Competition season is cognitively, physically, and emotionally challenging and tiring. Extended sessions, underlying school stress, and general tiredness can contribute to a drop in athletes' morale.
Have you noticed a lull in your team's performance? They are all ecstatic at the start of the season, anticipating new routines and competitions. And then, a time came when their enthusiasm began to disappear. Because they also have school, family, friends, and part-time jobs, it is easy for them to grow overwhelmed with all of these duties.
Therefore, it is your duty to detect the player’s motivational level as a coach. When a player's desire to be the greatest cheerleader is waning, have they become chattier? Arriving late for practice and games? Quarreling with one another? Showing signs of general sluggishness during the course? All of these things point to a lack of motivation on their part. So, how do you get them back up and running? We're here to help you with this.
Here are six strategies for getting your team back on track before the terrible burnout occurs.
Create a Positive Environment
To motivate your team, begin immediately by practicing and playing a pleasant and welcoming environment for all members. Remove all negativity, pettiness, gossip, and derogatory words. Nothing of the sort should ever be accepted because it can bring down even the most talented teams.
Contrastingly, tell your dance team that they're doing a fantastic job. Highlight the strength of each dancer. This will push them to keep dancing at their best. Resultantly, dancers will practice this to themselves and will assist each other by telling their strengths and weaknesses.
Don't be a drill Sergeant
Ensuring that your uncompromising coach attitude stems from a positive place is critical. You never want your team to leave the practice feeling dejected. So, make sure you're praising them for the things they're doing well. Whereas, at the same time, constructively criticizing them for the things they're doing poorly. It is beneficial to follow a negative comment with a good one. Remember that the best coaches are also instructors to their teams. Teach them the secret to being a better dancer rather than telling them how to be a great cheerleader.
Talk it Out!
So, if you notice that your squad is losing motivation, stop doing what you've been doing, and don't even start a more challenging routine. Because that won't make a difference. Instead, take a seat and talk to them. Spend 10-15 minutes on the mat with them at the start or end of the practice session. Talk with them about their energy levels. Ask them:
- What are their thoughts on how the season is progressing?
- How are they hoping to accomplish?
- And why are they lacking motivation and energy?
Brainstorming with them is an excellent approach. Due to which they feel more prompt. This way, at the end of the day, they will be much more aware of their moods and sentiments than you are.
Pump Up the Energy Before and After Practice
Pumping up the energy is another approach to help your dance group develop and stay motivated. Cheering and clapping at the end of practice will assist you and your dancers appreciate their accomplishments for the day, and it ends the day on a good note. So that, all dancers leave looking at their improvements rather than their failures or obstacles. Hence, setting a positive tone before and after class will increase their motivation to practice. Make the cheering times exciting and imaginative by encouraging them to clap the loudest. Other than this, sharing one positive thing about their day will also enhance their zeal and passion.
Create Friendly Competition
Furthermore, nothing is more motivating than boosting the morale of the athletes. So, let them compete against one another, and it will ultimately help to motivate them. Dividing them in half, have one side practice in front of the other half, and give a prize to the person who accomplishes it the best. This allows them to watch the other half of the team's performance. Additionally, it enables them to show others what they've got.
Have Them Work Together
One of the reasons your girls lack enthusiasm is that they are not working together. This is a common problem, and you and your crew spend many long hours together. Therefore, it's common for things to shift from working as a team to just trying to get out of there. Allow them to the clinic in pairs or groups of three or four. They will get the chance to work on small areas of the practice they are struggling with. It will also reintroduce the team element.
Peer critique is an excellent approach to restore team trust. Instead of tearing each other down, they will criticize each other constructively. And, of course, do not pair them with their best buddies. That is a prescription for disaster; nothing will be accomplished. Match them based on their strengths and limitations.
How Custom Cheer Uniforms Elevate Team Performance?
Cheerleading uniforms in Atlanta can also boost team morale and cheer on the crowd. With the physical challenges that cheerleaders experience in mind, correctly sized custom cheer uniforms that are flexible, sturdy, and have moisture-wicking properties allow them to perform better.