How to Motivate an Unmotivated Athlete
Whether you’re a sports coach or simply a concerned parent, learning how to motivate an unmotivated athlete is an important skill to better ensure their success at the sport. And while both innate skill and routine practice are important factors in success, a lack of motivation from an athlete can be detrimental to their success.
Without a desire to improve and be the best possible version of themselves, an athlete is simply setting themselves up for eventual failure and will likely face significant challenges on the court or pitch. And while, as a coach or parent, you may understand the importance of motivation in the sport, your unmotivated athlete may not.
That is why teaching them to be motivated is so important. Instilling proper motivation and an innate will to win will set up your athlete to be the absolute best version of themselves and will help them to achieve the success that is possible within them.
What is Motivation?
Simply put, motivation is the process which initiates, guides, and maintains a goal-oriented behavior. That is, motivation is what truly causes someone to act. But to take it a single step further, motivation isn’t just what makes a person act but is the behavior which allows for a person to continue acting in the face of adversity, difficulty, and challenges.
Similarly, looking from a why perspective, motivation is essentially the driving force behind an action. However, unlike other behaviors, motivation is rarely, if ever, an observable behavior. Rather, motivation is an innate behavior which drives individuals and is likely only seen based on how an individual acts in their daily life.
And while motivation is typically discussed in broad terms, psychologists generally divide motivation into two buckets. Intrinsic motivation is the motivation that is derived from an individual. That is, intrinsic motivation is the motivation that an individual feels within themselves and their own self-gratification.
Conversely, extrinsic motivation are ones that arise outside of the individual. Typically, extrinsic motivations are more tangible, and reward based and can be compared to the winning of trophies or awards, money, social recognition, and praise.
Why is Motivation Important in Sports?
When it comes to motivation in the world of sports, an apt and succinct description to explain just why it is so important requires us to understand that all things being equal, it is both intrinsic and extrinsic levels of motivation which differentiate the good athletes from the great.
As motivation is the ability to start a task and continue through it regardless of adversity, obstacles, and challenges, the athlete who is able to maintain proper levels of motivation, through the good and the bad, is typically the athlete which will rise to the top.
And maintaining a level of motivation as an athlete has a direct impact on all aspects of the sport and the success within it. From physical conditioning to technical and tactical training, to mental preparation and lifestyle adjustments, the motivated athlete will make all necessary changes to ensure their own success.
Again, all things being equal, an athlete who is able to maintain a proper level of motivation prior to a competition is typically the athlete who is able to secure the success on the court. That is, the athlete who is highly motivated to improve and puts in the proper amount of work, dedication, and time to improve their game will typically be the athlete who sees the results of their hard work come to life.
Motivating an Unmotivated Athlete
When it comes to motivating an unmotivated athlete, the challenges to do so are high. As motivation is a highly intrinsic characteristic and behavior, changing those behaviors requires not only sufficient time and patience but also proper levels of extrinsic rewards and encouragement.
However, even for the most diligent coaches and parents, success is not guaranteed. Simply put, athletes are individuals, with their own reward systems, preferences, and priorities. And while your intentions to motivate an unmotivated athlete may be pure, an athlete who is simply disinterested may not be able to be motivated, no matter the work put in.
It is, therefore, of utmost importance to ensure that the unmotivated athlete has a baseline desire to become more motivated. That is, you will need to initially ensure that your unmotivated athlete wants to not only become more motivated but is also willing to put in the work to do so.
When starting out and beginning to work with an unmotivated athlete, be sure to sit down and discuss the challenges the athlete may be facing. Whether due to an external or internal issue, be sure to pinpoint where the lack of motivation is coming from to better be able to assess the situation and work to rectify the lack of motivation.
However, if an athlete is simply disengaged or uninterested in the sport, don’t attempt to force the situation. Not all sports are meant for all people. And while you may find a love for a particular sport, your unmotivated athlete may simply find it uninteresting and no amount of prodding can change their mind.
Ways to Motivate an Unmotivated Athlete
- Acknowledge the Importance of Motivation – when working with an unmotivated athlete, it is important to begin the discussion by explaining the importance of motivation. You should begin by explaining how motivation can ensure higher levels of success within the sport and you should be sure to give frequent, continuous levels of encouragement when they do show levels of motivation.
- Discover the Athletes Extrinsic Motivators – each athlete is different and will be motivated by different things. And while you won’t be able to control their intrinsic levels of motivation, you can contribute to their extrinsic motivation levels. To do so, you will need to work to find what those extrinsic levels are and work to provide those levels of motivation to the athlete. Whether it’s acknowledgment and praise or a desire for fame and recognition, by identifying their extrinsic motivating factors you will be better positioned to provide it to them.
- Provide Reasons to the “Madness” – similarly, many athletes, particularly younger ones, may be uninterested and unmotivated as they lack an understanding behind the why. That is, they may simply not understand why certain drills, practices, and repetitions are being placed on them and their team. By explaining and providing reasons to the “madness”, you are better able to connect and motivate that athlete to continue through the motions.
- Develop Bonds and a Spirit of Teamwork – in addition, for many athletes, the social bond is an important driving force in their will to succeed. By creating and developing a bond with your unmotivated athlete and instilling a spirit of teamwork, they may be more willing to put in the work to deepen those bonds and connections.
- Offer Frequent Praise – the unmotivated athlete, disengaged and brooding, can quickly lose all and any interest in the sport. A wrong, seemingly innocuous misstep can be all it takes to have them quit the sport. In order to avoid such a predicament, be sure to provide frequent, unrequested praise and acknowledgment. The unmotivated athlete, many times participating through a feeling of force, will become more engaged and a more active participant when they feel seen and acknowledged for their actions. So, be sure to offer frequent praises and acknowledgment of their good actions, hard work, and extra efforts.
- Don’t Force It – lastly, while attempting to instill motivation is a noble and worthwhile cause, you should never force it and never force an athlete to participate where they do not want to. Not only will they lose all interest in the sport and become even more disengaged, but you will simultaneously risk losing the morale and spirit of the entire team and the other athletes. Rather, work closely with the unmotivated athlete but be willing to acknowledge where there is simply a gap of interest. And if one does exist, encourage the athlete to find a sport or hobby that they have more interest in.