As a coach, a recent question I encountered struck a chord:

"Can you teach a 6-year-old effort? Can children be taught to compete hard, or is that something they either have or don’t, something they’ll grow into or won’t?"

Though the question was specific to young children, I believe the answer can resonate with players at any age.

Effort and Compete: Nature or Nurture?

Effort is challenging to quantify because it varies so widely from one child to the next. I’ve coached players whose 100% effort might look like someone else’s 65%. This isn’t unique to any age or level; it’s simply a reflection of individual differences in physical and mental development.

However, as coaches, we can learn each player’s baseline and work within it. Kids develop at different speeds, so effort and drive can’t always be forced. Instead, we focus on encouraging each player to reach their personal best, meeting them where they are and nurturing gradual improvement.

Teaching Competitiveness Through Motivation

Effort and competitiveness go hand in hand. To foster a player’s desire to compete, the goal is often as simple as encouraging them to try their hardest in every situation.

The starting point? Fun. I can’t stress enough the importance of keeping practices engaging and enjoyable. By making drills more game-like and incorporating small area games or station-based practices, we create an environment that kids look forward to. Fun leads to engagement, which ultimately fuels effort.

Keeping Score in Creative Ways

Adding a scoring element to practice games can enhance motivation. And scoring doesn’t always mean goals; it can be a count of successful passes, blocked shots, or even winning battles for the puck. Tracking these “non-goal” accomplishments reinforces the importance of the smaller, often-overlooked aspects of the game.

By celebrating these contributions, players learn that they can make a positive impact without needing to score. Too often, I’ve seen players come off the ice disappointed simply because they didn’t score, even if they played incredibly well. They’ve been conditioned to believe that goals are the only metric of success, erasing the value of their defensive plays, assists, or the energy they brought to the team.

Building Team Motivation

When Dan Bylsma coached the Pittsburgh Penguins, he would often ask his players, “What can you do on the ice to give your teammates a boost?” This could be a big hit, a crucial block, a well-placed shot—anything that raises the team’s energy. I’ve adapted this for younger players, encouraging them to find ways to lift each other up.

One method I love to use is a practice debrief where kids stand in a circle after practice and give shout-outs to their teammates. Each player shares something positive they noticed about the person next to them. This small gesture teaches them to recognize effort and contributions in others, fostering a supportive team environment.

The Pitfalls of Financial Rewards

On the flip side, it’s crucial to understand what not to do when motivating young players. I’ve often heard players say, “My dad will give me $5 for every goal I score.” While this might encourage goal-scoring temporarily, it has long-term downsides. A player motivated purely by money will likely prioritize goals over teamwork, taking low-percentage shots and avoiding passing. Even offering financial rewards for assists can lead to players making unnecessary passes instead of taking good shots.

I advise parents against these types of rewards, reminding them that scoring is rewarding enough. Financial incentives send a message that only certain aspects of the game are valuable, often at the expense of teamwork and overall player development.

Recognizing True Disinterest

Ultimately, if a player lacks effort or competitiveness altogether, it might be because they simply don’t want to be on the ice. These players often stand out; they may avoid drills or frequently ask to leave practice. In these cases, it’s not a lack of “compete” but rather a lack of desire to participate.

For most players, though, effort and competitiveness will increase naturally if practices are fun and engaging. When kids feel rewarded by the experience itself, their drive to improve and compete will grow with each session on the ice.