How to Give an Inspirational Speech in a Football Locker Room

The locker room speech in football is one the sport's most cliched moments. The head coach stands in the middle of a quiet locker room, appealing to his players to give everything they have in their heart, body and soul to win the game. This may make a nice moment in a movie or a novel, but it has nothing to do with reality. Every team from middle school on up the ladder wants to win the game. A coach who asks his team to "give your best" is merely being redundant. However, that doesn't mean that a coach can't get the most out of his team with some well-chosen words.

Instructions

    • 1

      Make your words count. It's not about how long you speak and it's certainly not about how often you talk to your team. Speeches only work on an occasional basis because your players will feel like they have "been there, done that" if they hear the same words too often. Know what you want to get across and don't belabor it.

    • 2

      Appeal to players' personal accountability and use examples. Tell your left tackle that he has to be accountable when the right defensive end rushes the passer. Go around the locker room and pick out five or six players who have to fulfill their responsibilities in order to help the team get a win.

    • 3

      Pick out the toughest and most thick-skinned players when you want to make an example to the rest of the team. If you can get your message across while using the best players as examples, your message will get across to everyone. Talk to your players ahead of time and let them know you will be talking about them. You are not asking for their permission, but you are letting them know ahead of time so it doesn't feel like you are singling them out in front of their teammates.

    • 4

      When you are playing a team that has given your team trouble in recent meetings, let them know that you are sick of being someone's doormat. It's fine to get emotional, but follow that emotion up with some tangible advice that can be used in the game. For example, "We are going to attack their weak spot in the secondary with our passing game." Giving your team a tangible reason that dovetails with the emotion will usually have positive implications.

    • 5

      Don't make a long speech. Players are ready to go before a game. A few well-chosen words will amp up their fighting spirit. However, 10 minutes of droning reminders of what the players "must do" will only drain them. At the pro level, coaches have long depended on job security to inspire players. "If you want to stay with us, you must get it done today." Short, sweet, direct and effective.

    • 6

      Look your players in the eye to make an emotional connection. Let them know you love them and care about them. Players who have taken the abuse of practice and training since the heat of the summer need to know they are not alone. Before an important game, let them know that you appreciate them as individuals and football players and you will never forget them. Former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan used to criticize and abuse his players regularly, but the night before they played the Patriots in Super Bowl XX, he concluded the final team meeting before the game by pronouncing his admiration for his players. "You guys are my heroes," Ryan said. The defense, which many experts consider to be the best in the game, went out and pulverized an over matched New England team 46-10 the next day.