Our Philosophy Choosing a system of play and game strategy is the most important and often the first decision a coach must make for the team. There are two main philosophies:
- The coach evaluates the players and their talent, the opposition, and then picks a system that is best suited for the team available.
- The coach insists on a particular system and recruits players who fit that system, or trains available players to conform.
- Both philosophies are valid. What is important is to recognize the particular situation and choose the appropriate philosophy. For example, in situations with a short pre-season and little or no recruiting, philosophy # 2 is more appropriate. On the other hand, with a long pre-season and the ability to recruit prior to training camp, philosophy # 1 is appropriate.
Book Design Each system has an introduction page that provides an overview of the system, which could be historical, philosophical, psychological or strategic in its nature.
It then describes the team requirements to play the particular system, discussing players' skill, physical fitness and mental preparation demands.
We provide coaching requirements to give an understanding of what to expect and how to go about developing the team.
Finally, we briefly discuss game strategy, strengths and vulnerabilities and how to respond to opponents in some key situations.
