Levels of energy and motivation can very from session to session, and from girl to girl on any given day.  And there is always the grab bag of suggestions that I can give coaches, and the curriculum steps through some differing activities, to help in keeping the girls motivated in their laps.  But I think coaches on the ground and in midst of their group’s dynamics come up with the best ideas to implement.  Below you’ll find some of my standard suggestion.  Please share your own success stories here:

- Set a goal of a number of laps for the session and increase it as the season goes on.

- Always try to stay active with the girls during their laps, joining them to chat and get their mind off the fact they are running.

- Break up the lap with stations or sections of differing movements (like running backwards, scissor, skipping, slow running/fast running, etc.) always keeping it different.

- Run backwards around the lap so you can give the girls high fives as you pass.

- Use special incentives (like beads, stickers, silly toys, a special snack, etc.) when they meet certain milestones.

- Hangman on their arm with washable markers.  I like to pick a phrase that has to do with the lesson topic.  Be sure to give the same sequence of letters because the girls will know to compare their letters.

- Music!!! Ask the girls for some suggestions.