Chris Mance II - Mental Skills Coach

If you can use a wrestler’s innate motivation to turn something that feels like a grind into something they enjoy doing, it’s like magically creating fun out of pain. That is why self-motivation is so important. However, people are not born with motivation and motivation does not come out of thin air. Everyone needs a specific type of fuel to drive their motivation.

This fuel comes from setting goals that uniquely matter to that specific wrestler. However, not all goals create motivation the same.

• Cookie cutter goals are worthless.
• Goals that are too easy or too hard drive very little motivation.
• Non-specific goals provide limited motivation as well.

In order to drive real motivation a goal must be very specific and only slightly difficult. But difficult enough to push the wrestler out of their comfort zone. Given these nuances, coming up with good wrestling goals begins to become more complex than it looks on the surface.

To help out with this process, below are 9 different goals categorized in the 9 types of innate motivations I use to classify my clients.

Autonomy

Those who have autonomy as their primary area of motivation generally have a need to be distinct and self-reliant. An example goal for a wrestler who has autonomy as their motivation is to develop, execute, and track their own morning workout routine. They can come up with the exercises, the number of sets and reps, and how often they will do it.

Competence

Those who have competence as their primary area of motivation generally have a need to show mastery. An example goal for a wrestler who has competence as their motivation is to have them study and demonstrate mastery of the Four Areas of Wrestling Strategy or USA Wrestling’s seven basic skills. This could go hand and hand with a belt, patch, or certificate reward system that other sports use to signify competence in certain skills.

Social Bonding

Those who have social bonding as their primary area of motivation generally have a need to build relationships with others. An example goal for a wrestler who has social bonding as their motivation is to find a college or senior level wrestler to become their mentor. Mentors are informal relationships, you don’t have to officially ask someone to be your mentor. The wrestler just needs to find a way to connect with this person in a way that allows them to regularly communicate with them, share their goals with them, and soak up whatever knowledge they can to help them in wrestling and in life.

Social Status

Those who have social status as their primary area of motivation generally have a need to establish social significance. An example goal for a wrestler who has social status as their motivation is to work to become the captain of their team or a recognized leader in their wrestling community. There are a list of requirements that must be met to earn these designations. Therefore, working towards each of these requirements should be documented as short and medium term milestones in a plan to achieve the sought after designation.

Accomplishment

Those who have accomplishment as their primary area of motivation generally have a need to consistently feel like they are making progress. An example goal for a wrestler who has accomplishment as their motivation is to have them track their progress in a strength or conditioning exercise. For example, track their progress increasing the number of pull-ups, rope climbs, or uninterrupted jump ropes they can do.

Knowledge

Those who have knowledge as their primary area of motivation generally have a need to learn. An example goal for a wrestler who has knowledge as their motivation is to study international wrestling styles in Russia, Iran, Japan, and Cuba and learn how to incorporate those techniques into their wrestling. This would start with video review and documenting the techniques, and then the process of learning and becoming proficient with the moves.

Excitement

Those who have excitement as their primary area of motivation generally have a need to stimulate their emotions. An example goal for a wrestler who has excitement as their motivation is to set out on a mission to travel to camps and national tournaments in unique or glamorous locations. This goal would include the process of preparing the mind and body to compete at an elite level, researching the wrestling culture of those locations, as well as planning thrilling experiences at those locations outside of wrestling.

Challenge

Those who have challenge as their primary area of motivation generally have a need to push themselves beyond their limits. An example goal for a wrestler who has challenge as their motivation is to compete and win a match at a national tournament up an age group or weight class. Other good goals for those with challenge as their primary area of motivation deal with pushing the wrestler to new levels in conditioning and endurance related activities.

Creativity

Those who have creativity as their primary area of motivation generally have a need to express their uniqueness. An example goal for a wrestler who has creativity as their motivation is to perform complex and rare moves in live wrestling situations. Moves such as the spladle or peterson require creativity, as well as wrestling through a variety of positions in scramble situations. As a result, providing the wrestler with ample time in practice to spar or “play wrestle” through positions without calling stalemates will drive their motivation to find other creative moves to try.