I’ve written a quote on our change room whiteboard for this week:
I think it has helped most players understand the importance of quality, but when I see a few ‘mucking around’ or taking it easy at training, I think perhaps I should say it another way:
“If the national team coach was looking, would you be doing that?”
The point is, if those players need someone important watching to put in a quality effort, then they wouldn’t be the ones a national team coach would be looking for anyway.
The players that take pride in the quality of their effort behind closed doors, have a big advantage over their peers. Intrinsic motivation is a powerful drive that propels a player forward in their development. The desire to do a task right can only come from within. As coaches, we are not motivators. Our role is to provide purposeful practice with quality feedback. It is up to the player to choose how to approach their training. Do they focus on quality? Even when no one is looking?
Hi Joey, I couldn’t agree more!! I’ve always told my kids character is what you’re doing when you think no one is looking!!