Intensity and Motivation
“Our Athletes continue to improve, but they are never intense. They are not passionate about the game (which is hard when the coaches are). It almost seems like they are content with being mediocre and losing games. I’m not sure how to approach these girls. “
1. Keep letting your own enthusiasm for the game and for competition show, but not your frustration.
2. Incorporate as much competition as possible into every part of practice. Have winning and losing teams (with fun-type "motivators" for winning or losing) for almost everything, and make a big deal out of winning. And, by the way, "winner" can be defined as the team that tries the hardest.
3. Expose them to higher levels of aggressiveness by having them; a) watch some good teams play (live, of course, if possible); b) bring in a few highly-motivated players to mix in with the JV team as role models; c) have a couple of well-meaning boys join the practices.
4. Now for the hard one -- EXPECT them to be motivated and competitive, don't TELL them to be. Show it in everything that you do and say in a way that makes it fun for them to "jump on the bandwagon." It's the age-old COMMAND vs. DEMAND dilemma; you can't DEMAND respect for your point of view, however you can, through your sensible commitment, COMMAND it.
1. Make it fun. Fun is the single most important motivating factor for girls in sports, and what makes it fun for them is the social aspect. Show them by example how fun it is to dig a spike, hit through a block, to work hard and challenge each other. Often being intense doesn't feel fun to girls until you show them the joy of meeting challenges.
2. Tap into their dreams, their source of motivation. Have each player write a paragraph on why they play volleyball. What is it they love about the game? By the end of the season, how do they want to improve themselves as a player and a person? Girls can be the toughest competitors around once you find the key that unlocks their source of motivation.
3. Have a team decision-making day. Have them share their paragraphs on why they play and their individual goals. What do they need from themselves and each other to accomplish these goals during practice and games? What do they want to accomplish as a team? How do they want to improve as a team? Put these goals in a visible place and assess your progress towards them periodically.
4. Understand their resistance. When you aren't getting the response you want, look for the resistance. What's keeping them from feeling the intensity? Many girls aren't comfortable expressing the aggression it takes to feel intense at crunch time. Others don't know how to access it or fear it might make them less feminine.
5. Focus on doing the right things and 1% improvement goals.
6. Feed the dreams. Show them what's possible. Have a top player talk and train with them. Develop female role models and mentors. Watch videotapes of great matches, showing how great athletes compete at crunch time.
1. What about a team trip to see a team play that excels and wins a lot and makes it look easy and fun . . . something to inspire the team.
2. Maybe have the coach organize a team gathering outside the gym and talk about the intensity thing and then maybe she will realize that some of the players should not be playing...because unless the chemistry is all there, there is none.
1. Teaching the athletes to take pride in their program has been beneficial for me even though I coach at the DI level. Developing a sense of oneness through goal setting, challenging yet fun practices and drills, team gatherings outside of volleyball, encouraging them to play volleyball in the junior development program where they can continually improve their skills.
2. I also believe that any common bonding thing you can do is great - maybe a Trust Walk with athletes taking turns leading each other through an obstacle course blindfolded. This is fun, yet challenging and you can talk about at the end of the exercise how it relates to volleyball and the team. Be creative.