What About Helmet Decals?

Helmet decals are nothing more than a way for coaches to encourage great play by rewarding great behavior. You see helmet decals in all sports at all levels from college football down to 10 & Under softball. But what are they for? Check out why you'd give them out and how they can help your team.

Incentives can be very good when they create or reward behavior that's helpful. Incentives range from salaries and bonuses for pro athletes to trophies & gold medals down to something as basic as a simple recognition by a parent or coach. Helmet decals are a great way to reward plays and behaviors that are good for your team, as well as being a very visible and fun way to display the reward.

If you are considering helmet decals you've got 2 important things to determine:

1. What will your decal be?
   1. Will it be a figure - like your team's logo or name?
   2. Will it be some letters - maybe an abbreviation of a special saying within your team?
   • Have your team get together and decide for themselves what they want for their helmet decals.
   • An example of helmet decals is the University of Tennessee softball team. Their helmet decals are a circle with the letters JC in it. They stand for Jimmy Chitwood, the lead character in the movie Hoosiers, since he's the one that asked for the ball at the very end of their championship game when the whole season was on the line. They want their players to want the ball when the game is on the line.
2. What will you give out decals for - I suggest you consider some of the following rewards to give out to players that many college teams currently give:
   1. Best practice player of the week (gets a special t-shirt to wear in practice and also gets a helmet decal in a ceremony)
   2. Best hustle player of the week (games and/or practice). Also gets a special color t-shirt and helmet decal
   3. Best team player of the week (games and/or practice). Also gets a special color t-shirt and helmet decal.

Also let your team get involved with deciding what things to give rewards for and what rewards to give. I like the idea of different colored practice jerseys as it does set the kids apart, but sometimes they don't like that so that's where asking the team can help.

In the world of pro cycling the Tour de France is the biggest event in the world, and they do something very similar to our version of helmet decals. The overall leader gets the yellow jersey but they also have other special jersey colors:

• Green for fastest sprinter
• Polka dots for best mountain climber
• White for best young rider under 25
• Special black & red number for the most aggressive rider each day

All are just ways to recognize lots of special achievements other than just "winner" - or "starter" in the case of a softball team.

For more ways to encourage teamwork, competiveness, intensity, focus and more check out A Coach's Guide to Creating Team Chemistry: Tips on Coaching Female Athletes.