Motivation for finals?

Motivation for finals?

I coach an under 11 team and we have only lost twice this season, both times to the same team. We are playing them next week in the semi final, how can I motivate my girls to believe they can win? I believe they can but because we haven't beat them yet they believe we will lose. Any ideas would be great.

Jayne ColloffCoach, Australia
ANSWERS
Lee-annes NetballCoach, Australia

Try using the reverse of what you are saying.  The other team are going to go into this match all cocky and full of themselves.  They will think that they have won this game before the match has even began.  now you guys have nothing to prove.  No pressure.  and No expectations.  If you lose then it doesnt matter.  But the other team have everything to prove and ALL the pressure.

So go out there and show the other team that you wont go down without a fight, and they will have to earn this win.  Their mindset will not be as determined as yours.  So use this mindset to your advantage, and go out and have a great game, and show this team that you are a force to be reconned with.

Karen LongworthCoach, Australia

Lee-annes advice is the best way to approach this problem.  Don't let them get down if they do fall behind. Keep them motivated, 2 goals down is just 2 intercepts next quarter & if they keep the score differnce to less than their past losses they are still winners.  The trophy isn't the only goal, confidence & improvement in performance are also great motivators.

Allie CollyerCoach, Australia

I agree with the above advise also. I have been in this situation before and one thing that also worked was to get the players to try to ignore the scoreboard. They were focussing on it way too much and I could see when we got a few goals behind that they dropped their heads a bit. By getting them to just focus on playing well and scoring from turn overs the rest will take care of itself. 

i also spent a lot of time at the finals training sessions just getting them to believe in themselves and playing a few games to get the team spirit really going. I gave each of them a card to read at home telling them what they needed to focus on in their own game and telling each one how proud I was of them, win, lose etc. they loved it %3A)

PS%3A we came from 4th and won the grand final!

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