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Post by nltdiego on Nov 13, 2013 0:40:20 GMT -6
We are the playoffs (16 teams) and have got the 16 seed. We play the number one seed who is a dominant program and we are happy to be in the playoffs for the firs time in school history. Nobody expects us to win including our kids.
How do you motivate kids to play in such a high intense game? What is the message this week?
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Post by spos21ram on Nov 13, 2013 7:13:13 GMT -6
I've always loved this Michael Irvin quote. "They knew they were the better team, and we knew we were gonna win."
You need to get the players to feel they can win the game. Point out all the mistakes your opponent makes in the film you have of them. Show them they make mistakes too. Stress that you can win, but you can't have turnovers and you need to limit the penalties.
I would also stress don't be happy just to be here.
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Post by newhope on Nov 13, 2013 8:19:18 GMT -6
Our thing to our players all season is "I don't care about the team on the other side, I'm only concerned with what we do and how we play". That helps when you get in these situations. Two years ago, we went into the playoffs as a 15 seed, playing against #2. We won in overtime. We won again the next week. We lost the next week on a fluke fourth down play in the fourth quarter. We never talked about how good the other team was, what the seeding was, none of that. We just prepared like we always prepared. Personally, I think it is a mistake to overplay the fact that it's a mismatch--half the battle is whether or not your kids think they can be successful, and the more you stress how good the other team is compared to you, including in terms of "upset" and "beating the #1 seed", the more you are emphasizing to your players that they are not as good. In the end, it's about execution.
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Post by dubber on Nov 13, 2013 9:07:57 GMT -6
Focus on yourself.
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Post by spos21ram on Nov 13, 2013 9:13:08 GMT -6
That's good advice, but if the kid's don't think they can win then that probably isn't going to work by itself. You need to show your team that your opponent can be beat. Somehow, you need to change your players attitude and make them believe they can win. You can do anything and everything, but if your kids are defeated before the game even starts it's going to be a long night. |
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Post by brophy on Nov 13, 2013 9:35:39 GMT -6
also stress the fact that games usually come down to 2 or 3 really big plays that determine the outcome and most times they can come from any aspect of the game (i.e. punt/ko return, 1 explosive offensive play, a takeaway).
These plays don't have to be generated by a stud, either. Largely, these plays will fall into the lap of teams that just are hustling more. So, on paper....yeah, they are a better team.
To win a game doesn't necessarily mean you have to whip the tar out of them for a full 60 minutes. Play smart, don't make errors, give the opponent a fight....and if you hustle more, you can steal wins through one (or two) big plays when they aren't ready for you.
If you never quit, you can't get beat.
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Post by fantom on Nov 13, 2013 9:36:17 GMT -6
We are the playoffs (16 teams) and have got the 16 seed. We play the number one seed who is a dominant program and we are happy to be in the playoffs for the firs time in school history. Nobody expects us to win including our kids. How do you motivate kids to play in such a high intense game? What is the message this week? One thing that I had to learn the hard way is not to change too much. If you put in a lot of new stuff you're sending the message that, in order to have a chance, you have to trick 'em and dyck 'em. A wrinkle here and there is good but wholesale changes only undermine confidence. Be positive in your coaching. Instead of saying, "If we do that we'll get killed", say "For us to win....". In everything that you practice, stress the reasons why it will help you win. Do not give the impression that you'll need to play a perfect game to win. You will not play a perfect game. If you keep hammering away at the idea that you absolutely cannot win if you have penalties, what happens to the kids' confidence the first time that you have a penalty? |
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Post by dubber on Nov 13, 2013 20:22:18 GMT -6
That's good advice, but if the kid's don't think they can win then that probably isn't going to work by itself. You need to show your team that your opponent can be beat. Somehow, you need to change your players attitude and make them believe they can win.
You can do anything and everything, but if your kids are defeated before the game even starts it's going to be a long night. Either they have the attitude to win a playoff game by this point, or they don't. Spend a week talking the opponent down, or talking your team up...........and they may come out fired up, but when that first piece of adversity comes (more than likely the first play when they realize how good these guys are) all that goes out the window. I know what you are saying.......your team can't go in defeated, but they also can't go in and think a line from Henry V is going to carry them for 48 minutes. They need something tangible........and focusing on themselves, taking one play at a time, and above all playing loose is sustainable over the whole game. If the kids don't think they can win, then you got to get them to focus on controllable things. |
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Post by spos21ram on Nov 14, 2013 8:31:34 GMT -6
You need to have a great start also. This doesnt mean you need to score two quick td's, you just need to be in the game at the end of the first quarter. This will give the kids the confidence they need and they will see they can play with them.
As a side note, I'm assuming your opponent is the real deal. Sometimes in these playoff matchups a team that is 10-1
can be a mirage because they play in a terrible conference.
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