Cultivating and Maintaining Maximum Effort During Practice Sessions

The key to obtaining and maintaining high levels of physical effort from players is to have them buy into a mental program where they can monitor their own level of effort.

• Players must approach each practice as if it were a game situation.
• Treat maximum effort identical to other behaviors you are trying to have players achieve through practice by identifying it when it is on display properly and when it is lacking.
• Have players choose verbally that they are willing to practice consistently with maximum effort.
• Go ahead and have consequences for those who do not put forth the effort levels that they have agreed upon and that their teammates are counting on.
• Make athletes take time prior to each new drill to focus on the goal of giving maximum effort. It is very easy for athletes to lower effort levels as drills and practice wear on.
• Feedback after each drill is a necessary component for athletes to achieve the “maximum effort” goal they set, an excellent way to accomplish this is to have them rate themselves.
• Ensure that all participants are giving maximum effort in every drill and not just the group who is the primary focus of the drill.
• Note how often maximum effort is not being put forth during each session and set a group goal of reducing this number every practice.

Having your team set forth individual and group goals of practicing with maximum levels of effort and integrating feedback into your practice session can have dramatic positive effects. You will find that practices become more efficient, effective and likewise game performances will improve substantially.