Being a football player is challenging because they all want one thing; and that is to win. But before they become a winner, they need to have the best motivation they can get. Motivation comes from two places — intrinsic, which come from within, and extrinsic, which comes from external forces. When we talk about external forces one way is to be there on every game, but more than your presence, another way to is to show your support to the team by bringing banners, football pennants, flags and more. These things may look very basic but the impact it will bring to the team is immeasurable. Inspiring your team to do their best is more than just cheering for them, seeing their name on the banners or their team name and logo in the football pennants will give them the encouragement they need.
As a coach or as a parent of one of the players, here are some of the things that you can do to keep your team motivated:
Make Them Feel That Their Contribution Is Important for the Team’s Success
An athlete’s motivation who knows that his action will make the difference between a team win or a loss will surely soar. They should understand that their contribution big or small is very important to the success of the team as a whole.
“Small Wins” Are Just as Important as the Big Ones
Small wins allow your team to focus on making steady progress and motivate them to keep working towards the larger goal. A large challenge can be daunting for some and the overwhelming feeling can make them de-motivated in the end. Let them focus on the small steps that will take them closer to their big dreams instead of focusing on breaking their own record.
Practice Makes Perfect
The old adage never gets old, and as an athlete improves their skills, their intrinsic motivation grows and they work harder. Let your team hone their skills and let them practice until they improve their performance.
Focus on Their Efforts and Not the Outcome
Recognize the player’s contribution, be it big or small with positive reinforcement. A person who is praised for their performance is more likely to embrace challenging tasks in the future. Reinforcing the hard work helps a player understand what made them successful.
Have Fun
When watching the game, make it entertaining for them as it is for you. Your effort of bringing banners for them will keep them motivated and happy. A team that is motivated is a happy team. Intrinsic motivation is essential for high-performing teams. It doesn’t take much to make a team happy, be in every game and show them that you got their back no matter what happen and you will see that your effort will pay off. Don’t have second thoughts getting a banner for them, it will really go a long way and they will forever be thankful to you.