88 Sports Quotes & 5 Tips on How to Stay Motivated

We’ve all had times when we’ve needed that extra boost to get out there and train for our sport. Keep reading, because we’ve put together a list of the top tips for staying motivated in your sport, plus the most motivational sports quotes that will make you think.

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Reading some inspirational sports quotes from world-renowned athletes and other great thinkers is a surefire way to boost your motivation and get back out on the field. And for those days when a few wise words just won’t cut it?

Playing a sport is a great way to stay fit, meet new people and channel your energy into something positive. But getting off the couch to get moving and meet your goals can be tough, and sometimes we lose our motivation.

But there are plenty of different techniques to apply to your training regime to ensure you stay excited about your sport and become the best you can be.

Inspirational Quotes about Sports

Inspirational Quotes about Sports

Sports have produced some of the most influential athletes and leaders of our time, and many sports personalities have developed a loyal base of fans that look up to them and admire every move they make.

And sometimes, these athletes, coaches and sports writers offer us some inspiring words that leave a lasting effect.

Quotes from sports personalities as well as great writers and thinkers can be a great aid for improving your own performance.

Reading these nuggets of wisdom can give us insight into the pre-game atmosphere in locker rooms or the buzz after a winning game, or they can even make us stop to appreciate the principles of sports and teamwork that can be applied to our daily lives.

Below, we have a wide range of inspirational quotes about sports that can be used for motivation in your own training or even just for a quick laugh. Whether you’re an aspiring athlete or a professional sportsperson, the quotes below are sure to remind you of your love for the game.

Motivational Sports Quotes to Keep You Going

Motivational Sports Quotes to Keep You Going

When you need a little extra pep in your step, whether you’re halfway through your marathon training or you’re struggling to get your sneakers on and head out for practice, a few motivational words can be just what you need.

The motivational sports quotes below are perfect for reading to yourself when you’re in a slump or sharing on social media to hold yourself accountable.

You can even send them to friends who are also training to help them keep their motivation high.

Dead last finish is greater than did not finish, which trumps did not start.
(Unknown)
If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.
(Thomas Jefferson, former US president, 1743–1826)
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.
(Earl Nightingale, American speaker and author, 1921–1989)
Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they worked on it every single day.
(Unknown)
That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing itself is changed, but that our power to do is increased.
(Heber Grant, former president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1856–1945)
If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.
(Andrew Carnegie, American industrialist and philanthropist, 1835–1919)
Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
(Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist, 1803–1882)
If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.
(Thomas Edison, American inventor, 1847–1931)
It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.
(William Shakespeare, English playwright and poet, 1564–1616)
Today’s actions are tomorrow’s results.
(Unknown)
Strive for progress, not perfection.
(Unknown)

Best Quotes about Sports and Teams

Best Quotes about Sports and Teams

Team sports are a great way to meet new people, add a social aspect to your fitness regime and find support in your sports endeavors. But a team can only succeed when its members work together and help each other.

If you and your team need some wise words to help pull together, or if you’re a coach and want to sprinkle some wisdom into your pep talks.

The quotes about sports teams below will remind your team that you’re better when you work together.

The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.
(Babe Ruth, American baseball pitcher, 1895–1948)
Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.
(Henry Ford, American industrialist and business magnate, 1863–1947)
If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.
(Henry Ford, American industrialist and business magnate, 1863–1947)
All the talent in the world won’t take you anywhere without your teammates.
(Unknown)
The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.
(Theodore Roosevelt, former US president, 1858–1919)
Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.
(Andrew Carnegie, American industrialist and philanthropist, 1835–1919)
A boat doesn’t go forward if each one is rowing their own way.
(Swahili proverb)
If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.
(Booker T. Washington, American educator and author, 1856–1915)
Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.
(Ryunosuke Satoro, Japanese writer, 1892–1927)
In union, there is strength.
(Aesop, ancient fabulist, 620–564 B.C.)
Teamwork: Simply stated, it is less me and more we.
(Unknown)
A single arrow is easily broken, but not ten in a bundle.
(Japanese proverb)

Famous Quotes on Sports

Famous Quotes on Sports

Sports personalities may not be best known for their way with words, but a number of athletes, coaches and sports journalists over the years have left a mark with their nuggets of wisdom.

Below are some of the most famous quotes about sports from the players and coaches themselves. Share them with your fellow athletes to inspire them to keep putting in the hours on the field.

One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than 50 preaching it.
(Knute Rockne, American football player and coach, 1888–1931)
Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second.
(William James, American philosopher and psychologist, 1842–1910)
It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.
(Babe Ruth, American baseball pitcher, 1895–1948)
Winners never quit and quitters never win. Sports do not build character. They reveal it.
(Heywood Broun, American journalist, 1888–1939)
When you see a good move, look for a better one.
(Emanuel Lasker, German chess player, 1868–1941)
I don’t want a football player who doesn’t take defeat to heart.
(Knute Rockne, American football player and coach, 1888–1931)
Football is a game played with arms, legs and shoulders but mostly from the neck up.
(Knute Rockne, American football player and coach, 1888–1931)
If winning isn’t everything why bother to keep the score?
(Knute Rockne, American football player and coach, 1888–1931)
Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.
(Babe Ruth, American baseball pitcher, 1895–1948)
Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games.
(Babe Ruth, American baseball pitcher, 1895–1948)

Funny Sports Quotes

Funny Sports Quotes

A bit of humor can go a long way in maintaining a positive relationship with your sports routine. When things start to feel a bit monotonous or stressful, a funny sports quote can lighten the mood. After all, laughter is the best medicine.

Take a look at the funny quotes about sport and one-liners below and send them to your fellow sporty friends and family for a giggle about your shared passion.

If at first you don’t succeed, try doing what your coach told you to do the first time.
(Unknown)
Yes, of course I’m athletic… I surf the internet every day!
(Unknown)
What do you call a boat full of polite football players?
A good sportsman ship.
(Unknown)
If procrastination was an Olympic sport, I’d compete in it later.
(Unknown)
How many golfers does it take to change a light bulb? FORE!
(Unknown)
What’s a horse’s favorite sport? Stable Tennis.
(Unknown)
Tennis would be way more exciting if they used dogs for ball boys.
(Unknown)
Q: Why did the golfer wear two pairs of pants?
A: In case he got a hole in one.
(Unknown)
When I go jogging, I listen to a portable CD player, so people think I’ve been running for 10 years.
(Unknown)
Q: Why should you never date tennis players?
A: Love means nothing to them.
(Unknown)

Good and Short Quotes about Sports

Good and Short Quotes about Sports

If you’re looking for some powerful quotes on sports, the short but sweet messages below really pack a punch.

Their concise nature makes them perfect for using as mantras to remind yourself of the hard work it takes to become great.

You could even use them as captions for your Instagram posts or a WhatsApp status to share some motivation with friends and followers.

Win or lose, do it fairly.
(Knute Rockne, American football player and coach, 1888–1931)
Don’t wait for opportunity. Create it.
(Unknown)
It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness.
(Seneca, Ancient Roman philosopher, 4 B.C.–65 A.D.)
Whatever you are, be a good one.
(Abraham Lincoln, former US president, 1809–1865)
No pressure, no diamonds.
(Thomas Carlyle, British essayist, 1795–1881)
Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.
(John D. Rockefeller, American business magnate, 1839–1937)
Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.
(F. Scott Fitzgerald, American novelist, 1896–1940)
Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
(Niccolo Machiavelli, Italian diplomat, 1469–1527)
Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.
(Vincent van Gogh, Dutch painter, 1853–1890)
The only thing that can grow is the thing you give energy to. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist, 1803–1882)
No great thing is created suddenly.
(Epictetus, Greek philosopher, 50–135 AD)
There is no substitute for hard work.
(Thomas Edison, American inventor, 1847–1931)

Quotes about Sports and Athletes

Quotes about Sports and Athletes

Being an athlete takes a lot of hard work, commitment and perseverance.

It can be tempting to stay stuck to the couch watching TV, especially when you’re still feeling tired from training, but if you want to become a great athlete, you know that you need to keep showing up, no matter what.

The quotes below about sports and athletes are reminders of the willpower and strength it takes to become the best you can be on the field.

Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
(Mahatma Gandhi, Indian lawyer, 1869–1948)
The body achieves what the mind believes.
(Unknown)
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit.
(Aristotle, Greek philosopher and polymath, 384–322 B.C)
The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
(Mark Twain, American writer and humorist, 1835–1910)
True disputants are like true sportsmen: their whole delight is in the pursuit.
(Alexander Pope, English poet and translator, 1688–1744)
Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there.
(Will Rogers, American vaudeville performer and actor, 1879–1935)
It never gets easier, you just get better.
(Unknown)
You are the handicap you must face. You are the one who must choose your place.
(James Lane Allen, American novelist and short story writer, 1849–1925)
Show me a gracious loser and I’ll show you a failure.
(Knute Rockne, American football player and coach, 1888–1931)
It’s okay if you try and fail, but it’s not okay if you fail to try.
(Unknown)

Great Quotes about Women in Sports

Great Quotes about Women in Sports

Female athletes are some of the strongest people around.

In a field where men receive more attention and adoration for the same sport, sportswomen persevere and continue to dedicate their lives to breaking records and achieving greatness.

If you’re a woman in sports, the quotes below will remind you of your strength and give you the push you need to continue performing at your best.

Sport is part of every man and woman’s heritage and its absence can never be compensated for.
(Pierre de Coubertin, Former president of the International Olympic Committee, 1863–1937)
Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.
(Amelia Earhart, American aviator, 1897–1937)
A strong woman knows she has strength enough for the journey, but a woman of strength knows it is in the journey where she will become strong.
(Unknown)
In the end we will only regret the chances we didn’t take.
(Unknown)
Never apologize for being a powerful woman.
(Unknown)
Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.
(Marie Curie, Polish-French physicist and chemist, 1867–1934)
She needed a hero, so that’s what she became.
(Unknown)
A strong woman never gives up.
(Unknown)
What’s a queen without her king? Well, historically speaking, more powerful.
(Unknown)
A strong woman looks a challenge in the eye and gives it a wink.
(Unknown)

Sports Leadership Quotes

Sports Leadership Quotes

Leadership is a fundamental aspect of sports, crucial for extracting the best possible performance from athletes.

Whether you’re a coach, team captain or simply setting an example for other aspiring athletes, asserting your leadership skills in your sport can benefit everybody.

The quotes below illustrate what it takes to be a good leader, as well as the positive effect this can have on a team’s performance. After all, a team without an effective leader is as good as a headless chicken.

It is not what the coach knows; it is what his players have learned.
(Unknown)
Behind every fearless player is a fearless coach who refused to let them be anything but the best they could be.
(Unknown)
Even while they teach, men learn.
(Seneca, Ancient Roman philosopher, 4 B.C.–65 A.D.)
Many ideas grow better when transplanted into another mind than the one where they sprang up.
(Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., American jurist, 1841–1935)
As a coach, I play not my eleven best, but my best eleven.
(Knute Rockne, American football player and coach, 1888–1931)
Leaders are like eagles; They don’t flock. You’ll find them one at a time.
(Knute Rockne, American football player and coach, 1888–1931)
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
(Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist, 1803–1882)
Leaders instill in their people a hope for success and a belief in themselves. Positive leaders empower people to accomplish their goals.
(Unknown)
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.
(John Quincy Adams, former US president, 1767–1848)
A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together.
(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German writer, 1749–1832)
A leader is best when people barely know he exists. When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.
(Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher, 365 B.C.-290 B.C.)
If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.
(Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, French writer, 1900–1944)
A coach will impact more young people in a year than the average person does in a lifetime.
(Unknown)

Tips on How to Stay Motivated in Sports

Tips on How to Stay Motivated in Sports

Whether you’re a professional sportsperson, an aspiring athlete or just someone who wants to move their body regularly, we all lose our motivation in sports at one point or another.

And once you fall out of your routine, it can be hard to find inspiration to get back into the swing of things.

So whether you’re trying to build the motivation to get started in sports for the first time, or if you’re trying to regain that spark you’ve lost, we’ve got some essential tips for staying motivated in your sport, whatever it is.

Find the Right Sport

Find the Right Sport

First of all, if you’re trying to get serious about sports, you have to make sure you’re playing the right one for you.

If you find yourself dreading your next tennis session or 10k run, maybe that isn’t the sport for you.

Finding a sport you actually enjoy and look forward to can make a world of difference, and you may suddenly find yourself counting down the days until your next training session every week.

Set Realistic Goals

Set Realistic Goals

If you’re someone who is motivated by goals, make sure you’re setting realistic ones.

Working towards a goal that is likely impossible to achieve is simply setting yourself up for failure, and will inevitably lead to a massive blow in motivation.

Instead, try setting smaller, more manageable goals. Don’t jump straight in at making your local top division team or finishing a marathon in just a few months. Start small, enjoy the process, and build your way up.

Create a Training Plan

Create a Training Plan

A great way to get into a sports routine and hold yourself accountable is to make a training plan. Decide how often you want to practice and for how long (remember: keep it realistic) and then create a schedule that works for you.

When deciding on your plan, try to foresee any potential obstacles that might prevent you from being able to train.

Get Support From a Friend

Another great way to incorporate accountability into your sports regime is by teaming up with a friend to achieve your goals.

If you decide to get involved with a sport together, you can look forward to the time you spend with them while also keeping each other on track.

Reward Yourself

Reward Yourself

Make sure to reward yourself with a treat for staying on top of your goals.

These treats don’t have to be food-related, it could be buying yourself something new to wear, treating yourself to a trip to the cinema or spa, or when you hit a big goal, maybe even a trip away.

The options are limitless. Bonus tip: if you treat yourself to new sports equipment or workout clothes, you can create even more motivation as you look forward to getting to try them out.

By weaving these tips into your training plan, you can be sure to increase your sports motivation and stay on track so you can hit your goals. Remember, setbacks are not failures.

If you miss a training session or two, or even a whole month, you can always get back on track. Just refer back to these tips and keep going.