Motivation

Motivation can be real tricky, having a group of a dozen or so athletes, it can be difficult for them to all focus on the same thing. 

Our main goal is to educate coaches in finding different ways to motivate their athletes, and keep everyone focused on the game. 

  • Lessing the external motivation from the coaches 
  • Having Fun
  • Athletes learning to find their own motivation within the game.

Why Speeches are not always effective

Seeing super motivational speeches in movies and TV shows is a real exciting moment for viewers and coaches seem to want to replicate it whenever they get the chance. The issue is that if used to often these speeches get bland and boring and have a negative effect on athletes. 

When given to many external motivators an athlete becomes dependent on them and they may lose any internal motivation they might have.   

Internal Motivation has proved time and time again a great indicator on athletes who succeed in their respective sport. When any athlete can find a reason to be excited to practice or play without being told to it only increase their level of play!

How to Foster and Grow Internal Motivation

Now if not already well seasoned on coaching youth sports it can be really difficult to find ways to create internal motivation in these young athletes. 

The easiest way we have found is to create a fun and open environment within practice. Parents sign up kids for these sports without a second thought, so it could be that the athlete does not have a reason for themselves to be there. If you practice in a rigid manner where all you do is drills and conditioning the athlete will not be motivated to participate or get better in practice. 

Having a fun and cohesive practice that incorporates games and competition will allow the athlete to have more fun and want to come more often, do not neglect the sport skills though, find ways to have fun while learning new skills!

Easy How To's

Motivation can be created in many different ways; a few examples are provided below to help guide you!

  • In basketball play games of 3 on 3 where the team that scores get to stay on the court, have a few games going as to not have any one just sitting around.
  • In soccer, have 4 attackers play against 3 defenders, play in teams with athletes always rotating in and out.

The main point is to grow motivation inside these young athletes you have to get them engaged in the sport you're coaching. Teaching is very important, but when it becomes the majority of the practice time kids no longer pay attention to the skills being taught. Plan practices that have team building activities and engage the kids in a fun active environment.