Good pass! Nice shot! Good job! Way to go! Great try! ...wait a minute. We're missing something here. The pass went to the other team, the shot went over the sideline, the trap was missed, and the run was stopped too soon. What are thinking? We are reinforcing the wrong behavior.
Picture this: the family dog (me) is laying in the middle of the floor. The master tells the dog to go get the mail. The dog looks at him, and begins to laugh. A few seconds pass and the master again tells the dog to get the mail. The mail is laying on the ground, just inside the door. Dog looks at mail. Mail lies on ground. Dog lays on ground. Master tells dog to get mail. The tension builds.
Finally the dog gets up on all fours. The master, thrilled to death that he will be getting his mail soon says "Good dog." The dog walks over to the master to get thanks. The master says, "no, you have to get the mail first." The dog stares at the master waiting for the reward. There is no reward. There is a long silence. The dog lays on the ground. The mail lays on the grounds. The dog waits for the reward. The master looks at the mail.
Okay. The master says, "Get the mail." The dog gets up, and walks over to the mail. Another quiet moment of anticipation. Finally, the dog reaches down and picks up the mail in her mouth. The master says "good dog." The dog drops the mail. The dog walks over to the master. The dog waits for reward. The master says "doh" in his best Homer Simpson voice. The dog lays down. The mail lays on the ground. The master looks at the dog.
Dog is confused. When dog gets up on all fours she hears "Good dog." Therefore, every time dog gets up on all fours, it is a good thing and the human will be happy. But he isn't happy. Dog is confused. When dog gets up on all fours and bites the mail, she hears "Good dog." Therefore, every time dog gets up on all fours and bites the mail, it is a good thing and the human will be happy. But he still isn't happy.
There is positive reinforcement (Good dog) when the dog does an action. Therefore the dog expects that she is doing the right thing prior to the reinforcement. But the master is really freaking out because he doesn't understand why his dog is so slow, and why he still doesn't have his mail... that, incidentally, remains motionless in the middle of the floor. Covered in doggy drool with cute little canine tooth impressions.
It doesn't take a brain surgeon to apply this model to soccer: Player kicks ball out of play. Coach says "nice pass." Player realizes that passing out isn't always a bad thing, and that the coach gives encouragement even though his team just gave the ball away. So what do you say? How about nothing. Let's see how this works.
Master says "get the mail." Dog gets up on all fours. Master says nothing. Dog walks toward mail. Master says nothing. Dog picks up mail in her mouth and looks at the master. Master says nothing. The dog brings the mail to the master. Master takes the mail from the dog and says "Good Dog!!!" All is well. Both master and dog have learned. There is still the ever-so-important positive reinforcement that players (and dogs) need, but it is saved for that special occasion in which the proper actions are performed.
Here is a really important piece of advice. Be positive when the play deserves accolades. Be critical when play needs to be corrected. Be silent when the play is neither deserving of praise nor criticism. Above all, have fun.
Ciao for Now.