Knute Rockne, All American is a biological film portraying the life story of the eponymous football coach. The 1940 film shows how Knute Rockne gained fame and popularity while serving as the head coach of Notre Dame Football team (Bacon " Howard, 1940). On the other hand, Remember the Titans is a 2000 film that depicts the life of Herman Boone. The black coach was tasked with integrating the T.C. Williams High School at the time when racial segregation was prevalent in 1971 (Bruckheimer " Yakin, 2000). In this paper, I will analyze the coaching tools used by Rockne and Boone to motivate their players.
Rockne motivated the Notre Dame Football team to achieve unprecedented success despite the odds stacked against them. In this regard, Rockne emphasized the importance of teamwork (Bacon " Howard, 1940). He motivated the players by encouraging them to work together and avoid selfishness. Pursuing greatness at the expense of others will derail the team from achieving its true potential. Secondly, Rockne instilled in his players a determination to win (Bacon " Howard, 1940). He helped them to appreciate the diligence that was required to ensure victory. Rockne encouraged his players to consider how winning would improve their lives and careers. Thirdly, the coach motivated his players by developing personal relationships (Bacon " Howard, 1940). Showing personal concern and care for the players motivated them to perform beyond their potential.
On the other hand, Boone employed forceful coaching techniques to motivate his players. The team was involved in frequent racial conflicts (Bruckheimer " Yakin, 2000). Hence, Boone felt the need to force his players to accept one another and perform at a high level. Secondly, Boone used rigorous training methods to improve the physical conditioning of his players. This was especially manifest during a morning sprint to the local cemetery (Bruckheimer " Yakin, 2000). Thirdly, Boone used a motivational speech to appeal to the sensibilities of his players. Consequently, the team managed to finish the season without losing a single game.
Both coaches used speeches intended to motivate their players. Boone gave a speech intended to ensure racial harmony within his squad while Rockne encouraged his players to shun selfishness. Furthermore, both coaches inspired their players to embrace teamwork and coordination. Both Rockne and Boone ensured that their players were determined to win. The steely focus on victory motivated both sets of players to overcome significant odds. Nevertheless, their coaching methods had slight differences. For instance, Boone forced his players to train while Rockne encouraged them to act willingly. Rockne also used reasonable training drills while Boone deployed a punishing regime of physical training. Unlike Boone, Rockne worked to develop personal relationships with his players.
Indeed, the coaching tools used by Boone and Rockne are quite similar to those portrayed in book-related teachings and the video. For instance, the video highlights the importance of communication (Coaches Choice, n.d). Speaking to players and listening to their concerns helps them to focus on the team’s success. Both Boone and Rockne had frequent communication with their respective teams. Book-related teachings and the video also highlight the significance of cultivating responsibility and self-discipline (Brooks, 2009). It is noteworthy that Boone and Rockne helped their players to become responsible during training. Book-related teachings emphasize the value of promoting self-respect and self-belief in athletes (Brooks, 2009). Both Boone and Rockne helped their players to cultivate a steely determination to win despite the odds. The coaches were also ready to learn from their mistakes and implement changes. Consequently, Boone and Rockne pushed their teams to stardom.
References
Bacon, L. " Howard, W. K. (Directors). (1940). Knute Rockne, All American [Motion Picture]. United States: Warner Bros.
Brooks, A. C. (2009). Social entrepreneurship: A modern approach to social value creation. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Bruckheimer, J. (Producer) " Yakin, B. (Director). (2000). Remember the Titans
[Motion Picture]. United States: Walt Disney Pictures.
Coaches Choice. (n.d). Developing a Positive Coaching Philosophy. Retrieved from https://pitt.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=21d0b787-45fe-4397-877f-d5e1cc1f0f42
