As a coach, there are few things more challenging than keeping football players motivated off the field. You can teach them to master plays and run drills all day, yet fail to understand precisely what makes them tick. While there are several ways to motivate your students, you must first understand that not every player will be receptive to your method. You need to truly learn how they communicate and then choose a style that will feel natural to both parties.
Encourage teamwork. Sure, you likely preach this on the field, but what about outside of the goal lines? The key is not to force harmony as a mother would her bickering children; rather, try to lead through example in your own peer-to-peer interactions and stress the importance of looking out for each other (such as making sure all players are safe getting home from the prom after parties).
Avoid group punishment. A common mistake among coaches is to hold the entire team accountable for one player’s actions. This might mean extra laps because of one of your players showed up late to practice. While this might seem to encourage teamwork on the surface, it actually perpetuates negativity since there is no incentive for individual accountability. Even if the punishment occurs during practice, players will carry the resentment off the field as well.
Reward good behavior off the field. Depending on school policies and your annual budget, you might consider treating the team to a celebratory lunch to let them know you appreciate their hard work and dedication. For example, plan a surprise team party after a particularly grueling week—maybe during standardized testing. It doesn’t always have to be about the game.
Maintain positive relationships with parents. Rather than lecture them on making good grades, a better method of keeping football players motivated is to start at the source—their home lives. Getting to know a player’s parents takes equal parts patience and diligence, but once you understand the influence (or lack thereof) at home, it opens up many more opportunities for successful communication.
Keeping football players motivated can be just as difficult a game as the one they play on the field. It simply comes down to having an awareness of your coaching style and tailoring it to meet the needs of your individual players. Coaching is an all-encompassing sport—one that demands your attention both on and off the field.