WINNING v DEVELOPMENT
Winning V Development in Grassroots Football
DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT WINNING AND DEVELOPMENT?
I think as coaches we should not be afraid of talking about winning. It is part of their development and progression as children grow up. It is vitally important we teach our children how to win as well as how to lose; children often learn much more about themselves in defeat than in victory.
If the team win a match, we don’t tend to discuss it too much, rather the emphasis of the discussion is focused on learning to play the right way. A ‘win at all costs’ mentality can often heap unnecessary pressures on young children to get a positive result, whilst abandoning the principles in which you would like the team to play. Coaches need to communicate to children and parents that the development of the child is the priority.
HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT THESE VALUES ARE ACTUALLY LIVED OUT BY YOUR COACHES?
The main focus is never on winning, especially from a young age. We don’t put pressure on players between the age of seven to thirteen to win in order for them to grow and develop. Of course we all like to win matches and the feeling is certainly better than losing, however I would stress that the emphasis we instil at United Dragons is to enjoy football, work hard and compete. Through creating a positive culture within the club, we often win more games than we lose and this is borne out of sticking to our coaching principles.
HOW IMPORTANT IS WINNING?
Winning is important in a developmental point of view. The age of a player can determine how important winning is to them. The younger a player, the more confidence can be built by winning. If the team win, it raises self-belief as individuals and by being part of a team. I think a winning mentality is important, in the sense that players try their best to achieve success in the game.
Success is not necessarily winning, it’s more the effort put into the game that counts. Winning absolutely creates a positive environment, provided it is handled correctly by coaches. I certainly don’t think coaches should shy away from winning, as long as the development and principles are their main priority.
WINING MATTERS. DEVELOPMENT MATTERS MORE.
They both matter. There’s a score at the end of the game, there is generally a winning team and a losing team in games. However, what does winning mean after all? Does winning mean having the better score in a U7 league game? Does winning mean your team win 15-0? To some, yes.
For me, development is winning. Winning or more specific a winning mentality means players who are hungry and determined to give 100% at improving everything they do. Inspire our young players to be hungry and motivated to improve constantly at whatever they do. At United Dragons we love to compete and instil the competitive edge in all of our players.
Effort and enjoyment is a non-negotiable and everything else that happens within a game is a part of the fascinating learning experience.