Will any road get you there?
Here’s the thing.
No.
When I ask coaches around the world what they value in an ideal player, the word “intelligence” comes up every time.
We value intelligent players.
Seen in this light, intelligence is a destination.
And, no, not every road will lead us there.
If the athletes in my charge are not making decisions in training, honing their capacity to play with vision and precision, then why would I expect intelligence to emerge?
I would love to be a fantastic windsurfer. I don’t windsurf often enough for that to be a reality. I think it is painfully obvious that if I want windsurfing prowess to emerge, I should probably windsurf more frequently, no?
Nod your head in agreement, as most do, until I come back to soccer training.
By extension, if I want my players to become intelligent footballers should I not ask them to do the very thing that will make them more intelligent – THINK?
I may be missing something. (My wife often tells me I am. No argument there.)
But if I am correct, what then?
Simple.
My hypothesis is that in order for intelligence to emerge in my players I should train intelligence. OK, not exactly Nobel Prize worthy stuff.
But if you agree, then no longer tolerate the mindless drills and exercises being put forth in the name of player development.
The road to intelligence requires intelligent training.
Not all roads lead to Rome by the way.
"Training extraordinary educators and crazy good coaches." - Todd Beane