I was asked earlier this week by a young coach if he should find the players and then build a playing model or should he have a playing model and then pick players for it. I was really intrigued with this as I don’t think its that black and white but it does bring up a really interesting issue.

My first instinct was to say he should find the best players and then create the best playing model for them. After consideration I decided to not say that as a playing model for a young coach can be a daunting activity. The coach needs to understand the model right down to the finest details. The better your players the more information and questioning you will receive so they can understand the model. There is nothing worse than a coach being unable to answer a player’s query when trying to teach the playing model. Players need to believe you know the map and feel confident that you will provide them with the guidance to find the solutions.

Once a coach understands their playing model then both players and coaches can explore solutions within the sub-principles of the model. As Vince Lombardi said about the Packer Sweep — (paraphrased) “to execute it perfectly so that players make the correct decision based on what was unfolding in front of them”. It wasn’t about robot like adherence to the sweep it was more about execute the sweep perfectly and then make decisions within the sweep based on what the opposition did.

International and professional coaches have the “luxury” of being able to have their model and then select or buy the players they need to execute the model. From a development point of view, big clubs with access to resources and players, can develop players along club wide playing model lines.

For a young coach dealing with young developing players a playing model based on development and game principles is of more importance than a model based on “winning”. My feedback to the young coach was that based on where he was he should develop a playing model for the players that he currently has and that he focus on the teaching of the principles of the game.

In thinking about that for a young coach it is vital that they completely understand their playing model and all the nuances and movement contained within it.

Over time his playing model would be enhanced and detailed as he developed the sessions that aligned to his model. Of most importance was knowing what he wanted his team to do within the 4 moments of the game and then develop the sub-principles. Every session needed to have a focus on the one of the sub-principles and every piece of activity within the session should be aimed at teaching that sub-principle. I see many coaches who conduct generic passing grids in their session that have no relation whatsoever to the topic they are coaching. Every single element of the session from the warm-up to the cool-down is part of the teaching and thought must be given to each component to ensure maximum learning for the players.

All players learn in different ways and some will start to pick up the principles during a ball warm-up whilst others may take 2 sessions or a face to face conversation to start to understand the principle. Why waste time with generic or unfocussed elements within your session when you could be starting the learning phase immediately.

I have been given the opportunity to create a new playing model for my next coaching assignment. Its almost like a blank piece of paper with unlimited possibilities. To have to go right back to each of the moments of the game and plan from there has been a wonderful growth and learning opportunity. It requires to be built to facilitate “success” within the KPIs of the club’s strategy. The types of players required is offset by the talent range that is likely to be available and ensuring that the players can play within their “talent” range. I dislike when players are requested to do something in a model that they are uncomfortable with or “can’t” do. You set them up for failure and you also create negative thinking in their head. It is always better to allow them to play to their “talent” range and then bring them forward to the optimum playing solutions.

One of the key learnings has been the great amount of thinking and work that is required to have a very clear and sharable plan. I never forget the statement given to me by an old CEO and mentor of mine when it came to writing briefs — “if you can’t write a brief on a single A4 piece of paper then you don’t understand it clearly”.

My aim and focus is to develop a 4 page playing model that clearly articulates, to anyone reading, whether players or coaches, of the vision and strategy for the group.

The sessions are often a lot easier to write after that as each session can be matched up against the Moments – Principles – Sub-Principles and Sub-Sub Principles of the playing model.

Loving the opportunity to build a plan, recruit the players and then execute it from a playing and performance point of view.