What we have learned from movies like “Any given Sunday”, “Coach Carter” and “Remember the titans” is that coaches have a vital role in getting the team in the right mindset. This is quite an important step before any game if you want to be the winner when time on the clock runs out. 

How to prepare – the lessons learned from a successful athletic team

We already mentioned how they did it in the movies – big motivational speeches, discipline, and personal sacrifice. However, there is a lot more than what Holywood is showing in these movies that it takes to prepare a team. The big winners take into consideration even the small things and that is why at the end of the day they are victorious. As Al Pacino said in “Any given Sunday” – life is a game of inches and the number of times you miss or succeed will be a decisive factor between winning and losing. In this article, we are going to cover some tips from a coach of a successful athletic team that will help you prepare your squad for any upcoming games. 

Make sure everyone is well-rested and fed

Before any major challenge that you face, you want to be well-rested. This is especially true for sports. Ensure that you and the team are well-rested and have a good night’s sleep before the upcoming game. This will help everyone be at the top of their game, be less stressed and be more focused. The lack of sleep can make people nervous and nobody wants that before a game. Also, when you are tired you are not able to show what you’re capable of and give 100% on the pitch.  

Good rest in combination with good healthy food can do wonders for you. That doesn’t mean you should overdo it. Set up an hour when the whole team should be in bed the night before the game and make sure to establish a proper diet for each player. 

Transportation is important

Remember, when we said that the small things before the game can make a huge difference? One of those factors is providing proper transportation for you and the players. You can ensure that by hiring charter team transportation with experience in this area. 

Getting from one place to another with a whole sports team can be a challenge. Especially, when we speak about longer distances. In any case, you want to have a reliable partner that you can trust to get you where you need to go and do it safely, in time, and ensure comfortable travel for everyone. Here a just some of the benefits of using such service, delivered by professionals with experience: 

  • Your trip will be more comfortable; 
  • The service is flexible – you can hire transportation for as many people you need; 
  • You don’t have to plan the route and figure out where to park after you arrive; 
  • You will have secure service delivered by experienced drivers, etc.

Imagine you arrive late to a game or had a horrible trip and some of the players might not be feeling well from the bad driving. Then all the training and great speeches won’t do you any good. 

Get them in the right mindset

If you feel like giving loud inspirational speeches – go ahead! However, this might backfire if you don’t do it at the right time. At the end of the day, all sports teams consist of human beings. And they have their hopes, fears, and dreams. The best thing you can do about the squad is to get them in the right mood. As a coach, you should know the strengths of any player and what pulls their strings. Help them reduce stress and have a winning mentality of warriors when this is needed. And when they feel overconfident and underestimate the opponents – help them realize that. 

If you make sure they get in the game focused and determined, then there are better chances you will be victorious.

Now off to the pitch! 

By doing these things before any game you can be sure that your team will have good preparation to show what they are capable of and give their best. A lot of the factors that determine the win are not seen by the crowd, but their effects on the team can be critical. Be sure to remember that.