Are you asking this question recently?
Motivation is 100% intrinsic. This means that you have to look inside yourself to stay motivated.
When I was a teenager I was always looking for someone who can motivate me all the time.
Later on, I learned that even though coaches could help me stay motivated, nobody would pull the best version of myself by me.
Of course, coaches can help you stay motivated and promote the scenarios for you to thrive. But it’s your job to maintain the internal flame no matter the circumstances.
So, the question here is, how can I stay motivated when things aren’t going the way I want?
It all starts with asking yourself why you chose to play at a high level in the first place.
Are you playing just for fun or are you serious about becoming an elite athlete? Are you committed to reaching your full potential? Are you willing to work hard enough to develop your skills to an elite level?
If you want to stay motivated, you must reflect on these questions.
If you are a high schooler playing high-level club volleyball, you are dealing with tons of things at once – school, homework, work, driving, social life, etc…
These daunting activities present 101 reasons for not having a good practice or game.
Because you know you’ll have numerous reasons to not be motivated, you have to be prepared to fight them.
You fight them by remembering why you chose to play; your goals, dreams, and desires.
When I was playing pro overseas, one day, a teammate from Brasil asked me how I could practice every day so hard – how I could give 100% at every practice and game. He told me he was struggling with motivation. I told him: “I’m just doing my job”.
Playing pro was more than just playing volleyball for me. The fact that my family depended on me. Also that I needed to maintain my performance as professional volleyball team owners run short on patience with players. Two bad games, and you’re on the tightrope. If you get injured, your fate is not different.
You might not have the pressure volleyball pros has but you still have to find the motivation to give your best every time you’re in the gym. Let me tell you why.
At the moment you’re cutting corners, other players are taking advantage of you. You have to be aware of this so you can keep intrinsic motivation.
When two teams with similar skill levels are playing, the differentiator for winning is always motivation. Teams that want to win the most always win.
If you are one of those players waiting for coaches to motivate you, I suggest you start to find ways to pull the best out of you even when things aren’t going the way you want, or without hearing positive affirmation from others.
Coaches for sure have a major role in keeping players motivated on the field but it’s your job to keep the pace when practice isn’t fun.
You do that by reminding the reasons why you choose to play high level.
If you want to learn more about how to stay motivated and give your best at every practice and game, sign up to my email list to get weekly free advice, tips, and guidance:)
Blessings,
Coach Carlos.
