Motivation & Learning

What to Discover or Recall:

Discover that motivation is the most important factor in learning and perfecting basketball skillls.
Motivation is the force that initiates, guides and maintains behavior and habits.
Motivation can be either intrinsic (a self-curiosity or desire to know) or extrinsic (a definite or must need to know).
It is the coach’s primary responsibility and job to motivate and encourage all of their players to be determined to constantly learn and improve.

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Motivation

All great coaches, past and present, all have one thing in common, They are all great motivators. They have the ability and to inspire players do things they don’t like to do, and like it. It is the coach’s primary responsibility and job to motivate and encourage all of their players to be determined to constantly learn and improve and to be the best that they can be on and off the court. Without desire and determination to improve, all of the other mental factors are meaningless.

Motivation is the force that initiates, guides and maintains behavior and habits. It is what causes everyone to get started. The key to getting motivated is to make it easy to get started. However, it is much easier to finish a task that it is to start it. Most players struggle and find it difficult to generate the motivation needed in getting started and achieve their goals. However, if they have a schedule, they will generate the willpower and desire. Having schedules also makes decision making automatic.

Motivation can be either intrinsic (a self-curiosity or desire to know) or extrinsic (a definite or must need to know). In basketball, self or intrinsic motivation is the most effective and long lasting. Player motivation can be also influenced by reward and punishment. However, both reward and punishment are more harmful than helpful. They are temporary and counterproductive. Once reward or punishment is no longer provided, behavior reverts back to its original state. As a result, in basketball, it is much better for players to be self-motivated anxiously looking forward to practicing rather than to fear going to practice.

Motivation improves a player's:

• Desire and Performance.

• Determination and Persistence.

• Intellectual & Mental Learning.

• Initiative & Resourcefulness.

Warning signs of non-motivated players:

• Preferences: Making one choice over another, such as watching TV instead of doing homework.

• Resistance: The longer the time it takes to do a task, the less motivated.

• Enthusiasm: The less the effort, the less the motivation.

• Determination: The quicker a player gives up, the less motivation. ivated.

• Negative Expressions: The more signs of displeasure, the less motivation.

Player motivation is definitely enhanced when coaches:

• Possess a positive attitude. Four E’s of basketball (Energy, Effort, Enthusiasm, & Enjoyment.

• Value All Efforts. Appreciate and recognize all efforts big or small.
  

• Keep All Players Involved. More involved, the more they feel useful and appreciated.

• Use Incentives. Praise and recognize good & positive efforts and actions.
  

• Change Things Up. Keeps players from getting bored. Be creative and include fun and games.

• Explain “Why.” Tell them why it is so important.

• Don’t talk down. Makes players feel stupid, slow, useless and upset.

• Help manage anxiety. Young players have a hard time staying motivated because they are worried about failure. ESPN adds to this by only showing successful shots and plays.

• Show players how to be motivated. Tell them about all the reasons and benefits in wanting to learn.

• Set realistic expectations. It takes seven years to develop individual basketball skills. As a basketball player you never stop learning.

 

Player motivation is definitely enhanced when coaches:

• Possess a positive attitude using the four E’s of basketball (Energy, Effort, Enthusiasm, & Enjoyment).

• Value All Efforts. Appreciate and recognize all efforts big or small.

• Keep All Players Involved. The more involved, the more they feel useful and appreciated.

• Use Incentives. Praise and recognize good & positive efforts.

• Change Things Up. It keeps players from getting bored. Be creative and include fun and games.

• Explain “Why.” Tell them why it is so important.

• Do not talk down. It makes players feel stupid, slow, useless and upset.

• Help manage anxiety. Young players have a hard time staying motivated because they are worried about failure. ESPN adds to this by only showing successful shots and plays.

• Show players how to be motivated. Think about all the reasons and benefits in wanting to learn.

• Set realistic expectations. It takes seven years to develop individual basketball skills. As a basketball player you never stop learning.

 

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