You’ve probably considered how to encourage your team as a coach. It may appear to be a simple assignment on some days, while on others, you may believe you have no influence on player motivation. Let’s define motivation first.
Motivation is determined by the direction and strength of effort, which implies it’s not just about how much work someone puts in but also about what they put that energy toward. Your players may show up for practice, indicating that they are driven, but if they lack attention and effort while there, they may not be as committed as you believe.
As a coach, you may have a significant influence on your players’ motivation; however, as you may know, inspiring your squad can be difficult: Individuals make up your team, and a person’s motivation may be influenced by a variety of circumstances that change from day to day, making motivation a complicated and diverse procedure.
Because motivation is the driving factor behind most of what we do and the decisions we make, consider the following strategies to better understand and influence your players’ motivation:
Get to know your players: Each athlete is driven by a particular set of factors. Some athletes are driven by internal causes such as a desire to improve their abilities or a desire to play, while others are motivated by external incentives such as recognition, winning the title, and so on. If you can figure out what motivates each athlete, you can support them when they need it. When it comes to motivation, every person is not the same at all, and these domestic and foreign elements can coexist. One player, for example, may value good comments because it helps her understand what she has to improve on, but she dislikes being complimented in front of the group. You may believe you’re motivating her by providing her with nice feedback, but when she hears it in front of the group, she may suffer a loss in the drive. Take note of how your players respond in the circumstances like these.
Urge people to be intrinsically motivated: While both internal and external variables can help people become more driven, research has shown that enhancing intrinsic motivation is the greatest option for a long-term drive. This makes sense: a player who is mostly driven by the enjoyment of the game and the want to see herself develop is more likely to stick with it longer than one who is mainly motivated by the desire to win games and receive accolades. Keep in mind that while the desire to win and beat others is admirable when these extrinsic reasons are the main motivators, the athlete may lose interest and leave the activity. As a coach, you may foster intrinsic motivation by assisting athletes in recognizing their progress, providing positive comments relating to skill development, and having players discuss what they did well and what they have learned.
Although motivation is a complicated and dynamic phenomenon, coaches and parents may improve the motivation of individuals and teams in a variety of ways.