Motivating Players On Matchday
Inspirational Video (Turn your speakers up!)
(You have my permission to use, forward and play this to
your friends, players, fellow coaches and parents)
This is a popular topic that is resounding around many clubs.
Simply because its a very valid topic and one that is crucial to the performance and well being of our team, especially on matchday.
If I were to write a formula on Soccer Motivation it would be this:
GOOD PREPARATION + POSITIVE MENTAL AROUSAL = A TEAM WILLING TO PLAY FOR EACH OTHER AND WANTING TO SUCCEED COME WHAT MAY
Bit of a long winded ‘formula’ but I was never much use at maths! However I’m sure you get the picture.
Let’s disect that formula and also discover how to use the concepts of Motivation to create that positive mental state we want our players in just before the game.
Motivation can be used to get our players in the correct frame of mind, energise their performance and create a positive mind set. Obviously their is a lot of work that goes in before hand - the preparation - that supports your players mindset before matchday.
So lets get to the nitty gritty and find out how to motivate our players and how to use motivation on matchday.
The Concepts Of Motivation
To help us to undestand how we can best use this ‘drill’, we first need to understand how it works.
I’ve listed 4 main topics of motivation relevant to our sport. They are:
1. Shared ownership of our destiny - where the team and individuals want to be heading
2. Earining each others trust and respect
3. Believing in each others ability
4. Being mentally tough by developing team spirit and challenging each other to be better.
To achieve each of the above, our players must feel that they are totally prepared both physically and mentally for the challenges that soccer will bring.
But that’s why we train, don’t we - to prepare for matchday? Yes, but we need to enhance our training sessions to have purpose.
Ask yourself why you do certain drills with certain players. Is it to go through the motions and becasue that’s what you think the player(s) need? Or is there a purpose to that particular drill and if so do the players now what you’re trying to achieve?
If they don’t, then tell them, because the more you start to communicate openly with your players the greater the outcomes of your training sessions and hopefully matchday too. A player that feels he’s prepared and knows his job - and the importance of that job - is a player that will feel confident in his ability and confident in the ability of his team.
A great ‘by-product’ of confidence is trust, and when players trust their own ability and instincts, they play in a totally different zone to anyone else.
OK, so our players feel well prepared. You have increased their communication and created a team that wants to play for each other. At the same time you have reinforced each players self identity and built their self esteem.
So now it’s matchday and they’re obviously very nervous. You are too…it’s a big game. So how do you approach this sitiuation.
Firstly, your nerves must not show. You must tell yourself that you are here because you deserve to be here. You are here on merit. Now tell your players the same thing.
Now The Motivation
Positive arousal can be done in many ways. Youth players will respond in different ways to different motivators, but I believe the best responses come from video and music or even better, a combination of both. This is easy to achieve via a portable TV, laptop or projector and or stereo system - use what tools you have.
Show them an edited film of a great game - maybe even one of their own (get the parents involved and use their footage).
One of my favourites is the Champions League Final, 2005, Liverpool v AC Milan - you know the game. Liverpool were 3-0 down at half time and came back to win the game on penalties. Even Man Utd fans enjoyed that game, because of the will to succeed and play for each other was just as great when they were losing. It’s a great display of the will to succeed and keeping motivated and never losing sight of your dreams.
Here are some questions you could ask your team and also get them to ask themselves too, because they will show you who’s ready for the challenge and who’s ready to accept the challenge of the game.
Ask:
1. Are you willing to sacrifice as a team in order to achieve?
2. Are you willing to put in the hard work?
3. Can you push through the pain barrier, even when it hurts?
4. Are you willing to practice with intensity?
5. Can you persist until you achieve your goals?
6. Are you willing to be the best you can?
If video and music are not practical, then nothing can come close to a motivational speech. I’m not going to write it for you, but here are some pointers that will help you get an idea of what makes the human mind tick in situations of stress - like matchday.
Ask your players ‘why’ they are here today. Are they here to merely be a part of the game or are they here to take the game by the scruff of the neck and show themselves and each other what they’re made of.
Notice I didn’t mention the other team - forget about them and concentrate on your team.
Ask them, if they think they can compete.
Ask them if they think they deserve to be here today.
Talk about courage - not hiding from the ball. Show each other that you want the ball all the time, no matter what the score line is.
Talk about bravery - what it takes to cross that line on a saturday - or whichever day you play.
Ask them if they are here to win - this is one of the strongest motivators for players who want to succeed.
Motivation is about offering your players a vision. It’s about empowering them to make the right decisions on the pitch. It’s about enabling them to have a shared ownership of their quest for excellence.
Motivation is about changing hope to belief and fear to confidence.
Now you’re empowered….go motivate!