Why did I become a coach?
As coaches we have two fundamental questions to ask ourselves. The first; Why did I become a coach? The second; Who is it for?
The second should have only two answers. Either the players or yourself, the coach. The answer should really be for the players, but there are times when even the most altruistic coaches will do things for themselves. After all, we all have qualifications to obtain and bills to pay.
It is the first question where the variance will be greatest. Each unique personality will have their own unique reason. For me it was because I looked at English football and felt that there was a lack of creative players. In a display of arrogant thinking I thought I could help change that. I wanted to help. I believed I could help. So I changed everything.
This needs to be typed in large font and pinned to my wall. Every time I plan a training session these thoughts should be at the forefront of my mind. I wanted to develop creative players, therefore this should be at the core of everything. Except, developing creative players may be the wrong perspective. Drawing the creativity out of players, be they young or old, is a more fitting description. The nuance is minor but crucial.
Many coaches share this objective. To unlock the imagination of young players so that when they are fully formed they have match winning qualities. The qualities possessed by the best and most exciting players in the world, from any era. Defenders are respected but we revere those who produce moments of magic with awe and wonder. After all, it is harder to create than destroy. This is entropy in action across science, life and sport.
Be creative. Here is your blank canvas. Go and do something creative.
It is a rare individual who will not react with a somewhat frozen look. The instruction is intimidating. To tell players to simply be creative is clearly not enough. As coaches the role must be to provide guidance. To generate sessions in which creativity is to fore.
Here comes the paradox.
If we plan for creativity, is it truly creative? Is it a false creativity? Forced creativity? If the explicit goal of the session is “creative dribbling” then several other outcomes have been ruled out of. The possibilities have not broadened, the have narrowed. Our quest for creativity has had the reverse effect. Coach education has taught us to have sessions with targeted outcomes. To have these outcomes the coaches must have a set of tasks for the players to fulfil, boxes to tick. Limitations are being set before the session has even started. Is this a creative environment or another form of standardised testing?
There are many areas of life where human beings are very good at being creative. Quite obviously creativity thrives in the arts but it is required in industry, law, detection, any area in which there are problems to solve. Yet some of these problem solvers do not regard themselves as creative. “Not the creative type” is a familiar refrain. Educator Sir Ken Robinson writes a lot about creativity. He believes that the first problem is understanding what creativity is.
“The process of having original ideas that have value” – Sir Ken Robinson
In the above clip Sir Ken Robinson insistent that creativity is a process. It is something that can be worked at. As football fans is not particularly appealing. As football coaches this is extremely encouraging. On the pitch the process of creativity is likely to appear instantaneous, but the true length of the process will have been years of experiences on and off the pitch.
Creativity is not reliant on perfect technique. Though it may help. Creativity is not reliant on the unorthodox. Though it may help. Creativity is not reliant on a high IQ. Though it may help. What creativity is reliant upon is freedom of thought.
How does creativity happen?
The first factor is that it must be encouraged, not quashed. If it isn’t the world creates more people who believe they are “not the creative type”.
What if we can remove fear? What if we can help them find ways to break free?
Many thanks to –
Gita Langston @chatnmeetcoffee
Nicola Gaughan @iconiccreative
Peter Thornton @insidewrite1957
John Davies @renegadestyle
Carl Wilkinson @WilkinsonCT