General George C. Marshall mastered details of logistics in warfare and had limited patience for grand schemes bereft of meticulous planning. Leaders find solutions as platitudes do not solve problems. His sharp mind and oversight of WWII planning also helped him win positions as Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and a Nobel Prize.
We cannot presume as leaders (coaches) that everything we do is 'correct', that nothing is broken, or that there can be no 'better way' or middle ground. Belief in our infallibility usually reflects ignorance, inexperience, and arrogance. As Daniel Patrick Moynihan said,
“You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.” And a firehose of facts sprayed upon the desert doesn't make an oasis.
Fortunately, in athletics, we have a scoreboard. And the score informs us about our personnel, tactics, strategy, training, and motivation. As much as we want to edit our narrative, the record speaks independently and impartially.
We seek players with the same commitment to improvement, excellence, and accountability that we have. But we can't control their time, engagement, study, and repetitions. But we can improve our organization, preparation, teaching, and communication to add value and earn their buy-in.
The offseason drives performance. What belongs in practice?
Of course, theory and practice differ. Participation (voluntary) was inadequate last year. I plan to combine workouts with another grade this year and open them to other players as well. Younger players will be challenged to "play up". Older players can learn leadership skills as 'big sisters'.
Within the activities, players need to understand the purpose (e.g. create/prevent separation), techniques (good and bad), and situational appropriateness.
What is the biggest 'problem'? Imagine teaching vocabulary to a class that constantly changes in membership and capability. If you want to teach 'roots', e.g. inter- (between) or omni-(all) like interaction and omniscient, some students don't get exposed. If you stress specific words like assiduous, sedition, or hegemony, the same applies, plus they didn't hear the root concepts.
Regardless, we have to work with tempo, be demanding, and teach to the concepts not to the test. “Well, it doesn’t work. Lowering standards just leads to poorly educated students who feel entitled to easy work and lavish praise.”
― Matthew Syed, Bounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Success
Details matter. Sun Tzu remarked in The Art of War, "Every battle is won before it is fought."
