Midseason mental plateaus can be tough, but coaches have several effective strategies to refresh their teams and reignite motivation. Here are five key approaches:

1. Revisit the Team's Purpose and Goals
   • Remind the team why they started and what they are working toward. Breaking the season into short-term, achievable goals can make things more manageable. Reconnecting them to the team's vision—both long-term and immediate—helps renew focus.
   • Tip: Consider team meetings where players can share personal motivations or team culture ideas that relate to perseverance.  Reflect on the powerful impact of being a great teammate.

2. Emphasize Positivity and Small Wins
   • Midseason, players can feel bogged down by missed opportunities or fatigue. As a coach, highlighting incremental progress, no matter how small, keeps the atmosphere positive. Celebrate personal growth and collective team milestones.
   • Tip: Encourage athletes to reflect on their progress and be thankful for their achievements and abilities. Reinforce a growth mindset.  Being genuinely grateful can be refreshing and centering, allowing for a fresh perspective from which to mentally move forward.

3. Introduce New Drills or Creative Challenges
   • Adding variety to practices with fresh drills or team-building challenges can break the monotony and engage athletes mentally. It also helps them sharpen focus by thinking differently about familiar situations.
   • Tip: Make some drills competitive, but also mix in fun or light-hearted elements to foster joy and unity. You can also incorporate some drills that are more cooperative.  Cooperative drills can foster deep focus while at the same time build teamwork.

4. Encourage Rest and Recovery—Physically and Mentally
   • Mental burnout can stem from overworking. Building in rest days, mental wellness activities, or encouraging recovery habits is essential to recharging focus. Remind athletes that sometimes, stepping back is key to moving forward stronger.
   • Tip: Incorporate short mindfulness or reflection sessions, which can be grounding and mentally refreshing.

5. Instill a "Next Play" Mentality
   • Teach the team to focus on what’s directly ahead. Dwelling on past mistakes can mentally drain players. Helping them reset after each play, game, or even practice ensures they stay in the moment.
   • Tip: Say less after a mistake, and more strongly reinforce good plays.

Balancing the competitive drive with mental and cultural refreshment keeps players motivated while also building long-term perseverance.