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January 25, 2022

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As the weather heats up, many of us are taking to the outdoors to exercise. Exercising outdoors is great to switch up the scenery, take in some fresh air and get your dose of Vitamin D. What is even better is that you can often bring your furry friend along with you. Read on to find out which doggy-friendly outdoor activities you can get involved in this summer.

Running

Running is free and super accessible for many people. If your dog is up for it, they can run alongside you. Dogs are creatures of habit, and once this becomes more of a routine they probably won’t let you skip your morning run, which can help whenever you need a motivation boost. Make sure to reward your furry friend post run with a healthy natural dog treat. Make sure to reward yourself too (you’ve earned it).

Hiking

Like running, hiking is also great for your cardiovascular health. The variance in inclines and terrain provides a challenge which will lift your heart rate, and allow you to use your strength as well. Many hiking trails are dog friendly, so you can bring your furry pal along with you. They will love exploring all the new sights and smells, and it will get their daily exercise in too.

Kayaking

If you have a water-loving pooch, why not take them kayaking with you? You will get a fantastic arm workout, and your dog can keep you company. You can even let your dog paddle alongside you if they want to swim. Just try to stick to sheltered inlets and slow moving rivers with little boat traffic. Make sure to practice in shallow waters first and teach your dog how to get in and out of the kayak before you head out.

Cycling

Does your doggo have tons of energy? Cycling may be the perfect activity for you and your dog. You can cover longer distances while cycling, which is perfect for your high-energy pooch. Cycling is great for your cardio fitness, as well as building leg muscle.

Frisbee

If you have a doggo which loves fetch, playing frisbee is a great way to bond with them all whilst both getting your exercise in. Playing frisbee can also help with your cardio fitness and agility.

Stair Running

Climbing stairs is fantastic for your quads, hamstrings and glutes. Not only does it offer a cardio workout, but it works your leg muscles hard as well. If your dog is up to the challenge, bring them along for a high intensity workout sesh.

Dog Yoga – Also Known as ‘Doga’

Yoga is a low intensity exercise which is fantastic for improved strength and flexibility as well as having stress reduction benefits. Both yoga lovers and dog lovers rejoice… your dog can get in on the zen action too. Doga is a series of modified yoga poses which include your dog. These range from using your pup’s weight for balance, to stretches where your furry friend will get tons of pats. It is a great endorphin boosting and bonding activity.

Hit the Dog Beach

When the weather heats up, the beach is the perfect place to cool down and chill out. Walking or jogging on sand is certainly more difficult than on pavement, and will give you a great workout. Your dog can jog alongside you, or enjoy a dip in the ocean.

Swimming

On a hot day, many dogs will happily jump in the pool with you while you do a few laps. Swimming is great for building endurance and lean muscle, and is low impact, making it softer on the joints. Dog breeds such as poodles, retrievers, spaniels and border collies typically love the water – but swimming is favoured by many breeds. For added safety, pop your pooch in a doggy life jacket. Make sure to reward them with a tasty treat after, such as beef jerky for dogs.

Doggy Agility Course

If you are looking for a more intense workout for you and your dog, and want to expand your doggie’s skills – look no further than a dog agility course. Your dog will be able to practice running through tunnels, weaving through poles and jumping over bars, all whilst improving on their fitness and coordination at the same time. You will also get quite the workout yourself simply from trying to keep up with them. Keep some training dog treats on hand to keep your dog motivated, and you will be good to go. Reach out to your local agility training club to find out more.

Just Get Moving

Hopefully this list of activities gets you inspired not only to workout, but to spend some quality time with your doggo as well. Being a good dog owner means keeping your dog healthy and making sure they get enough exercise. In saying this, the same rule applies to us humans too – so why not kill two birds with one stone and exercise together? It is a lot more fun, as you can bond with your furry pal and burn some calories at the same time. Win-win!

Coaches must remember that motivation is a key factor in keeping athletes engaged. After all, no one wants to play on a team where the coach doesn’t care about them.

Here are some tips on keeping your players engaged and their energy levels high.

1.   Communicate

One of the most important aspects to motivate your team is communicating well with them.

But this isn’t just about communication ground rules and team goals. You will be able to teach and motivate your athletes more effectively when there’s open communication on all levels—

athletes should listen to their coach, and coaches should always listen to what the players have to say.

It’s important to always have regular conversations with your players. Intently listening to their thoughts and understanding them can give you ideas on how you can improve further as a coach, which leads to success for the entire team.

2.   Promote unity

Coaches who care deeply for their players can build chemistry and unity within the team.

Communicating an agreement that outlines the core values of the team helps strengthen their dedication to the team and other members. Promoting unity can also be as simple as giving them high fives or having a team chant.

Custom teamwear can make them feel that they belong to a strong unit with a common goal. Yes, their basketball or soccer uniforms can boost their morale by being part of a team that supports and appreciates them.

Promoting unity gets your players to trust your leadership. In turn, they would feel encouraged and aim for the team’s success.

3.   Celebrate wins

Winning a league merits a huge celebration, but the smaller victories need recognition, too.

Small wins may be subtle, but the series of positive, little milestones add up, and before you know it, your team is working on new challenges with better confidence and determination.

Recognising your athlete’s accomplishments, big or small, help them feel successful. It could include a 5-second improvement in their running or agility training or 2 reps more than the previous lift.

Acknowledging small wins may be as simple as a pat on the back or a ‘good job’ during practice. When you do this often, they will strive for more.

4.   Set realistic goals

Sure, you want to win the championship. But setting short-term measurable goals is just as important.

Big goals can serve as a source of motivation, but sometimes, the immense pressure of reaching these huge targets can backfire.

Coaches should be able to break down a long term goal into manageable, realistic ones. Instead of wanting your players to win the championship in 6 months, try aiming for lower turnover or higher shooting percentage in the next 30 days.

5.   Monitor progress

The goals you set for your team should be measurable — this is the only way to know if your coaching strategy is effective or not.

Monitoring progress will give small wins their celebratory moment. It will also help motivate your players to push themselves to their best ability all the time because every little moment counts.

Tracking how your team is doing against your set goals also gives you a broader picture of what’s working and what’s not. It encourages coaches to focus on improving or eliminating specific behaviours.

6.   Lead by example

Great coaches have the ability to guide players by keeping them enthusiastic and focused. The best way to do this is to lead by example — your enthusiasm, focus, and motivation can energise the team as a result.

Be the coach that your players want to play for. Keep it fun, make them feel welcome, and give them a clear set of reasonable expectations.

Your player will pick up on everything you say and do. You influence them by modelling what you want them to be doing. Leading by example sends a strong message that you believe in what you’re doing. They will believe and respect you more in return.

7.   Reward hard work

An effective reward system encourages positive behaviour and discourages negative actions. It should create an environment that advocates healthy competition among peers while holding them accountable if they don’t live up to the standards set up by the team leaders.

Rewards can be tangible (gifts or tokens) or intangible (verbal praises or allowing more time for shooting practice). Players take pride when others notice how hard work pays off.

It’s crucial to find a balance between rewarding them and motivating them through other means. You need to find the right combination, and this largely depends on your overall team dynamics.

8.   Personalise your style

The key to a successful team is understanding each member’s strengths and weaknesses. Each member will react differently when criticised or encouraged by their peers, so coaches need to know how to best approach them individually.

Your coaching style is unique to you, but you should be able to adapt to your players’ needs and motivations to ultimately bring out the best in them. If players feel that they are heard and genuinely cared for, they will realise that their actions are significant and acknowledged.

The goal should be to nurture each player for the entire team’s benefit.

9.   Make it fun

You’ll have the greatest success with your players if you can make them enjoy training. When they (and you) are having fun, motivation will come naturally.

Do not only focus on the competition — offer some level-up in terms of the team’s engagement and interest. It doesn’t mean you should stay away from adding the competitive aspect. In fact, it might help motivate them even more.

The bottom line is, make training appealing to them, so they look forward to it.

How Do You Motivate Your Team?

It’s important to remember that your players are motivated by different things. It is up to you as their coach to provide the environment and opportunities for them to find their own motivation.

You want them to feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves. Knowing what motivates each person is crucial, as no one way is most effective. As their coach, you should be able to harness their full potential by keeping them motivated and engaged throughout.

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