A self-motivated, talented soccer player that loves the game is a coach's dream. Of the hundreds of soccer players that a coach may come into contact with each year, only a few fit this description. Why? Are we doing something wrong as soccer coaches, parents of soccer players, or league administrators; or is it just happenstance that so few youth players seem to be self-motivated to improve and play hard? How many young soccer players do you know that actually do their off day or off season training without a phone call from their coach or coaxing from a parent? How do we help get a young soccer player to the turning point--self-motivation to play and practice the game?
This article is based on experiences with, and observations of, high-level soccer players and youth players from various levels and ages. The comments in this article are not based on any statistical or clinical study, meaning that the conclusions are subjective and could be dead wrong. Also, this article is not about the pre-game motivational speech that many coaches (including me) pride themselves on, thinking it was that speech that motivated the team to a great game. That one-time, spirited show of emotion before a game can motivate a team to play well but that type of motivation ends with the game. How do we, as soccer coaches and parents of soccer players, get a player to the turning point, i.e., long term, self-motivation to play hard during the high mental and physical stress experienced while playing soccer? That is the focus of this article.
What affects a young soccer player's motivation? When asked this question, one response is a shrug of the shoulders and the bold statement by a coach that some kids are born with a strong will to compete and win, others are not. This response assumes some type of genetic predisposition to compete during sporting activity. The more complicated answer has us look at the player's home environment, coach, pier pressure, success with the game, and the player's psychological make-up, i.e., how a player responds to challenges, adversity, and competition during the periods of physical pain experienced while playing and practicing the game. All of these factors have some sort of an effect on an athlete's willingness to compete under high stress but, for the young soccer player, one of these factors stands out far above the rest, home environment.
First a Realistic Assessment of a Players Motivation to Play Hard In order to determine if a player is self-motivated to work hard at practice and at games, that player must be observed when taxed physically and mentally. For example, when a team needs a break from hard practices, a coach may have the team play a form of soccer golf or baseball. It is fun and simple. Every player seems motivated and enjoys the practice. Without the stress of a hard, tiring practice, even the completely unmotivated player that merely appears at practice to please his or her parents or friends seems motivated. Put that player under the stress of a tough, physically demanding game or practice and it seems like you have a different player on your roster. Motivation can only be judged when the times are tough, not when the players are basking in the sun during an occasional easy practice day.
Some hard working, self-motivated players get frustrated with an easy day of soccer golf--whether they need it to recover or not. While that type of player wants to be constantly challenged at practice and is impatient to improve technique or team tactics, the unmotivated player merely enjoys the day, hoping for another like it soon. During tough times, it is easy to separate the players that want to learn, i.e., that are self-motivated, from the players that appear at practice or for a game for the wrong reasons. One slight problem when using this measuring stick, some very motivated players that truly want to do well for the right reasons, seem to hold back during adversity on the field not because they are unwilling to work, learn and improve without prompting, but because they lack confidence during play or generally suffer from low self esteem in most life situations. The distinction must be made by the coach or a highly motivated soccer player may slip through the crack.
To determine how to motivate a player, a soccer coach must take time to understand the player. As mentioned, the best way to do this is to observe the player under mental and physical stress during and after a tough game or a tough workout. How did the player respond to the tough challenges on the field? Did the player back down or dig in and compete? After a loss or a bad play, was the player concerned or uncaring? At the point of high fatigue, in an anaerobic state, was the player able to push through the pain and continue to compete or did the player take the easy way and allow his or her teammate or the opponent to get to the ball first. When lactic acid fills the muscles or painful oxygen debt occurs, the body screams for rest. Usually the self-motivated, confident soccer player is able to make another exhausting diagonal run when others quit. The answers to the above questions for the self-motivated, confident player are obvious.
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