Is perfection attainable?

Hi Everyone, Welcome to another edition of my coaching newsletter. This week a tweet that was not football-related really caught my eye and I wanted to add it but I had so much great content that I’ve decided to talk through it here instead. so the tweet is below

Steph Smith @stephsmithio

Great chess players know that there are many ways to win. Rarely is it about a perfect sequence (making all the right moves), but instead avoiding the wrong ones. The same is true for the game of life: relationships, investing, jobs, cities, etc Perfection is not a strategy.

So much to unpack without making this intro into a long-form blog piece. first I’ll start with the opening sentence. “Great players know that there are many ways to win” one of the most logical phases you’ll hear yet, there are coaches everyone who’ll only play one way, who won’t change for anything. Bielsa, Wenger. who else do you think is like that.

Now the next part of avoiding the wrong moves instead of trying to make all the right ones. This would seem so negative and instantly makes you think back to making sure you don’t make mistakes instead of giving people the freedom to make mistakes, however, I feel you need to think of this as stop trying to score the perfect goal, the perfect pass, the perfect tackle, etc and do what is effective. What do you think? can this be applied to football? do you feel perfection is in fact something that we should be striving for? I’m very conflicted! Anyway on to the top ten!

---

The Top Ten Of The Week

1. It was International Women’s Day last week, and to celebrate he is a list from Stu of The Talent Equation, going through his favourite conversations with some of the best women in the sports field.

   The Talent Equation @stu_arm

   To celebrate International Women’s Day...A thread of some of my favourite conversations with the amazing female coaches and researchers that have been guests on the podcast.

2. I really like Luke's thinking here behind session design. This is more for the FDP and young YDP ages but so relatable. Players will always love imitating the best in the game and it's an easy way to put across your coaching points. What other players would you do this with?

   Luke @GriffinFtbl

   I thought today about designing sessions, could be individual or team, based around top players. So rather than a playing principle as the focus for your session, you base it around players with world class attributes and test players on their strengths. Here is a quick first go:

   

   

3. Always a debate in coaching circles, well maybe just for me and the ones I know, style vs technique. I've always thought with people being different sizes and shapes, it will always be difficult to say use this technique exactly in this way. the sweet spot of hitting a football for a 6'4 player with size 13 feet has to be different from a 5'7 with size 9 feet. Here the modern-day GK team bring a really good definition and example

   The Modern-Day GK @themoderndaygk

   “Think about technique v style - correct technical practice in sports is governed by inarguable biomechanical principles whereas stylistic differences are often an adaptation of techniques, based upon individual variation, nuance, or faults. People often confuse the two.” ATLIS

   

4. How do you deal with difficult players in your team? or one's who always question you? Here Dan Abrahams has some solutions to get a disagreeable player onside.

   Daniel Abrahams @DanAbrahams77

   How do you help a disagreeable player become more agreeable: -ask them their viewpoint -empathise with their position by outlining strengths of their argument -explain your position -negotiate solutions -confirm what player needs from you -hold player accountable

5. With the pandemic affecting children all around the world and without children becoming less and less physically active, this important read and letter is an important reminder of what our sport and lots of other sports give to children. It's time to remind those in charge that playing sport is an integral part of our children’s lives.

   Salisbury Rovers FC @Salisburyrovers

   Time for play? “The pandemic has demonstrated just how low a priority we assign to [kids’] voices, notwithstanding the clear obligations of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)” Sign our letter. Time to start listening!

   

   docs.google.comThe forgotten generation: listening to children and the right to playDear Mr Bullingham. THE FORGOTTEN GENERATION: LISTENING TO CHILDREN AND THE RIGHT TO PLAY Our young people have faced an incredibly difficult time over the last year. Deprived of normal contact with friends, removed from the school environment, living in uncertainty, and sometimes hardship, and al…

6. I wish Carlon had created this video a few weeks back as it would have gone nicely with my theme of principles rather than formations. Through some Manchester City examples, Carlon shows how they change their structures and patterns without moving away from their principles.

   Carlon Carpenter @C_Carpenter14

   Adaptable Build Up Play - Ways to change structures/patterns of play without dropping principles: - Back four & back three variations - Positioning & rotations to interchange - How concepts of play remain consistent throughout (Made with @MetricaSports).

   

   streamable.comAdaptable Build Up Play: Man CityWatch “Adaptable Build Up Play: Man City” on Streamable.

7. Another Carlon video, this time talking through the benefits of Long Passes. Long passes are derided to those who love the aesthetical version of our game, however, they are so effective when used correctly that no good coach would rule out using it. Just ask pep and his goalkeeper Ederson.

   Carlon Carpenter @C_Carpenter14

   Benefits Of Long Passes (Open Play/Dead Balls): - Possibilities of ball retention: Bypass a high press, well positioned players in support to regain + link up upfield. - When possession cannot be kept: Counterpressing opportunities, relieve pressure. (Made with @MetricaSports)

   

8. Listen/watch this video from goalkeeping statistical analyst John Harrison talk through their thoughts on Jordan Pickford and his strengths and weaknesses. Andy, who is alongside John, is a GK coach so together they bring together the stats and the eye test and can help to give you a better understanding of the challenges your goalkeepers may face.

   Andy #1 GK @andyhashtag1gk

   🧤Jordan Pickford playing tonight, last week @Jhdharrison1 and I chatted about his performance vs Liverpool, check out the full video below ⬇️ youtu.be/JYVl10uepDk

   

9. Great question! I'd love to hear from you about it as well.

   Coaches Plan @CoachesPlan

   COACHES ⁉️ ⚽️ What are 3 things you ALWAYS consider when planning a training session? Let us know below 👇🏽🧠

10. Blaine is a coach who's traveled all over the world to coach football, here he takes you through some of the psychological techniques UEFA pro license coaches use in their practices.

    https://blainemckenna77.wordpress.com/2018/07/13/coaches-use-of-psychological-techniques/

---

Thanks again for joining me. If you know anyone who’d really enjoy this newsletter that please share using the buttons below. Have a great weekend and week.