In the serious business of sport, we can sometimes forget that our ultimate responsibility as facilitators of our chosen activity, is to ensure that our players, above all, enjoy the game.
What better way to enjoy the game than by playing it.
As coaches we can get caught up in detail by trying to break apart the game to improve players ability in individual segments.
What better way to learn the game than by playing it.
If we want to manipulate or modify the game, we must do so only according to the context and players needs, but we must also ensure that we uphold the game’s integrity.
For example, if we take away the opposition/defenders, is it still a game? Isn’t that a vital component which shapes our team’s action when we have the ball?
What if we play a game without direction? Isn’t that a vital component that will determine what our team needs to do with the ball?
Yes, there are games without defenders and direction that may serve different purposes, but as learning designers, coaches need to be very aware and careful of why we are adding to or taking away from the game, its complexity and its integrity.
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