Here's what I really meant.
Memo to Coaches / Clubs
What reality are some coaches/clubs living in and what pressures are some coaches being placed under?
If you listen to the words coming out of the mouths of the “good” coaches, who have seen the ultimate success, or are destined for success, they will tell you that the greatest satisfaction they gain as a coach is in seeing their players get the best out of themselves.
That, to me, is the main reason anyone would want to coach. And if it’s not then they’re quite possibly in the wrong caper and may hold back talent and ability that we supporters want to see, from players who deserve the right to have that opportunity.
Obviously winning games is a high priority for coaches, but why are some more successful than others? There are many factors, but it could also be that some coaches are burdened by issues that cloud their decision making, which sees them make short-term decisions, which hurt the future of their club and players. Instead of being allowed to focus on developing their players for the long-term, it appears that some coaches need to be mindful of sponsors, members and the very survival of their club and so are asked to coach for “today”.
Just as money seems to be the motivating factor behind every decision the AFL makes these days, so too is money the motivating factor behind the decisions and tactics of some coaches. And if so, it’s a mystery how these coaches, and their clubs, can ever hope to become successful. Because how can anyone coach players to win for “now” and make decisions for the short-term, yet at the same time expect long-term success?
Surely that’s an impossibility and just asking for trouble. It therefore seems evident that some coaches, under the strain of that extra burden and pressure they carry, seem to develop a siege mentality when the losses begin to mount, as it’s then that their coaching begins to suffer. The added burden of coaches at struggling clubs can clearly become a noose around their neck. Especially when some seem unable to find a way out of, or around, the situation they find themselves in
If there is an imbalance of responsibility placed on coaches at some clubs, how do coaches propose that they are going to win games and bring some sort of success to their club if they aren’t able to separate themselves from any outside pressures? And if they are unable to do so and be flexible enough to change their mindset, then how can we expect that they can do that and more for their players? And perhaps the reason they are placed in such a situation is so that they can see where their focus needs to be.
Alarm bells should be ringing when coaches adopt a mind numbing brand of football, in order to win. It may keep the wolves at bay for now, but it’s just delaying the inevitable. And it could only be in a pressurised world where anyone could believe that this style can bring success and save anyone or anything.
The real negative is that these coaches can unwittingly transfer and burden their players with their own fears and limitations, which may mean they have a great many lessons to learn about coaching, before they truly understand the responsibility, and role, of a coach.
Of course, it’s far easier for someone looking at things from the outside to clearly see what’s happening. So why doesn’t someone tell them, or is it that they don’t listen? Whether they choose to listen or not, those coaches who fear losing the most are the ones who end up losing out – big time. They’re not doing themselves, their players or the game any favours by adopting negative tactics to minimise scoreboard damage. And if they think that playing defensive, grinding football is going to bring them and their club anything other than criticism then they are absolutely kidding themselves.
If a coach’s focus is always to get the best out of his players then he never needs to feel the burden of outside influences, because if his players are always given the best opportunity and best environment to be the best they can be then everything else looks after itself, as things just flow from there. Any coach who doesn’t know that is just making life harder for himself than it needs to be.
And instead, some coaches seem to sabotage themselves by focusing on things other than getting the best out of their players. What they don’t seem to realise is that once they concern themselves with everything but the welfare of their players, they allow outside influences to dictate their every move and decision.
I just wish some of them would stop for a moment, sit back, take a deep breath, look at the big picture and see what’s really going on, because they are doing themselves, their players and the game a great disservice by continuing on this negative tack. And those around them are just as responsible.
The methods these coaches adopt bring them exactly what they don’t want. And instead of coaching to be successful, they are coaching not to lose. They might sound the same, but each requires a mindset that is in opposition to the other, because one approach requires a positive and attacking mindset and the other a defensive and negative mindset. Fear based coaching dictates that those who coach not to lose end up losing. If not in the short-term, they will in the long run. Simply because they are too afraid to lose games and not brave enough to win them.
Why is increasing sponsorship, membership and crowds more important than player development? How do you attract anyone to your club unless you have players and a style of game people want to see? Boring people to death, by playing inane football, win or lose, won’t attract anyone but the diehards. And why would players be motivated enough to play a style of game they don’t enjoy and doesn’t help their long-term development? Subjected to a negative coaching style, when do players get to take responsibility and use any initiative, daring or flare they have? Surely players are just stifled under such coaching and will soon enough resent their coach, and maybe even club, for it, consciously or otherwise. Guaranteed.
And it’s not a case of the chicken or the egg, because if you don’t have motivated players, enjoying what they are doing then you basically have nothing. Supporters are informed enough these days to know that it takes time to build and develop a playing list. And because they care about the long-term future of their Club, and aren’t going anywhere, they want to see players and a style of play emerge that is exciting to watch, because it’s rewarding and inspiring to see a team develop over time. It is when all you’ve been subjected to for a number of decades is a team and club on the road to nowhere.
When supporters know they have little chance of winning a premiership, they need something else to focus on and a reason to hope. Watching motivated players playing exciting football gives us something to look forward to and will always draw people to the game. How could it do anything else?
There is some amazing young talent coming into the game right now. Confident young men with plenty of ability and attitudes to match. To think that such talent may be stifled, because of negative coaching tactics, is enough to make my blood boil.
In my eyes, coaches have a responsibility, first and foremost, to their players. Give them the opportunity to get more out of themselves than they believe possible and let us supporters see their talents and marvel at their deeds on a footy field.
Why does coaching need to be any more complicated than that?
