Effort can be defined a few different ways.

The dictionary defines it as “a vigorous or determined attempt” or “the result of an attempt” or “strenuous physical and mental exertion.”

When coaches speak about great players, “effort” plays strongly into a list of characteristics the athlete possesses. We often hear: “You know it when you see it.”

Most coaches agree that effort comes from somewhere inside a person coupled with the motivation to excel.

But is that where it stops? As coaches, what should we look for?

Defensive coaches work and scheme to have 11 players at the football every play, each relentlessly finishing through the tackle.

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A defensive football player is judged in part on the distance that he is from the football at the whistle.

For most players, that’s a matter of effort and heart.

These characteristics are hard – maybe impossible – to truly measure. But the reality is that some players are born to give great effort while others need to be trained.

Here are five areas you can train defensive players to give effort:

• Stance, eyes and key. To make a great play, players must be able to move in the right direction the fastest way possible. Being in a proper stance and having eyes on the key are skills that need to be trained, taught and emphasized. Teaching the eyes to speak to the rest of the body takes constant effort and reinforcement.
• Compete to the football. Players have different skill levels and even if they are coming from the same distance and angle, being the first one to the ball doesn’t mean you are necessarily working the hardest. Instead of preaching “run to the football,” we ask players to “complete to the football.” We do look to make sure that players are not passed by another player at the same position. Maintaining speed to the football while not slowing down or speeding up exhibits effort. Preaching a three-step burst when the ball is thrown helps to coach constant effort even when a pass is incomplete.
• Identify and defeat blockers. As players determine a path to the football, they must take on a variety of blocks. That takes fundamentals. As players compete to the ball, giving great effort means they stay on the right path and not take the one of least resistance. Players must be able to take on blocks and defeat them. Running around them opens seams and creases that stress on the rest of the defense.
• Stay on your feet, off the floor. With an emphasis on safety, it is important to constantly train players to stay on their feet and off the ground. This starts in practice. Teaching players to jump off the ground as if it is a hot stove teaches them the importance of remaining upright, getting into positon quickly and having a sense of urgency. Train your players to never get off the ground with a hand and knee touching at the same time.
• The goal is to get the ball. Great defenses have a pretty specific goal: Get the ball back for the offense with great field position to give your offense the opportunity to score. Defenses need to be as much about the ball as the offense. One way to build that culture is to scoop up and secure every ball on the ground no matter where it is or what drill it is in – even on incomplete passes. Build effort as a habit while training the culture of success. In assessing player performance, we want players to not only complete to the ball, but to produce once we get there.

Getting the most out of our players is what coaches strive for every day. We are all a part of our team success and look to gain an edge on the finer points of our game.

Coaches who can get players to give great effort reap the benefit. It’s contagious through the whole organization.

The mentality of effort does not just happen. It has to be coached into our players.

Vince DiGaetano is the football program analyst at Wagner College. A USA Football Master Trainer, he was a finalist for the 2014 American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year award. Before Wagner, he was the linebacker coach at Nassau Community College, the defensive coordinator at SUNY-Maritime and the defensive coordinator at DeWitt Clinton (N.Y.) High School. DiGaetano also is a recruiting coordinator for the Long Island and New York Public School Athletic League.