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Post by grizzcoach76 on Sept 12, 2013 21:40:25 GMT -6
Coaches,
First, I want to thank everybody for the great information on here. I just found this site and I've already learned a ton.
This is my fifth year coaching (defense) and have always wondered what other coaches do to motivate their players. Specifically, I'm talking about those players that seem to have a switch. Where they can turn it on and be great players or not and simply stand out there on the field and go through the motions. This season I seem to have two or three of those players and can't figure out why one practice they look great and other practices they just don't show up. It seems as though every time I think I figured them out I realize that I just haven't.
I realize this isn't a new concept and is likely payback for my own personal experience as a kid and how I tortured my own coaches. So my question is, what do you guys do to motivate these players. Any help that you can provide to a relatively new coach would be greatly appreciated.
If it is any help I am coaching 11–13 year old players.
Thanks
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Post by goose2w1 on Sept 12, 2013 22:21:47 GMT -6
Got the same age group with the same problems. I've been coaching with my team for 4 years now, and every year we have about 4-5, just like that. The two things that have worked well for me is getting the parents involved and making the players realize that what they do effects the man next to them. These two approaches have worked pretty well. A lot of times the parents can break that boundary, and it helps them feel really involved with the team, win/win. The second approach comes from my military background. I make them know that their actions, or in-actions directly effect the other 10 players on that field with them.
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Post by carrcaleb on Sept 13, 2013 5:13:46 GMT -6
Good thread, I think every coach has dealt with this at one point or another. From my experience connecting with the kids on a personal level can get them to run through a wall for you. Talking with them about things other than football, cutting up and joking with them and really just showing them that you are a human being first football coach second. I am dealing with similar issues this season. The OC(I'm DC) is a tool shed and talks down to the kids and for that reason they shut him out. I have a handful of the most talented players on the squad that refuse to play for this gentleman and will only play defense. If we put them on O, they stand there and do nothing till they get pulled and screamed at by this d bag. This may not be the solution for your particular situation but just thought I would throw it out there. Get to know em and they will give you everything they got. Good luck coach, thats a never ending battle
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Post by grizzcoach76 on Sept 15, 2013 13:29:01 GMT -6
Thanks guys. That's some good advice. I've already started with some of your suggestions and the kids do seem to have responded. We had our first game this weekend and won 27-13. It's a long season though, so we will keep at it.
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Post by fantom on Sept 16, 2013 22:20:42 GMT -6
Coaches, First, I want to thank everybody for the great information on here. I just found this site and I've already learned a ton. This is my fifth year coaching (defense) and have always wondered what other coaches do to motivate their players. Specifically, I'm talking about those players that seem to have a switch. Where they can turn it on and be great players or not and simply stand out there on the field and go through the motions. This season I seem to have two or three of those players and can't figure out why one practice they look great and other practices they just don't show up. It seems as though every time I think I figured them out I realize that I just haven't. I realize this isn't a new concept and is likely payback for my own personal experience as a kid and how I tortured my own coaches. So my question is, what do you guys do to motivate these players. Any help that you can provide to a relatively new coach would be greatly appreciated. If it is any help I am coaching 11–13 year old players. Thanks This isn't just a problem with young kids. It's a problem at all levels including the NFL. I think that you can minimize the problem by being consistently enthusiastic yourself, running well organized practices where everybody keeps moving, and treating the players right. They're human, though, and will have a bad day sometimes. |
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Post by tothehouse on Sept 18, 2013 23:46:44 GMT -6
Put a stop watch on them.
We run a 2 on 1 tackling drill where the runner is 3 yards away from the two tacklers. The runner tries to score...but when contact is made...I start my stopwatch. The two tacklers have to drive the runner back 5 yards and then I stop the clock. We'll get into 4 groups and do this. Winning line wins...losing groups owe push ups (like 2 push ups...nothing crazy).
We try to add these competitive moments into a lot of the practice. This usually gets guys motivated to win that small competition...but in the end...we win because they learn how to go hard.
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Post by coachphillip on Sept 19, 2013 10:03:08 GMT -6
If my guys are sluggish, we do a fire up competitive drill like Coach said. The key is to only do a few and they should be upset when it ends. That way, they're itching for contact going into practice. I would also second being enthusiastic. Spotlight positive play. Also, make sure every kid plays. My OC doesn't utilize everybody on offensive days, so the kids check out if they're not starters. Let the kids know that they're gonna get some PT during team sessions and they'll bust their butts to stay. Like coach was saying, this isn't a youth problem or even a football problem. It's a people problem. Give them respect, motivation, and a purpose.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2013 21:09:45 GMT -6
Coaches, First, I want to thank everybody for the great information on here. I just found this site and I've already learned a ton. This is my fifth year coaching (defense) and have always wondered what other coaches do to motivate their players. Specifically, I'm talking about those players that seem to have a switch. Where they can turn it on and be great players or not and simply stand out there on the field and go through the motions. This season I seem to have two or three of those players and can't figure out why one practice they look great and other practices they just don't show up. It seems as though every time I think I figured them out I realize that I just haven't. I realize this isn't a new concept and is likely payback for my own personal experience as a kid and how I tortured my own coaches. So my question is, what do you guys do to motivate these players. Any help that you can provide to a relatively new coach would be greatly appreciated. If it is any help I am coaching 11–13 year old players. Thanks be yourself, don't use motivational gimmicks, And do not let not play, go hard in practice. you don't have to yell or scream, raise your voice, make them run laps. You are going to run out of motivational gimmick and risk them tuning you out with any of that. And if you demand it without reprecussions that mean anything, you are not really demanding it. |
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