Everyone wants to win. At IFS this is a given, and doesn’t need to be highlighted to players when playing a game.
Rather than winning or losing, what is focused on in the youth development environment, is executing the playing style – each player fulfilling a role within the team, with specific tasks related to the main moments of the game. When these tasks are executed, it is from there the outcome will, the majority of the time, over the long term, take care of itself.
The thing coaches, players, parents and fans need most is patience, because it is only over time that the understanding and execution of the playing style can be implemented. Listen to Adelaide United Coach, Josep Gombau, to understand more about the importance of committing to implementing a playing style over time, even within a pressurised, results-based competition with adult players!
The temptation for players if they’re not winning in a game, is to lose their patience in committing to their tasks, attempt to do something different and break off from their link in the playing style chain. Then we cannot truly measure the playing style, nor can it be developed.
The real appreciation and excitement should come in being able to test themselves under greater pressure with quality opposition. The players develop and improve as they learn to play at a higher level. Our evaluation of a game is not being consumed with whether we won or lost, but how well we executed our roles and tasks within the playing style against that particular level of opposition.
So next time you ask a player about their game, rather than the first question being, “Did you win?” or “What was the score?” try “How well did your team keep possession?” and “What level were the opposition?”
Winning is not everything. Growth is everything.