Player Reflection Tool
Growth Mindset
HOW IT WORKS
Complete the form
First, complete the 55 questions below as accurately as you can
Choose a topic area
View your results and choose an area to study
Identify two aims
Use video tasks to identify two specific things to work on
Practice to improve
Let your coach know what you are working on
On this page, we will look at something vital called the Growth Mindset. This is important as it may help you to become a better learner. Your mission is to complete all the homework tasks below and identify two key specific things that you want to work on and try to improve in your practice sessions, team training or on your own.
Introduction
Some scientists believe there may be differences in the way people think about learning and intelligence. They have used two terms, the Fixed and Growth Mindsets to try to help explain these differences:
There are those who believe our intelligence is something we are born with, and that our cleverness cannot be developed. These people are said to have a Fixed Mindset.
And then there are those who believe that intelligence can be developed through hardwork and effort and that we can become cleverer. These people are said to have a Growth Mindset.
HOMEWORK TASK 1
Which Mindset do you have? What are your views on intelligence?
Do you believe that with hard work and effort you can get better and cleverer at something? (Growth Mindset) Can you think of examples of things you have learnt through hard work and effort?
Or do you believe that you are what you are, and there is no way to change that? Can you think of examples of things that you were naturally good at and can do well without any effort at all? (Fixed Mindset)
Why is Mindset important?
The reason why this is important is because our views on intelligence affect how we respond to failure, success, challenges and obstacles. Mindset has a great influence on what we are capable of. Let's look at some examples...
HOMEWORK TASK 2
This is Freddie. He has a Fixed Mindset. He believes that he cannot get cleverer, no matter how much work or effort he puts in. Freddie believes that there are some things he is good at and other things that he is not good at. He doesn't believe that he'll ever be good at the things he's bad at, or bad at the things he's good at.
Write your answers to the following questions:
- What would Freddie do when he finds something really really difficult or challenging?
- What would Freddie think when he sees someone else being successful?
- How would Freddie feel when he makes a mistake?
The Fixed Mindset
When a person with a Fixed Mindset (like Freddie) approachs a challenge or makes a mistake, here's what they are likely to say to themselves:
- "Are you sure you can do it? Maybe you don’t have what it takes."
- "People will laugh at you for thinking you had talent."
- "Maybe it's best not to try, then you won't look silly if you fail."
- The Fixed Mindset person is likely to look at others who are successful and think "I can never do that! I'm not good enough!".
HOMEWORK TASK 3
This is Gina. She has a Growth Mindset. She believes that with hard work and effort she can improve her ability to do anything. Gina is good at some things, and she believes she became good at them because of the hard work she put in.
Write your answer to the following questions:
- What would Gina do when she finds something really really difficult or challenging?
- What would Gina think when she sees someone else being successful?
- How would Gina feel when she makes a mistake?
The Growth Mindset
When someone like Gina (with a Growth Mindset) finds something difficult, here's what they might say to themselves:
- "I may not be able to do this straight away, but I think I can with time and effort."
A Growth Mindset person knows that mistakes are part of learning. Mistakes do not mean that you cannot do it. They just mean that you are trying new things and haven't worked them out yet.
And when they see someone else who is successful, they will think "Wow, if they can do it, so can I" or "They must have worked very hard and made lots of mistakes to get that good!". A person with a Growth Mindset finds inspiration in the success of others.
Current scientific research supports the view that intelligence can be developed. In other words, scientists have done lots of studies, and they believe in the Growth Mindset. We strongly encourage you to adopt a Growth Mindset too.
What can you do
In reality, there are very few people like Freddie and Gina. Most of us have times when we have a Growth Mindset and other times when we have a Fixed Mindset. Maybe we have a Growth Mindset about sports but a Fixed Mindset about classwork, or maybe we have a Growth Mindset when we are full of energy but a Fixed Mindset when we are tired.
Here are some tips to help you become more of a Growth Mindset person:
- Notice what you say to yourself. Are your messages Fixed Mindset or Growth Mindset? When you hear the Fixed Mindset messages, ignore them and choose a Growth Mindset instead.
- Practice saying to yourself "Yes I can do this!". Take on challenges. Don't be scared of making mistakes.
- Make a list of things you think you are good at. Recognise how you got good at these things. Were you born with these abilities or did you learn them?
HOMEWORK TASK 4
Watch one of the videos below, either US World Cup Winner, Carli Lloyd or tennis superstar, Roger Federer.
- Which of the attributes of the Growth Mindset can you find in their stories?
HOMEWORK TASK 5
Read the scenario below and answer the questions:
Jimmy is 8 years old. He has been the best footballer in his school for as long as he can remember. He was the first in his class to get picked for the local club team. Everyone tells him he's great at football, and that he has a natural talent. He has never needed to work hard on his football, he's always just been good at it.
But in the past few months, Jimmy has started to get frustrated. Several of his friends have caught up so they are as good as him, and now he is no longer the best in the school. Jimmy feels like he doesn't want to try his hardest in football games anymore because he's worried that if he loses the game then it will prove that he is no longer as good as he was.
What should Jimmy do about his situation? What advice would you give him?
Dear Learner,
Welcome to your HOMEWORK page! Here you will learn about your chosen topic. It is a good idea to save the URL for this page to your favourites so you can easily return to it when you need to.
You need to work through the tasks on the page, one at a time. This might mean watching videos, it might mean doing other tasks and activities. It may be a good idea to take notes also. Remember that the more work and effort you put into the tasks, the more you will learn and the better you will become.
For most topics, there will be a PRINT OUT at the bottom of the page. You need to print this, complete the questions, and take to your coach. You need to do this so the coaches know what you are working on and are able to help you.
If any of the links on this page are broken, or you have other ideas or suggestions, please get in touch at:
Contact
Mark Carter
mark@ministry-of-football.com
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Once you have completed all the homework, click on the 'Print the form' link. This will open a form which you need to print out and complete. Take this completed form to your coach.
Then click here to move onto the last part of the Tool.
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Mark Carter
mark@ministry-of-football.com
07772 716 876