Heads and Volleys Soccer Podcast · LeeDunneSoccer

78. Motivation

September 22, 2023·16 min·1 clip
Lee Dunn strategically pairs Russian-speaking players and friends together in practice to build what he calls 'FIFA green lines' of team chemistry.
Soccer coach and consultant Lee Dunn explores the critical but often overlooked question of player motivation in youth soccer. He shares practical methods for coaches to identify what drives each player, from juggling record submissions to understanding family dynamics and cross-sport interests, arguing that true player development and team success stem from this personalized understanding.

As heard by us

Motivation is treated as something to observe and measure, not just talk about.

The piece keeps its focus on motivation as something a coach has to watch, ask about, and work with, not just praise from the sideline. It moves from the basic question of why players show up into practical signs of effort, using juggling, short juggling contests, homework, and…

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Why you'd press play

A practical reset for coaches trying to read motivation without turning training into a lecture.

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