Can someone help me motivate my daughter please??

Question

She was on the 7th grade travel team last year and has been to volleyball camp but just won't work on her own. I keep telling her she needs to work almost year around because a spot on the team may not always be open to her but she thinks she's all that and don't need to work except for during the actual season (gotta love them 13 yr olds eh). Anyone know of any Fun drills that might get her interest. She has the ability and talent, she's just a little lazy right now and thast could hurt her in the long run.

Answer 1

just let her play how she wants and if she doesnt make the team, thats her fault. shell learn her lesson(:

Answer 2

just let her do what she wants

she is probably just playing for fun....not for a serious life commitment to the sport.

Answer 3

don't force her to do anything let her figure it out on her own if she does not make the team then she will realize that you were right and try harder next time  kids have to learn from there own mistakes

Answer 4

I know what you mean. Kids say they want things so badly, yet they don't want to do the work that needs to be put in to accomplish the goal.

It is possible that she doesn't want it that badly. Or, maybe she doesn't understand goal setting. It is also possible that she just doesn't want to do it anymore but she's afraid to let you down.

Here's what I would do:

I would keep telling her that you are available if she needs a practice partner, keep supporting her in whatever she decides.

This might be a time in her young life to learn a lesson the hard way. She may think she's earned a spot by last year's performance, but she may not have. On the other hand, maybe she did.

If she does learn a lesson this year, you probably know not to say I told you so, right? :) If she runs home crying after being cut, tell her you'll be available if she needs a training partner and keep supporting her.

She has plenty of time to learn this lesson, she'll in 8th grade so she has another year before high school. That's when most players learn a lesson because they were top dog in their school, but they are nobodies in High School teams as freshman. If she learns that lesson this year, it'll be fine.

I have one boy (freshman) on my team that assumes he'll be playing on my team next year because he had a spot last year. (I considered him my project player that only got about 10 minutes of total match time throughout the season), and I will not allow him a spot on the team this year if he doesn't practice in the off-season. The player I'm talking about though is very uncoordinated and proved to be an impossible mission for me as he would not listen.

A lot of answerers here jumped to conclusions on you and most of them are kids. Funny, that when we jump to conclusions on them, we get screamed at.

You clearly are not pushing your daughter, a la pageant standards, but she may be assuming you are just as these young answerers assumed you were. Reiterate to her, just in case, that she can do whatever she wants, it's her decision.

Answer 5

maybe its just not in her to do volleyball anymore. i mean she is at the age where she can decide what she likes and if she doesnt get involved now it doesnt mean she cant go back in the future.

Answer 6

If her heart is not in it you are not going to motivate her.

Answer 7

I wish my parents were more like you.  They went the opposite way and kept me from playing sports.  

Honestly, if she's not motivated she's not going to do it.  Sorry I can't be more help, but that's the way it is.  The best thing I can suggest is just talking to her and showing her she's got the talent and shouldn't waste it.  But if she really, really doesn't want to work at it, there's not much you can do.

Answer 8

How about just a picnic with an outdoor net with her volleyball friends.  She can play AND have fun.  She may just be going through a temporary burn out.

Answer 9

Honestly, it sounds like you are pushing  her to do what she she doesn't want to do....

Answer 10

This question sounds suspicious. It's her choice if she wants to practice, unless you're trying to live through her and get her into the olympic team or something like that (not sure if they have one). But anyways, please let her be a kid. It's great she's on the team but she doesn't have to live for volleyball.

Answer 11

You could take her to a pro or college match to help her get excited. Is it really her dream or yours? Even if she has talent, she may not want to have it be her entire life. Sports are supposed to be fun after all. By pushing too hard, she may sour to the sport altogether. Make sure Volleyball is something that brings the two of you together not pushes her away. This is especially important at thirteen when she is going to be .... well a teen.

Answer 12

To get her motivated, you'd better take her to some mid-level open gyms and play some games on a regular basis. Setting up a net on grass is also a good idea, but it is definitely different from playing indoor gyms. If you can sign her up with any other recreational league simply to keep her "playing" and "having fun with her friends", it would help her at least for her next season.

As the parent of a 7th grader, the most important thing you can do is to let them have fun while playing. They think they are super, great, and they are the best, so be it. Setting a "goal" or make them work hard to earn something is not going to work for kids at 12-14 year's old.

Answer 13

I don't know much about volleyball and drills but this video may help her feel inspired: http://youtube.com/watch?v=obdd31Q9PqA Have her watch it.

She may not be lazy or unmotivated though.. she may just not like playing anymore. Talk to her and find out.. and watch the video (it motivates me)