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Motivating Your Players

motivatingIt is a good idea to use some simple motivational techniques on your players to get them into a positive frame of mind before each game.

One of my favourites is the ‘warm fuzzy’ sheet.
The sheet has the 22 players in the team (or more or less) written down the left hand margin with the rest of the column left empty.

Each player will receive a sheet and be asked to write a positive comment beside each of his team mate’s names.
The sheet will be returned and each strip will be cut out and placed in the appropriate envelope. In other words Jim gets all the comments on Jim.

The envelope is returned to each player and he can carry it around with him during the season and read it in the shed before he gets changed for the game.


JIM    Has a great fend and balance when on attack. Stays on his feet.
BILL    Great under the high ball and spotting the space to counter attack
JOHN     I love his big tackles!
    

Cue Cards  There are several ways the coach can use a cue card. He can write a personal card to that player and list the two major things that player should concentrate on during the game.

The coach might list five key words or phrases and place them on the changing room wall for the players to digest as they get changed. Better still he could have them on the wall all the week so that the players have ample time to get their focus.
An example could be:  How to play well against team B -  1- Double tackle their No 8  2- Attack the short side at phase play  3- Close in defence get off the line quickly   4- Keep the ball on attack   5- Enjoy yourself.

Using different Triggers can be fun and keep the team relaxed before all the group change in to ‘game mode’ at the same time.
1-    Get all the team to put their boots on at the same time. “Boots on – switch on.”
2-    Everyone wear a cap. When the cap is on the team are relaxing. When the cap is off the players are ‘ready to go’.
3-    Players might be asked to all wear red socks to the game so without realizing it the wearing of the socks already has them focusing on the game and buddying up with their team mates far earlier than normal. It might stop them worrying about their own performance and help them overcome any nervousness if you take a ‘relaxed’ approach to this idea.

Coping Strategies: without getting in to any depth of mental preparation a few simple coping strategies could be tried with your team, or individuals within the team.

As an example if the team has had a bad performance they can throw that performance away at the next training and clear the air. Before training starts the players all put their hands together in the middle and yell out the name of the team they are going to play next week.
This will help them forget about last week and look forward to next week.

Individuals can be taught how to deal with mistakes by clenching their fist and imagining the mistake is in the fist. Then throw the mistake away by unclenching and flicking it aside. Now it is time to move on.

Introduce an idea or two with your team. They are good fun and might just help.