Donaghmoyne ladies celebrate winning the All-Ireland title

A coach friend of mine recently had taken over a Ladies Football team and asked for my advice on how to motivate his new players.

Armagh Ladies this year were promoted to Division One and also reached the All Ireland semi finals.

I remember fondly my year with Noel Markey (manager), when I was coach to the Armagh Ladies team which reached their first Ulster final.

Donaghmoyne Ladies won their first ever All Ireland Senior Club title in 2006 (this year they won their fourth) and I was their coach under manager Francie Coleman.

In 2008, I was part of manager Mick Bohan’s Dublin Ladies backroom team and they lost in the All Ireland final to Mayo.

As well as short spells with other clubs and counties also, here are some of the lessons all of those ladies players taught me in how to coach women players.

Women players tend to compete for different reasons than men and so react to motivation techniques differently from men.

Often it is men who coach women’s teams and most men don’t usually (including me initially), understand the dynamics involved in motivating/coaching women.

Here are some of the differences to consider when implementing motivation techniques to female players:

• 1 Firstly realising that women react to motivation methods differently can solve many problems. This allows the coach to try different things and not get stuck on using a method because it worked well with men.
• 2 With female players be especially careful about them spending too much time with only one or two team-mates for partner work. Requiring them to switch partners and teams will be beneficial in raising their perspective on team play.
• 3 Women tend to be more goal orientated than male players, so make sure their goals are measurable and constantly feedback on. Female players thrive on reasons, information and evidence.
• 4 Female players can put a lower priority on winning than males. Everyone wants to win, but women tend to think more in terms of goals and the big picture.
• 5 Male players often put a higher priority on sport, whereas female players put a priority on more than just sport.
• 6 Female players appreciate more of a nurturing family type of environment with camaraderie.
  Too much yelling and screaming, as in some male sessions, can be a big de-motivator.
  A more ‘zen’ like environment seems to be a more productive team environment for women, one which is softer, contemplative, intuitive, meditative and reflective.
• 7 Team chemistry and camaraderie is important for male players, but for female players it is paramount.
  Keeping (and it’s very important) a team atmosphere where everyone get along (no cliques) and feels like a team is the more difficult and demanding task for the manager and coaches to create and maintain.
• 8 Females tend to perceive their skills in a more negative way than men.
  Skill coaching, especially in one-to-one clinics, is a must for coaches to do. Many times they are better than what they think.
  Self-perception and confidence is very important for women, so boost both as often as possible.
  Make sure your female players are comfortable with what is asked of them and their position in the team.
  Be sure they understand what you expect of them, knowing they are superb listeners.
• 9 Clear, positive feedback is critical for female players.
  If given, they will respond to good communication, good listening and frequent feedback. This is what they almost always want.

  With female players they need constant reinforcement that they belong.

Give them confidence, speak to each often and reaffirm them in feedback.

Spend lots of time developing team chemistry and camaraderie.

Remember each player is different and has different needs.

Do the little things often to show you care.

In doing all these things you’ll have a team that will run through a brick wall for you.