What you say and how you say it when delivering the pre-game speech is a big motivator for your soccer players. Try these coaching tips when talking to the kids before the soccer game to prepare them for competition:
Speak in a calm and relaxed manner.
Be brief.
Conduct the talk away from any distractions.
Stress the importance of having fun and displaying good sportsmanship at all times during the game.
Stay away from overused clichés; speak from the heart to get your point across.
Avoid pressure phrases like “Let’s score five goals today.” Kids can give you their best effort, but they can’t control the outcome of games.
Be enthusiastic with your tone of voice and body language. The kids will be more responsive.