Get Your Philosophy Right
Philosophy: An underlying theory or set of ideas relating to a particular field of activity or to life as a whole. — The Free Dictionary
In football, a coach’s philosophy is critical.
It is the soul of the team and goes a long way in forming the culture that will drive the club on and off the field.
It is the club’s guidance system, so to speak. Generally, it will guide right or wrong and, ultimately, will determine success or failure in the long-term.
In today’s narrative when the term ‘philosophy’ comes up in football it is sometimes in reference to a coach’s ideal playing style or tactical approach.
For my point of view, however, the meaning of football philosophy remains in the classical sense as a guide for a club’s structure and ethos.
As alluded to in the definition provided above, your philosophy as a coach forms the underlying feeling for the whole club and guides the what’s, the how’s, the where’s and the who’s;
- What the club wants to achieve,
- How it will go about achieving it, in attitude and principles,
- Where the club envisions itself after a specific period of time,
- Who is needed to help achieve these goals
Your philosophy, thus, will not only help players know their roles within the team’s tactical set-up but its overall environment as well. It will affect;
- The team’s code of conduct
- Training rules
- Short-term goals
- Long-term goals
- Transfer targets
Today, with major advancements in analytics, sports science, technology and the rising power of money, philosophy and culture can often be an afterthought. However, this is the first area you should look to establish as a coach or manager.
A look at the most successful teams in sports demonstrates this.
When studying the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, the NFL’s New England Patriots or the Crusaders in Super Rugby, a set culture that has paved the way for long-term success is clear. There is a rare-changing approach, style of play and a way of thinking that even extends to the type of player that have been brought to these clubs.
That is why philosophy is so important.
(Written February 2015)
