Motivational Strategies for Coaches

The purpose of this booklet is to describe attributes that develop a coaching style that produces motivated athletes and teams; a style that propels players into action, a style that activates the hearts, minds and behaviors of the players. This type of coach understands that motivation is much more than the verbal pre game or half time "pep talk" that many people recognize as "motivation" in coaching.

Motivation is defined as a force that propels people into action. It is the "motive to act", an inner drive. What kind of "action" do you want your coaching to inspire? The ultimate goal in motivation is to get people to do all they are capable of and enjoy it. Leaders who understand and produce a motivating climate get people to go beyond their own perceived limits.

In sport, as in life, either the hope of achieving a particular result or fear of experiencing a specific consequence triggers most internal motivation. As a rule, it is true that most individuals begin coaching as they were coached as athletes. For example, if a person grew up with coaches who used fear as the primary motivator, they typically begin their coaching career using the same tactic.