How to Boost Team Morale

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Let's talk about your team. They just don't seem to be on the same page, there isn't any chemistry, everyone seems to be a star, and no one is a team player. This, coupled with a few bad loses last season, has crippled your teams morale. Now you've got to bring it back, because confidence is the key to winning. If you believe it, you can do it.

Movies in the Locker Room?

At the very next team practice, gather the team together and instead of having a practice, watch a movie. Pick something that is about a team pulling together. It can be a funny flick like The Replacements or something more serious like Hoosiers. We Are Marshall and The Waterboy are also good picks. This will bring the team together and allow them to talk about how the movies relate to the current situation. Use this as a place to inspire them to come together as a team and become more than the individuals they are. When in doubt, play the ultimate locker room speech as delivered by Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday. There probably has never been a speech any better, ever.

Turn Adversity into an Asset

Sometimes things happen that are beyond our control. When they happen to your team, like they did to the Joplin High football team that drew inspiration from the EF5 tornado that devastated their town in 2011. Even though they had no practice facility, enduring through the tragedy and coming together as a team made them a source of resilience to the town and gave them a renewed sense of purpose. Finding a way to turn a negative to a positive, that is the true mark of inspiration.

Let Them Know They Are Underdogs

One of the greatest speeches ever given, was given by 1980 Mens U.S. Hockey coach Herb Brooks before the miracle win over the Soviet Union in the Olympics. He pointed out that the Soviets were clearly more talented and that if the U.S. played them 10 times, the Soviets would win 9. But, they would win one. And since they had the ability to win, they would use that ability on one night to stay with, and beat, a more talented foe. By letting your team know they are underdogs, you can give them a reason to play better, to make a statement that they do belong on the same field and that they can win.

Start a New Era

When in doubt, throw the old out. There is no better way to usher in a new sense of team than by getting a whole new image. Make it a ceremony. Take the old jerseys and bring them to a bonfire. Have each player join in the cleansing of the old thoughts, old beliefs, and old culture of the losing team by tossing in his or her jersey. Then, after all the old jerseys have been burnt, bring out the new ones and assign them. The one thing you must do is get a killer goalkeeper jersey. The goalkeeper needs to stand out but also needs to be the heart and soul of the team's defense. 

Choose a complementary color, one that is in direct opposition to the rest of the team. Use it to showcase a bit of your personality. Also, get flaming skulls if it's allowed. This will show strength and passion, and hopefully scare the bananas out of the opposition!

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