12 Ways to Motivate and Encourage Athletes as a Coach Get better at the sports you play and the life you lead at STACK. Improve your training, nutrition and lifestyle with daily Updated: May 08, 2021 0 Shares Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Being a great or even a good coach takes more than just knowing the x's and o's of the sport, drawing up a few plays, and making line changes here and there. For a team or individual athlete to be successful, there is a need for motivation and encouragement from coaches, peers, and fans. As a coach, it is essential to be familiar with how your team or player works and what makes them tick. For some, it is the fear of running lines. For others, it is the goal of achieving a scholarship. This only gets more complexed as the size of your team increases and as athletes get older. While going for ice cream can still work at any age, they may need more than a frozen treat in all reality as athletes get older. Here are some ideas that may help you motivate and encourage your athletes and your teams.