be coddled. They can deal with criticism, especially when it's valid..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fab/tom-herman-9281_athletes_i-think-most-athletes-want-to-be-told-wh_2294057.jpg" --- # I think most athletes want to be told when they make a… ![“I think most athletes want to be told when they make a mistake. They don't want to be coddled. They can deal with criticism, especially when it's valid.” quote by Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fab/tom-herman-9281_athletes_i-think-most-athletes-want-to-be-told-wh_2294057.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fab/tom-herman-9281_athletes_i-think-most-athletes-want-to-be-told-wh_2294057.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fab/tom-herman-9281_athletes_i-think-most-athletes-want-to-be-told-wh_2294057.jpg) > “I think most athletes want to be told when they make a mistake. They don't want to be coddled. They can deal with criticism, especially when it's valid.” [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Athletes prefer honest, constructive criticism over excessive comfort; they can handle valid feedback and improve. **In simple terms:** Athletes want truthful feedback, not pampering. Key Takeaway Provide clear, honest feedback to help growth. Themes feedback growth resilience coaching Mood motivational pragmatic Type coaching sports. When to use this quote - team meetings - practice drills - post‑game reviews - personal coaching sessions Key Concepts sports psychology communication performance improvement Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance honesty with encouragement? - When is criticism most effective? A Different Perspective Too much criticism can demotivate; some athletes may misinterpret honesty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athletes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletes/) [Athletes Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletes-want-1280829/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Criticism Especially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism-especially-1064316/) [Deal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deal/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Athletes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-athletes-354871/) ## Related quotes > [I know a lot of athletes, they want to play until their 45 or 50 or whatever, some athletes claim, but count me out on that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-votto/i-know-a-lot-of-athletes-they-want-to-play-until-their-45-or-50-or/) [Joey Votto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-votto/) > [As athletes, we want to represent our country to the best of our ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirai-nagasu/as-athletes-we-want-to-represent-our-country-to-the-best-of-our/) [Mirai Nagasu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirai-nagasu/) > [A lot of athletes want to have a break, but they don't do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-kvitova/a-lot-of-athletes-want-to-have-a-break-but-they-don-t-do-it/) [Petra Kvitova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-kvitova/) > [I think athletes in general are actors. We perform in front of big crowds. People pay to come see you play. So, people come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-boggs/i-think-athletes-in-general-are-actors-we-perform-in-front-of-big/) [Wade Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-boggs/) > [I've got to go out there and do a job and focus on swimming and do my own thing, and I think us athletes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-ve-got-to-go-out-there-and-do-a-job-and-focus-on-swimming-and-do-my/) [Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/) > [When I think about athletes, probably my favorite guest of all time among baseball players was Ted Williams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-rose/when-i-think-about-athletes-probably-my-favorite-guest-of-all-time/) [Charlie Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-rose/) > [I think the athletes respond well to me because I have been successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linford-christie/i-think-the-athletes-respond-well-to-me-because-i-have-been-successful/) [Linford Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linford-christie/) > [I think athletes need to be better at portraying themselves and promoting themselves. You can't just sit and wait for the media to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/i-think-athletes-need-to-be-better-at-portraying-themselves-and/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [I think athletes in general, your days are numbered. Any time you can kind of learn and grow from an entrepreneurship standpoint and ownership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ingram-ii/i-think-athletes-in-general-your-days-are-numbered-any-time-you-can/) [Mark Ingram II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ingram-ii/) > [People think that athletes have it great, and we do in a lot of regard, but universities make a hell of a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-borland/people-think-that-athletes-have-it-great-and-we-do-in-a-lot-of-regard/) [Chris Borland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-borland/) > [I do not think athletes should get a free pass. I don't think we should train our children and future athletes to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armstrong-williams/i-do-not-think-athletes-should-get-a-free-pass-i-don-t-think-we/) [Armstrong Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armstrong-williams/) > [They want everything to be better for their children. I think athletes are starting to see that and that's why they're starting to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/they-want-everything-to-be-better-for-their-children-i-think-athletes/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) > [I've met some very difficult people and I've had some very difficult conversations and had lots of criticism, especially from away supporters who sing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/i-ve-met-some-very-difficult-people-and-i-ve-had-some-very-difficult/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) > [It took me getting to my 50s before I could say "Whatever!" about other people's criticism, especially when it's not true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/it-took-me-getting-to-my-50s-before-i-could-say-whatever-about-other/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [Personally, I can handle criticism, especially when it is deserved, and it's because my dad never, ever said 'Well done' to me. He did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/granit-xhaka/personally-i-can-handle-criticism-especially-when-it-is-deserved-and/) [Granit Xhaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/granit-xhaka/) ## More by Tom Herman > [Players will get you above average. To get to the elite, you need culture and leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/players-will-get-you-above-average-to-get-to-the-elite-you-need/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [For me, nobody's re-inventing football. We just have to do it better than everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/for-me-nobody-s-re-inventing-football-we-just-have-to-do-it-better/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [My wife and I made a pact a long time ago we really don't give gifts on holidays. We figure if it's coming from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/my-wife-and-i-made-a-pact-a-long-time-ago-we-really-don-t-give-gifts/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [Once you coach football in Texas, you fall in love with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/once-you-coach-football-in-texas-you-fall-in-love-with-it/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [You need explosive plays to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/you-need-explosive-plays-to-win/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [One of the neatest things I saw with the team at Ohio State - and we preach about it all the time as coaches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/one-of-the-neatest-things-i-saw-with-the-team-at-ohio-state-and-we/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [Twitter gives you a forum to let loose a little bit and have fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/twitter-gives-you-a-forum-to-let-loose-a-little-bit-and-have-fun/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [I delete the Twitter app during the season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/i-delete-the-twitter-app-during-the-season/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [Losing has to be awful. You can never get used to losing. That's one of the biggest downfalls to a lot of teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/losing-has-to-be-awful-you-can-never-get-used-to-losing-that-s-one-of/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [The price of championships will never change. It's been set long before me. It will be the same long after me. That price is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/the-price-of-championships-will-never-change-it-s-been-set-long/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [I think first and foremost, you've got to be able to run the football to be successful in college football. Some teams have thrown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/i-think-first-and-foremost-you-ve-got-to-be-able-to-run-the-football/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [I was a highlight coordinator. My job was to go in and watch games, watch and type. Basically every time the camera frame changed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/i-was-a-highlight-coordinator-my-job-was-to-go-in-and-watch-games/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [Bankers don't get to do this. For all the hours, the late nights, lack of sleep and hours of pulling your hair out from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/bankers-don-t-get-to-do-this-for-all-the-hours-the-late-nights-lack/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [I've never met a successful person in any walk of life - from Michael Dell to Peyton Manning to Barack Obama - that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/i-ve-never-met-a-successful-person-in-any-walk-of-life-from-michael/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [Phenomenal people in Ames and throughout the state of Iowa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/phenomenal-people-in-ames-and-throughout-the-state-of-iowa/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) [Explore all 74 Tom Herman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) ## More Athletes quotes > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [Whether it's basketball, football, baseball, you like meeting other athletes to see how their jobs work, and everything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/whether-it-s-basketball-football-baseball-you-like-meeting-other/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [I'd just like to see athletes awake. And aware. There's so much going on and so much to know... We stay in our little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-teter/i-d-just-like-to-see-athletes-awake-and-aware-there-s-so-much-going/) [Hannah Teter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-teter/) > [Professional athletes die twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/professional-athletes-die-twice/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [It's important for closet gay athletes everywhere, not just at the professional level, but more importantly athletes at the younger level in high school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-fujita/it-s-important-for-closet-gay-athletes-everywhere-not-just-at-the/) [Scott Fujita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-fujita/) > [Theres that initial reticence for some athletes to take you seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-guerrero/theres-that-initial-reticence-for-some-athletes-to-take-you-seriously/) [Lisa Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-guerrero/) > [I think athletes in general, your days are numbered. Any time you can kind of learn and grow from an entrepreneurship standpoint and ownership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ingram-ii/i-think-athletes-in-general-your-days-are-numbered-any-time-you-can/) [Mark Ingram II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ingram-ii/) > [Athletes can not look the same and be great in their individual sport. The example I like to use is Gabby Douglas. She could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-carter/athletes-can-not-look-the-same-and-be-great-in-their-individual-sport/) [Michelle Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-carter/) > [“Athletes, we were supposed to just be there, and in class I made it a point that I was prepared for every exam, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/athletes-we-were-supposed-to-just-be-there-and-in-class-i-made-it-a/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [My guess is many top athletes, distance runners included, use performance-enhancing drugs, enough so that the problem must be tackled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-rodgers/my-guess-is-many-top-athletes-distance-runners-included-use/) [Bill Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-rodgers/) > [I always tell young athletes the same thing, 'Wherever you go, whatever you do, what must your top priority be? Running.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-gebrselassie/i-always-tell-young-athletes-the-same-thing-wherever-you-go-whatever/) [Haile Gebrselassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-gebrselassie/) > [The most important thing to me is to inspire all these athletes in the next generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-heath/the-most-important-thing-to-me-is-to-inspire-all-these-athletes-in/) [Tobin Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-heath/) > [Somewhere behind the athlete you have become, and hours if practice is a little girl who picked up a ball, fell in love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/somewhere-behind-the-athlete-you-have-become-and-hours-if-practice-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Athletes love challenges, and golf is something you can never master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-horry/athletes-love-challenges-and-golf-is-something-you-can-never-master/) [Robert Horry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-horry/) > [My concentration level blocks out everything. Concentration is why some athletes are better than others. You develop that concentration in training and concentrate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-concentration-level-blocks-out-everything-concentration-is-why/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 601 Athletes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think most athletes want to be told when they make a mistake. They don't want to be coddled. 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