Want to rally your troops? The importance of delivering a good, dynamic pre-game speech can’t be overstated. As with most things in sports however, it’s easier said than done. Writing a motivating speech is an art. What makes it tricky is all the work that one speech has to do — inspire, remind, motivate, be dramatic, and provide hope.
Although it can be difficult to ensure you’re hitting all the right notes in your speech, it can be done. And there are some tips and techniques you can use to make your speeches moving without being cliché, while still reminding the players about the tasks at hand.
Here are some ideas on what to think about and include in your next pre-game speech.
What to include in your speech:
• A reminder of the game plan. You’ve been practicing for days — or weeks. Remind the team of what they’ve learned and what elements you’ve been focusing on.
• A reminder of what they’ve done. Especially if you’re in the playoffs, speak about what has gotten you to this point, the obstacles you’ve overcome, the areas in which you’ve improved. Sometimes it might be appropriate to remind your team of missteps they’ve made along the way, but keep it in the context of how they’ve learned from those mistakes.
• How you feel about them. Let them know that you’re proud of them, that you respect the hard work they’ve put in, that you trust them to do their jobs and execute, and that they’ve already made achievements.
• Compliment the opponent. Let them know that the team they are about to face is talented. You don’t want your team to go into a game feeling entitled to a win, overconfident, or like they can let their guard down for a moment.
• Why you will win. Although you don’t want your team to be overconfident, they need to know what they do well and how that will make them get the victory.
• A dramatic finish. You want to raise the collective emotions to off the charts, so your team comes roaring out of the locker room.
Tips for delivering a powerful speech:
• Speak clearly. You won’t get your points across if you mumble.
• Be mindful of your tone and body language. You want them to match up with the words you’re saying. You might want to practice in the mirror to be sure you’re not inadvertently sending the wrong message.
• Make eye contact. Try to look every player in the eye at least once while you’re delivering your speech. That will make the message feel more personal to them.
• Get emotional. Passion is contagious, so don’t be afraid to get caught up in the moment. But make sure your sentiments are genuine and from the heart — don’t fake it.
• Use props. Think of the phrase “bulletin board material” here. A chart, a picture, a relic from team history, a newspaper clipping of the opponent talking trash — seeing these things helps players visualize what you want them to do on the field or court.
• Remember that less can sometimes be more. If you have only a couple of points you want to touch on, don’t force the speech to be longer. Say what you have to say meaningfully, without fluff, and get on with the game.