Sports Then and Now

A great coach isn’t just a leader, like a general or an admiral. A great coach is a psychologist. No matter what age the players are, a great coach has the ability to ‘get in their heads’, understand their motivations, and help inspire each player to find the greatness within themselves.

Every athlete has a life outside of the sport. (Even if we sometimes hate to admit it!) Every one of them is under their own pressures, dealing with their own problems, and playing the game for their own reasons. If a coach can understand where the players are coming from, it’s far easier to guide them.

And in my experience, the starting point here is realizing that a coach cannot motivate the players. A coach has to inspire them.

Motivation Comes From Within

All motivation is fundamentally intrinsic. That is, it comes from inside each and every person. And no one can ever create motivation which isn’t there to begin with. Carrot-or-stick tactics can sometimes alter a player’s behavior somewhat, but even then, the way they respond to your various attempts at motivation still depends on their own existing motivation levels.

That’s why I say that a good coach inspires. Inspiration can come from the outside. Inspiration can be converted into motivation, but that’s an internal process. It all depends on the player’s mindset. A coach can deliver the inspiration, but not the motivation.

Understand that mindset, and you’re much closer to creating the inspiration you want to see. Read the rest of this entry →