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Practice Purpose Question Guide

Clarify the athlete's question, give a short truthful purpose when you know it, and name a return time for an answer that needs checking.

15 minutes to prepare; review after the actual taskFree · Two-page fillable PDF

Companion to When an Athlete Asks Why at Practice.

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See a worked example

Example: An athlete asks why equipment must be counted. The coach explains the shared return duty, checks that the player understands the return column, and assigns a follow-up for a separate question about damaged gear.

01Hear the question

Write what was asked before assigning an attitude to it.

Athlete's actual question

Part of the assignment they mean

Purpose or instruction clarification needed

Concern requiring immediate program response

02Explain the present task

Use a truthful purpose and a clear action within the responsible coach's role.

Purpose you can support

Current observable assignment

Information the coach still needs

Responsible person for technical clarification

03Plan a useful response

Give the athlete a response and a real return point.

Short answer in ordinary words

Understanding check

Approved setting for longer discussion

Answer owner and promised return time

04Close the loop

Record what was resolved and what still requires action.

Answer actually delivered

Remaining question

Current task now understood

Follow-up or expectation review