ThE ShOOTERS OF ThE YEAR 2012

A FUNDAMENTAL TASK, OFTEN OVERLOOKED IN TRAINING,
IS ThE CREATION OF MOTIVATION WhICh DRIVES PERFOR-
MANCE. EVERY AThLETE, ON ThE BASIS OF ThEIR INDIVID-
UAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE, SEEKS TO INFLUENCE
ThEIR MOTIVATION, EIThER ON A ShORT OR LONG TERM
BASIS, AND DOES ThIS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT EXTERNAL
AND/OR INTERNAL CONDITIONS, SETTING ThEMSELVES
GOALS ETC. hOWEVER, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG AThLETES,
IN SO DOING ThEY USE MEASURES TO INFLUENCE ThEM-
SELVES WhICh OFTEN PROVE TO BE INEFFECTUAL AND, IN
A FEW EXTREME CASES, NEGATIVE.
I
f we analyze what top athletes say about their coaches, we see
that the motivational aspects of work carried out together are
particularly highlighted. Passion for the sport played is often
inspired by the first coach, and, over time, becomes the foundation for
a motivation which promotes performance.
BY MOTIVATION WE MEAN WILLINGNESS TO PURSUE
CERTAIN GOALS (for example, to join the national team), even
when it is necessary to overcome difficulties and obstacles to achieve
them. Specifically, motivation for performance is expressed in the way in
which the athlete faces the task, the level of their own performance goals
and the consistency and perseverance with which they are pursued. In
this regard, these important tasks are the responsbility of the coach:
A) CREATE ENThUSIASM FOR ThE SPORT PLAYED.
In many sports this is not a very easy task, especially when the
sports discipline concerned is relatively low in movements and enjoys
32 ISSF NEWS
COAChING
ELEMENTS OF
PRACTICAL
PSYChOLOGY
FOR SPORTS
PART 1
little popularity in comparison with others (throwing sports in general,
weightlifting, etc.). Children who are particularly gifted in sports generally
have already played other types of sports before starting regular
training in the current one. Therefore, thanks to the initiative of some
coaches, they have joined sports clubs where they have the opportunity
to play a given sport. Amongst these children there are many whose
motives for joining are not determined by interest in that particular activity,
but are decided on the basis of physical characteristics ( they are
too tall/short or heavy/light for other sports), or of convenience (“the
sports complex is nearby”)
The coach is thus faced with the task of turning this initial motivation
into real “enthusiasm” for this sport. They can do this by planning
training which is interesting and full of variety (wide range of training
methods, enjoyable sessions, internal competitions), telling anecdotes
about that sport, organizing regular matches with top athletes or former
athletes, taking their own trainees to watch important events etc.
B) CREATE ThE CAPACITY FOR (SELF) MOTIVATION
Once the athlete has become “impassioned”, a constant motivation for
performance (disposition for performance) must be developed, especially
important for those sports for which it is not possible to carry out
specific training all year round (for example Winter sports). It is then
a question of providing appropriate information suitable for the athlete’s
age. Even young trainees must know why this or that exercise
is performed. If the training methods are not adequately explained or
justified, the coach cannot expect the athlete to have that enthusiasm
without which training cannot succeed. The athlete must understand
the importance of the individual methods of training for the development
of performance, as this enables them to motivate themselves.
Photos: Wolfgang Schreiber