As a football coach, your job is to take the talent you have and put them in the right position to win games. But if coaching was that simple, almost anyone could be a successful coach. Building successful football players begins by inspiring them to do great things. In his book "What it Takes to Be #1," the late NFL coaching legend Vince Lombardi says that leadership is the power to inspire others to follow. Most aspects of talent can be overcome by a player who is willing to do whatever his leader tells him to do. This inspiration should occur before game day to get maximum effort out of players at the best time.
Guest Speakers
One of the best ways to inspire young football players is by using guest speakers. Depending on the age of your players, these speakers could be anyone from a local high school star to a former professional player. The key is to pick someone who is relevant to your athletes. A local high school star might be a better selection than an NFL Hall of Famer who has not played in 20 years. Typically, all of these speakers say similar things, but the messenger is more important than the message in this case. For your players, hearing what you have told them frequently validated by someone they look up to adds weight to your messages.
Highlight Videos
All players like to see themselves on video having success. This method is most effective on teens, but can be used for younger athletes. The aim here is to show your young players that they can be successful because they have been successful in the past. This is also a great way to build morale before a game, as the team watches teammates make great plays --- which builds a trust among teammates. If you do not film your games, a video of great professional players or big hits can inspire your players to try to duplicate such feats.
Posters
Inspirational posters can be found in most locker rooms. Sometimes, slogans are simply painted on the wall. These serve as reminders to your team during training, before a game begins and at halftime. Players are reminded of team mottos or inspirational quotes they have heard throughout the week and the season. This re-emphasis of things you have told them can refocus your players on key elements of the game.
Music
In the moments before a game, many athletes use music to get themselves in the right mood to play football. Some athletes listen to loud rock music to help fuel an adrenaline rush. Others use meaningful songs that inspire them, or relaxing music to keep them from getting too excited to execute tasks. Teams play music over the public-address system in stadiums both for fan entertainment and as inspiration and motivation to the squad. Some coaches use music to build a mentality in a team. These songs may involve what it takes to win, or evoke certain emotions in the players.
References
- "The Football Coaching Bible"; American Football Coaches Association; 2002
- "What it Takes to Be #1: Vince Lombardi on Leadership"; Vince Lombardi; 2003
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