An effective strategy for casting corrective feedback in a positive tone is to sandwich it between positive comments (figure 2.2). This approach works well because it builds athletes' confidence while also providing information about what they can do to improve. It takes the sting out of corrective feedback. One caveat: Avoid using the word but. Everything you say before this word gets discounted, and everything you say after it gets magnified: "You had a great setup for the double leg takedown, but you did not lead with your hip. All the athlete will hear is "you did not lead with your hip." With the sandwich approach, you'd say, "You had a great setup on the double-leg takedown. Next time lead with your hip. Keep working hard and it'll come. In the heat of the action, when time limited, phrase your abbreviated feedback positively.