Anonymous wrote:And I suppose none of you give rewards for A's on a report card.
Rewards can be motivating to kids, the problem you have is what parents may choose to reward. If done properly and judiciously they can be used to help break bad habits or create new ones. They can also backfire. But if you think the juice box at the end of the game or the ice cream waiting for them isn't a Pavlovian reward for participating on a day that they perhaps had to be dragged out of bed or away from their favorite cartoon to go and play than you are lying to yourself.
But an A on a report card is, without question, the best thing you can do in a class.
Scoring a goal might not be the best thing for the team. Maybe someone else had a better shot. Or maybe the poor coach is watching a bunch of kids fight with each other to score goals while no one plays defense or moves the ball through midfield.
Want to promise a kid ice cream if he/she gives a good effort in a game -- or actually BEHAVES in a game? OK, fine. But don't save your rewards for the kids who hang out in front of the Pugg goal for a shot at big money.