where to put football patches

Patches really look good on T shirts, shorts, bags or caps. You could even create a team "sandwich board" at practices so all the players can see their progress.

To be effective as a motivational tool, it is best if the players can see the patches at practice, games or both. So if you use T shirts, get your players to wear them to practice sessions, before matches....or just for fun so the player can show that he or she is proud of his or her achievements.

how to iron football patches onto T shirts etc

Also, make a big deal of giving them out. You can give them as an immediate reward, or in a ceremony at the end of practice or at the end of the game where all the players see who is getting them and why... I have found this to be an excellent motivational technique.

These are some ideas that coaches have submitted:

On Duffle Bags or Equipment Bags: "At the end of the season, I gave each girl a duffle bag with her name on it so she could iron the patches to it. We decided to play indoor football this winter and just had our first game. The girls showed up with their bags and had the patches for all to see. My wife told me that during the game, parents kept asking if I were giving out patches for the indoor league. I had not planned on it but....I don't want to stop a good thing. So I am placing an order for more patches after sending this reply. Keep up the good advice. There are those of us who really appreciate it."

On socks: "We are going to try a NEW idea for the incentive patches; THE SOCKS. We are going to sew the patches on the players socks as they earn them. I thought I'd pass on this idea in case others may want to try it. Just discussing and explaining these patches to the kids has really helped them focus on football and it keeps their attention (especially my child)."

On Warm-Up Jackets: "The location the children put their patches (for great effort during practice, accomplishments during games, good attitudes and sportsmanship, etc...) is on their warm-up jackets. These are team jackets that the kids wear to each game, during practice, and to club/team events. The presence of the football patches is both a point of conversation between children and an opportunity to enjoy their accomplishments. We've seen the children wearing their jackets around town and it gives the entire community an opportunity to support the success of the children-- particularly for those accomplishments not often recorded, like team play, sportsmanship, great defensive play, etc... Because the jackets are clearly identified with their team, the patches also inspire a collective feeling of team pride for the children, and each and every one of them remembers which game/ practice they received their patch at and happily share the stories of how they earned them!"