How do you motivate girls hockey players? This is one of the most common questions I receive from parents and coaches in the female game. Whether it is on the individual or team level, getting girls players motivated is very different from the boys. While the method of screaming, yelling and threatening may work in the boys’ game, it is much less effective in the female game. So how can coaches and parents help motivate their girls hockey players to perform their best?

Girls hockey players will be much more motivated to perform their best when you inspire them with feedback and encouragement instead of scaring them with yelling and threats.

One of the most effective ways of motivating girls hockey players is to help them feel skilled and valued. Coaches and parents need to point out their players’ successes, encourage them to improve, and teach them skills they need to excel. All of this comes back to giving appropriate feedback to players.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when coaches and parents give general feedback like “Good Job” to their athletes. Think about the message you are sending if you simply say “Good job” every time your players come to the bench. Let’s say one of your girls goes out and scores an awesome goal and you tell them, “Good job”. And then their next shift is horrible and you say, “Good job”. Aren’t you sending them mixed messages? I am as guilty as the next person of doing this. It is a lot easier to just say “Good job” and get back to focusing on the game.

You need to be much more specific and tell the player exactly what they did well on that particular play or shift that was worthy of praise, as well as what they could do to make it even better the next time around. This way you are encouraging them and challenging them at the same time.

For example, if a player makes a great defensive play, instead of just saying, “Good Job”, you might say, “Great hustle on that play. You were in the perfect position and that made it impossible for the player to get around you.”

Ultimately, it all boils down to being SPECIFIC.

Motivating players has nothing to do with screaming and yelling. It is all about setting realistic expectations for each athlete and then helping them to achieve them through personalized specific feedback and consistent encouragement.

So the next time you are just going to say, “Good Job”, take a second to think of something specific that the player did well and what they could do next time to be even better.

Work Hard. Dream BIG.

~ Coach Kim