For many football players, bigger isn't necessarily better. While the college and NFL ranks feature lineman who weigh 350 pounds or more, they are by far the exception to the rule. For most football players, excess weight is a bad thing--it limits their mobility, speed and stamina, making them less effective as players. Many coaches struggle with finding ways to motivate overweight players to get into the right playing shape, but there are some methods that can serve as powerful stimulation.
Instructions
Weight Loss Motivation
1. What concerns most football players aren't things like overall health or appearance that might motivate average people to lose weight--their main interest is in tangible results like their on-the-field performance. Being able to communicate effectively the difference weight loss will have on their ability to play will likely give them plenty of motivation for becoming involved in a weight-loss program. Positive and negative reinforcement can be used here: give real-world examples of football players who were able to turn their careers around by getting into better shape and also of players who wasted their opportunities by not taking proper care of themselves.
2. From the schedule of practices to game days, players are used to strict routines, so use this to your advantage when trying to motivate them to lose weight. Instead of giving long-term weight loss goals, concentrate on giving football players "homework" assignments that relate to their weekly routine. For example, remind them that if they do not drink enough fluids and eat a properly balanced breakfast in the morning before an early afternoon workout, their performance will suffer.
3. Football players work hard, and they generally like to eat. It's important not to punish them for wanting to eat, but rather to get them to understand better and healthier ways to eat. Encourage players to eat several times a day instead of getting all of their food during one or two binges each day. Eating five or more meals a day is not a bad thing, especially if it encourages eating smaller portions. Talk to players about having smaller meals, with fewer condiments and toppings, whenever they get hungry rather than one or two big meals.
Tags: football players, most football, most football players, weight loss