“If you don’t fix it, we are going to run.”

“That’s it. We are done - go home.”

“You guys/girls stink today. Be better.”

If you’re like me, you’ve tried all these statements at some point when your team has not been practicing to your standards.

Occasionally, I’ve found those statements work. Most often, I’ve found they don’t.

I think part of the reason they don’t work very well is because motivating through negativity and threats (shockingly) doesn’t work very well. In spite of that, most coaches still use it.

What if there was a better way? Well, there is - one that motivates and inspires your team to be better.

Is This How A Championship Team Would Be Performing Right Now?

I love this question for a number of reasons.

• First, by phrasing it that way, you are telling your team what you think of them.  If you thought they stunk, you wouldn’t reference a championship team as the measuring stick.

  That can be aspirational for them. Everyone wants to be part of a good team. By telling them you believe they are capable of that, they start to expect more of themselves. 

• Second, you are eliciting their participation. You aren’t just telling them they are playing bad. You are asking a question that should lead to a discussion.

  Clearly, if you’re asking the question, the answer is no. But don’t stop there. Ask them how a championship would be performing in the drill or segment. Then ask how they are performing.

  You might give them a minute to huddle and discuss as a team first. But make sure to hear their thoughts on what’s going on.

  Hopefully, they are able to pinpoint where they are falling short. If so, that’s a good sign as to self-awareness. If not, then you may need to revisit your practice standards.

• Third, it gives them a chance to redeem themselves. After you’ve identified the gaps in performance, it’s critical to move forward.

  Ask them if they are able to perform as a championship team would. They will tell you they can. Then ask if you can hold them accountable to that level of performance. They will say yes.

  By asking their permission, you are getting their buy-in. This increases their commitment.

  Rather than trying harder because they don’t want to run, they are now trying harder because they want to be better. That’s a powerful and more long lasting difference.

How To Make This Question Easier To Answer For Youth Teams

If you’re coaching a youth team, you might be wondering if your players can handle a question like this.

The answer is . . . yes, with some help.

Some youth players may not know (yet) what a championship practice looks like. However, they do understand the value of working hard, encouraging others, and working together.

To help them answer the question, make sure you’ve covered your team’s core values. By that, I mean that your whole team should know the 3-4 most important qualities you want your team to be known for.

Some examples could be: great effort, enthusiasm, accountability, etc.

Then, when you ask this question, you can focus them by tying the question back to your values. 

You might say:

“How would a great team show enthusiasm in this drill?” or “What are some examples of the types of effort we would see from a championship team?”

Questions like that help point them in the right direction, and keep your core values front & center - a Win-Win!

1 Way To Make This Question Even More Powerful

While this question is a great way to refocus your team in the midst of struggles, you can level it up even more.

How? By spending :20-:30 before you start the drill discussing how a championship team would perform the drill.

By doing this, you are priming them ahead of time to perform to their potential. You are also letting them define the behaviors and actions they will be accountable to.

That makes it more likely you’ll have to come back to the question. Instead, by defining the standard of performance ahead of time, you’re more likely to get it.

Over the course of a 2 hour practice, these discussions might take 4-5 minutes in total. Is that a good time tradeoff for consistently excellent practices? I’d say so. . . 

So give it a try - when your team is struggling, instead of calling them OUT, call them UP. You’ll feel better and they’ll play better!

For more ways to maximize your practices, check out How To Run Championship Practices With Ryan Schultz.

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