Three Recommended Frameworks for Reviewing Your Sports Performance

Athletes, have you ever written notes or kept a training journal? You may have heard of “soccer notebooks” or “table tennis journals” that focus on specific sports.

But why do athletes write these notes?

The primary goal is simple: to reflect and improve. It’s important to document not only what happened in training or competitions but also how you and your team performed and what you should do moving forward.

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The Benefits of Reviewing Your Performance

1. Identifying Challenges

Looking back at your training or matches allows you to analyze your own performance, your team’s strategy, and your opponents’ tactics from a broader perspective. You might realize, “At that moment, I thought this was the best choice, but looking back, I should have done something different.” These insights help you discover both your strengths and areas for improvement.

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2. Preventing Forgetfulness

Psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus’s forgetting curve suggests that people forget 50% of what they learn within an hour, 70% within a day, and 80% within a month. In sports, you often receive advice from coaches, recognize key moments, or discover useful techniques—but without documentation, these insights can fade quickly. Writing them down helps you retain and apply them more effectively.

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3. Boosting Self-Confidence

Imagine consistently documenting your training and seeing a growing collection of your efforts—like completing a stamp rally. Over time, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment: “I’ve worked this hard!” Your progress log becomes a source of motivation and self-assurance.

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Three Recommended Review Frameworks

If you're convinced of the benefits of reflection but unsure how to structure it, here are three simple frameworks to help you get started. Try incorporating one into your routine!

1. Good – Bad – Next

This is the simplest and most commonly used framework among Growin users. Reflect on:

✔ Good: What went well?

✖ Bad: What didn’t go well?

➡ Next: What will you do next time?

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2. YWT (Did – Didn’t Understand – Next Action)

This framework introduces a unique element: “Didn’t Understand.” In every training session or match, there are always questions or uncertainties. Addressing these doubts by researching or seeking advice can lead to valuable growth.

✔ Y (Yatta / Did): What did I do?

❔ W (Wakaranai / Didn’t Understand): What questions or uncertainties do I have?

➡ T (Tsugi Yaru Koto / Next Action): What should I try next time?

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3. Keep – Problem – Try

A well-known framework in the business world, this structure emphasizes continuing what works. Often, we focus on mistakes and challenges, but it’s equally important to recognize and build on what’s going well.

✔ Keep: What should I continue doing?

✖ Problem: What needs improvement?

➡ Try: What new approach will I test?

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Conclusion

These are just three examples of reflection frameworks, but Growin users utilize a variety of formats. The key is finding a structure that suits you best.

Reflecting on your training may feel tedious—you might prefer to spend that time gaming or watching TV. But investing just a few minutes in reviewing your performance today can significantly impact your future progress.

Growin makes this process easier and more convenient. Start using Growin for your reflections and take your performance to the next level!

Reference:

"Efficient Ways to Improve Performance Through Training and Match Reflections" – Sakamama