Pep talks (the "good" ones at least) really don't work on the younger kids. It's not even worth your time, don't bother. Huh?! No... really. Up to age 7 or 8, all the kids really care about is going out and playing. There's so much information swirling around in their heads about what to do, when to do it, and how to do it, that there's just not capacity to get fired up enough to "beat" the other team.
For a while, I ignored this discovered truism and thought I could somehow inspire excellence by providing a stirring "Win one for the Gipper"-type oration. Nah. I'm sure it sounded good, and the other parents were ready to go out and get at 'em (I can hope), but the kids looked exactly the same after the speech as before... there were even a few times when I got questions immediately after the speech about random stuff - sometimes game related, sometimes not.
It might surprise you to find out that I'm an over-communicator. As such, pep talks not working was quite a problem. Luckily, all is not lost. The younger kids do seem to respond to basic, positive reinforcement - "Go out and do your best", "Just like we did in practice", "Don't worry about the last play", etc. All of these somewhat generic, yet positive messages seem to focus the young players on what they're supposed to do, and they seem to inspire confidence.
At age 8 or so, all of this begins to change. Some of the players have become very competitive by this point, and have mastered the basics. They are now looking for motivation to go out and achieve, and to win. This age opens a whole new era, a challenge all its own.
There's no harm in pulling out your best Dean Smith or Bear Bryant for the 5-year-olds... just keep your perspective when Little Sally listens intently, but then says "I have to go to the bathroom".
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