The gospel according to Len

[F0551L]

 C + P  from the RFC website



Len Smith was, in many ways, a pioneer of modern-day coaching techniques. 

Smith coached Fitzroy seniors from 1958-62 and turned them into a highly-competitive unit.  In his first season at the helm, he lifted the team from 11th in 1957 to a narrow first semi-final loss.

He was one of the first coaches to introduce the play-on style of game, combining short-passing and handball, or flick passing, which was legal back then.

At the end of 1962, Smith left Fitzroy and was appointed coach of VFA club Coburg.

After one season in charge of Coburg, Smith took over as Richmond’s senior coach in 1964.

During his time with the Tigers, he formulated the plan of playing mobile, long-kicking, six-footers. 

Although Smith had only a short coaching stint at Punt Road due to ill-health, his impact on the Club was significant.  Many of his coaching methods and ideas were credited with playing a key part in the Tigers’ drought-breaking 1967 premiership triumph.
Smith’s theories and thoughts on Australian Football are legendary. He wrote down all his theories on the game, and they were published in Inside Football magazine in July 1978.  All these years on, they still make for fascinating reading.

Here then, is Len Smith’s coaching gospel . . .


• When in possession or attempting to gain possession of ball -
1. Get ball through goals in quickest possible manner -
(a) Long kicks - to a team-mate - shortest way home.
(b) Play the ball on quickly - (1) by kicking; (2) by handballing.  Except when in two instances - (1) when in position to score; (2) when in defence close to goals.
2. Two men together at all times -
(a) Theory - Two men will beat one opponent.
(b) Nearest man to one in possession.
(c) To provide assistance to one in possession - (1) talking; (2) shepherding; (3) handball.
(d) This enables backing up.
3. No packs or crushes -
(a) Hit or kick ball out of congested play to team-mate, who should be making position to receive ball and calling for it.
(b) This breaks up congestion and cuts out numerous “ball-ups”.
(c) Allows for “play-on” football.
(d) Allows mate who receives possession to kick without opposition.
(e) By not receiving possession in packs, you won’t be caught in possession.
4. Crumbs - crumbs - crumbs
(a) Three out of four goals are earned from crumbs.
(b) Naturally, only one man should contest the mark.
(c) This man should be the man in best position to mark.
(d) Crumbs should be obtained by rover in front of pack.
(e) Nearest placed position man at rear and sides of pack.
(f) Make crumb-gathering a special feature of your play.
(g) Do not be too close to the packs.
5. Keep in front of your opponent -
(a) It is the best position to obtain possession of ball.
(b) It is the best place to receive a free kick.
(c) When behind your opponent, you are placed in a defensive position, so punch the ball away.
(d) Further discussion on ‘A’ and ‘E’ if weather conditions are bad - “wind or rain”.
6. The use of handball -
(a) The rules reads - “The ball should be clearly held in one hand and hit with the other hand, with clenched fist”.
(b) Handball does not take the place of a kick.
(c) It is a means of getting out of trouble.
(d) It allows you to open up the play.
(e) Handpasses must be followed up.
(f) Do not be too close to each other.
(g) Handball in direction of your goals wherever possible.
(h) Handball to man in open, allows him to kick without opposition.
7. Team spirit and intelligent talking to each other -
(a) True friendship - one for all and all for one.
(b) Loyalty to each other.
(c) Doing things for each other without thought of reward.
(d) Doing your utmost to get the ball or help mate to get the ball.
(e) Obeying instructions, your captain and the umpire.
(f) When talking be specific, such as - “Hit it out Len”, or “Punch Len”.
                  When opponents have possession of ball -
1. Mind your opponent.
2. Stand on the mark and concentrate on the job.
3. Stop your opponent from “playing on” - (a) Don’t allow him to run past and receive handball from his teammate.  (b)  Don’t allow him to play on when he has ball.
4. Tackle man in possession of ball - do not bump him.
                 Other requirements of a good footballer -
                 Physical fitness - circuit; cleanliness; discipline; loyalty; sportsmanship;
                 Unselfishness; friendship; encouragement; practice - perfectionist;
                 concentration; courage; confidence. 


 Lots of relevance for the modern game

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/88453/default.aspx

Edited to add in link from RFC website

[mightytiges]

2. Two men together at all times -
(c) To provide assistance to one in possession - (1) talking; (2) shepherding; (3) handball.
(d) This enables backing up.

6. The use of handball -
(b) Handball does not take the place of a kick.
(c) It is a means of getting out of trouble.
(f) Do not be too close to each other.
(g) Handball in direction of your goals wherever possible.


7. Team spirit and intelligent talking to each other -
(c) Doing things for each other without thought of reward.
(d) Doing your utmost to get the ball or help mate to get the ball.

The rules our blokes could learn most from.

[Penelope]

Yeah, havn't seen too much evidence that the suntanned one has ever read the gospel according to Len.

[Owl]

Excellent stuff, simple to the point, bread and butter football.

[Ox]

Brilliant.






7. Team spirit and intelligent talking to each other -
(a) True friendship - one for all and all for one.
(b) Loyalty to each other.
(c) Doing things for each other without thought of reward.
(d) Doing your utmost to get the ball or help mate to get the ball.
(e) Obeying instructions, your captain and the umpire.

[yellowandback]

Brilliant.


7. Team spirit and intelligent talking to each other -
(a) True friendship - one for all and all for one.
(b) Loyalty to each other.
(c) Doing things for each other without thought of reward.
(d) Doing your utmost to get the ball or help mate to get the ball.
(e) Obeying instructions, your captain and the umpire.

and not just for football.....

[Ox]

elaborate vince lombardi....

[Owl]

now im gettin frightened...

[yellowandback]

elaborate vince lombardi....

it's obvious.

[Ox]

elaborate vince lombardi....

it's obvious.

speak ur mind,oh inspiried one.

[yellowandback]

elaborate vince lombardi....

it's obvious.

speak ur mind,oh inspiried one.

sarcasm is the lowest form of wit oh pessimistic one

[mightytiges]

The biggest change since Len Smith came up with his footy philosophy is the game now involves a moving zone defence and isn't rigidly positional as it was 40 years ago. No interchange in those days and so no high rotations off the bench to keep the speed of the game up for 4 quarters. Midfielders often went-to-head for the whole game compared to now where often no one knows who is on who in the midfield. Tackling and handball stats now have also gone through the roof. In the late 60s they didn't even include tackles as a stat in the paper (no handball stats either for the 1967 GF) and the Richmond kick-to-handball ratio was around 7 to 1 (in the 1969 GF we had 241 kicks and just 33 handballs). Compare that to Geelong's own 2 flags in 3 years nowdays has a kick for every handball basically.

Many changes but the fundamentals of the game haven't really changed and most of Len Smith's ideas still stack up today. Hafey said once that when he was coach of Richmond he wanted us to play a style that stood up in finals. We may have lost now and then to sides who may have played some fancy gameplan but we didn't need to worry about these sides because they never made the finals. Hopefully Hardwick sticks to his word of developing a style for Richmond now that will stand up in finals when we eventually get there in a few years time when our list matures.