03: Grow Coach Newsletter

Soccer Coaching: Motivate your players

Jan 11, 2024

A warm welcome from JustCoachMD. We are happy to have you on board. This is our second newsletter and the first one of 2024.

Here is what to expect:

What is motivation and its key elements?
Coaching tips and action steps to develop motivation.
Session Share: Three Team Game.
Problem/Fix: Identify and fix a common error young players make.
Spotlight: How to coach receiving skills.
Coach Project: Take some action to improve player motivation.

‘‘Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better’’

(Angelou, M)

In the book ‘‘Drive’’ by Daniel H Pink (2009) the author suggests that motivation is broken down into three key areas. Autonomy, mastery, and purpose. The book argues that traditional carrot-and-stick approaches do not work for continual long-term progress.

Pink suggests that carrot-stick approaches, reduce intrinsic motivation, diminish performance and stifle creativity. He suggests that intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are essential components of sustained success.

Types of Motivation:

Intrinsic Motivation: Driven by factors such as personal satisfaction and passion for the game.

Extrinsic Motivation: Relates to external rewards or consequences like money, praise, or recognition.

Autonomous Motivation: Involves self-driven, voluntary participation, often linked with personal values and interests.

Type I vs Type X Motivation

The concepts of Type I and Type X motivation are used by Pink to give context between the different approaches to motivation.

Type I Motivation

These types of people are driven by internal factors and find lots of joy and satisfaction in the task itself. They engage in activities because they enjoy them and find them meaningful.

Players who are type I motivated are aligned with the three pillars of autonomy, mastery, and purpose. The player knows the direction/path they want to follow. They have a strong urge to get better at soccer and possess a clear sense of purpose.

Players who are motivated in this way tend to get higher levels of satisfaction and offer sustained levels of commitment. They are internally motivated to succeed.

Type X Motivation

These types of performers are generally motivated by external rewards. This might be in the form of praise, rewards, punishments, or fear of negative consequences.

Players who are type X characters are often aligned with the carrot-and-stick approach to drive their standards and behaviors. This can be a problem when a task requires creativity or includes elements of complexity.

In the short term, this approach can work. Players will comply, however, the continual use of this type of motivation (carrot and stick) might reduce dedication and creativity over a longer time.

In summary, Pink suggests motivation can be enhanced greatly by encouraging autonomy, mastery, and purpose which leads to more successful and sustainable outcomes.

‘‘ Quality is not an act, its a habit’’

(Aristotle)

How Can We Apply This Logic to Aid Player Development?

Autonomy:

Individualized Performance Plans:

Allow players some autonomy in choosing aspects of their training plans, such as specific skill drills or areas of performance they want to get better at. This fosters a sense of ownership over their development. Example: A player might choose to work on their finishing.

Decision Making:

Involve players in tactical discussions and decision-making processes during practices. This empowers them to contribute ideas, enhancing their sense of autonomy within the team. Tip: Let the players choose their tactics for a game or an aspect of the session.

Mastery:

Skill Development Sessions:

Organize targeted skill development sessions (Based on development plans), focusing on individual players’ strengths and areas for improvement. Providing regular opportunities for mastery builds confidence and competence. Tip: Ask your players to arrive early or stay a little later to practice, group them up with players with similar needs, and give them a little extra.

Challenging Activities:

Integrate challenging activities that push players slightly beyond their current skill levels. This encourages continuous improvement and a dedication to mastering various aspects of the game. Tip: Use small-sided games of 3v3 or 4v4 with conditions that include decisions.

Purpose:

Team Missions:

Establish a clear team mission and values that extend beyond winning games. Emphasize the collective purpose of the team, creating a sense of belonging and a shared commitment to a larger goal. Tip: Share collective session mastery goals or targets with players pre-session to set the scene and increase motivation.

Engagement:

Have your groups engage with the groups above or below them. This could be through mixed training sessions every other week or by bumping players up and down at various points during a season. Tip: Relate this to setting standards, being a good role model, chasing the next level, finding motivation from others, and leading by example when you practice.

8 Coach Tips: To Improve Intrinsic Motivation…

Use Session Mastery Goals: Define specific, achievable challenges for every session to provide players with a sense of purpose and direction.
Individualized Approach: Choose 2-3 players each session and remind them of their unique motivations (what they want to get better at) then give them a personalized target to go after.
Positive Reinforcement: Constantly recognize and reward effort, fostering a positive environment that fuels intrinsic motivation. Shout a person’s name and be specific about what they did that you liked!!!
Healthy Competition: At some point during every activity you deliver, instill a competitive challenge. This could be for an individual to achieve or a team versus a team, effort. Competition can boost camaraderie and have a positive effect on boosting motivation.
Regular Feedback Sessions: Establish open communication channels, offering constructive feedback to keep players engaged and motivated.
Variety in Training: Keep sessions dynamic and energetic, preventing monotony and reigniting players’ passion for the game. Great sessions have a feel, look at your players, you should be able to tell if they are enjoying it.
Inspiring Role Models: Share stories of successful players from the age above or age below. The aim is to inspire and motivate players to strive for greatness using achievable examples.
Team-building Activities: Integrate fun teamwork activities such as relays, races, and obstacle courses as part of warm-up activities. This will foster a strong team bond that creates a sense of togetherness and shared purpose.

A Final Note

COACHES, you should be looking to inspire your player’s performance by unlocking the power of intrinsic motivation. Shift the player’s focus from extrinsic rewards to intrinsic factors such as autonomy, mastery, and purpose.

Develop autonomy by providing the players with personalized plans that include decision-making. Use skill mastery sessions and challenging activities to promote continuous improvement.

Instil purpose by defining collective team missions and engaging the players with the age groups above and below them.

‘‘Teams don’t learn, individuals within the team learn. Development is a personal process, even when conducted in a team environment’’
(Cruyff, J)

Bonus Tips: Actionable Ways Improve Motivation

STEPS:

Involve the players: Be sure to seek advice and opinions from the players, and try to identify what they like and what they don’t like. Then give them more of what they like and less of what they don’t like. Be sure that this does not neglect the needs of the players (If so you may need to have a chat about this with the players).
Improve the environment: Is it possible to play music while the players are arriving to training, can you use fun arrival activities while you get set up? Are there fun matchday routines that you could implement?
Understand the player’s needs: Take time to get to know each player, as a minimum you should know what they would like to get better at and what their super strength is.

By using the tips above coaches should be well-equipped to provide a highly supportive environment in which growth, intrinsic motivation, and mastery are cultivated.

Session Share:

3 Team Possession- Build Up Wide or Central

Aim:

Connect 3 - 5 passes in the outer zones then switch play via the wide or central zone.

Set-Up:

30 (L) by 20 (W) space, place a pair of mini goals at each end of the pitch. Place a 3 by 12 (L) by 3 (W) chancel on each side of the pitch.
3 Teams of 4 players: 2x teams attacking (blacks, blues), one team defending (reds).
Blacks and blues are positioned in the outer areas 3 players in each outer zone, then 1 x black and 1 x blue in each of the side zones.
When the ball is on the opposite side a black or blue can drop into the central zone to help get the ball through to the other outer zone.
Reds operate centrally and send 1-2 players into the outer zone to win back the ball. They can win the ball at any point and score in the mini-goals they are facing.

How to Play:

The ball always starts in an outer area. The players connect 3-5 passes and then transfer the ball to the opposite zone via the wide or central players.
The Reds win the ball and score in the mini-goals where the attack started. The reds can send 1-2 players in to press and the central players can press the wide and central zone players to win back the ball.
Rotate the teams so each one gets to attack and defend.

Problem: Not Scanning Before the Ball Arrives!!!

Are your players forgetting to scan their surroundings?

The ball is traveling towards the player and their eyes are fixed on it. They do not look away, they are focused on the movement of the ball. The players do not know what they are going to do with the ball because they have not got a picture ahead of time.

This often results in extra touches of the ball whilst the player figures out what to do with it. There may be a turnover in possession, or the player’s confidence can start to be affected. Failure to scan is a common issue I see with many players.

Look out for this next time you are coaching!!!

Fix: Scan and Plan!!

If this is something you see, the solution is encouraging the player to scan before the ball arrives and have a plan ahead of time. The player should check for the following (T.O.P.S):

Tip: Coaches can use the T.O.P.S acronym to remind players:

T: Teammate (Who might they connect with)
O: Options (Dribble, pass, turn)
P: Pressure (Where is the defender)
S: Space (how much or little is available)

Scanning is an efficient way to give the player more time, space, and options to make their next choice. A bi-product of improving scanning is composure. Because the player knows what is coming they are ready for it and therefore more composed when it happens.

Topic: Back Foot Receiving Skills!!

Why is it important:

Process Infomation Faster: Players can see the game from a wider lens and thus process the information to act quicker.
360 Vision: It makes it easier to scan for more options and opportunities without being limited by the direction they are facing.
Better Control: It allows the player to cushion the ball into their path for a smoother next action and increase the chances of retaining possession.
Momentum: It helps a team to maintain an attacking momentum. The player minimizes the time between the 1st touch and distributing the ball elsewhere.
Fundamental Skill: Receiving is vital to every player every action of the field starts with a reception before the next action.

How to coach it:

Scan: Scan your surroundings, before the ball arrives or when it is traveling between players to check for teammates, options, pressure, and space.
Stance: Take up a forward-facing body position to allow for a quicker attack. Consider using a no-touch turn if the space allows.
Touch: Cushion the ball into your path and toward your next pass/option. Keep it away from pressure.
Time between touches: Limit the time between the 1st touch and the 2nd touch. A player who takes the 1st touch then uses their other foot to perform the next action increases their chances of keeping the ball.

Coach Project

Objective: Establish goals, targets, and struggles of the players you coach!!!

Task: Pose these questions to the players you coach. Could be done as homework or in groups, before or after a session.

List 3 targets or goals for the next 3 months of the season.
Identify 3 barriers or challenges you think your team might face in the next 3 months.
Share 3 ways that your goals/targets will help you contribute to the team whilst improving your overall game.

The answers should give coaches some context about each player’s targets. Secondly, it highlights some struggles the team may face. Finally, it gives the athlete some ownership in the goal-setting process. (Gilbert, W. 2016)

Worksheet: Athlete and Coach Shared Goal Setting Worksheet

Objective: Take this one step further and establish season-long goals.

Athlete Goals:

What do you believe is possible this season?

Coach goal feedback:

What the coach believes is possible and what challenges might affect the achievement of the goals.

Updated and confirmed goals:

Based on the coach’s feedback, write some updated goals

Adapted from Gibert W 2017, coaching better every season.

Please feel free to get in touch or share your ideas, actions, and interventions. We would love to hear from you. If you have any questions post them here and we will do our best to answer them.