Play with Passion!

Give your players this message, and if they do it, you're going to be a tough team to play against! The only problem is that not every player can do it and there's nothing you can do coaching wise, to get them to play with passion.

All you can do is to challenge them!

I like passionate players, they never quit, they play hard, and it means something to them. It's important! Combine this passion with raw talent and look-out; they'll make you look good. They are ultimately your competitors! But there are some pitfalls that as a coach you need to control.

It can be a double edged sword and you can live and die with them!

The key is to be able to keep your player emotions under control; otherwise they will veer away from your systems and become more a liability more than an asset. As well, they can lose focus and become undisciplined, and take bad penalties. Not good! The good thing is that they will compete game in and game out! Preach to them to play on the edge but not over it, and to maintain control of their emotions.

Sometimes it's a trade-off and you hope that because of their passion they do more good things than bad. You'll just have to deal with it as it comes. Either way I'd rather have a passionate team.

Cheers