I’m going to reference two articles that you must read prior to continuing on here. Both come from the 3four3 blog written by Gary Kleiban.
What’s an Elite Player?
and
Work Ethic – An Elusive Player Trait
Did you read both? Okay- did you read the comments? Go back and read the first comment on the second article.
To be an elite player, coach, manager, scout, trainer, or even just an elite spectator… you have to understand these types of things. You have understand all of the little details that encompass elite status. You have to be able to recognize that a goal scorer is not elite solely because he is a goal scorer. No. There is much more to it.
One problem is that we’re rewarding the wrong things. Why? Because we don’t have enough people (players, coaches, managers, scouts, trainers, spectators) that know enough about the right things. Secondly, we’ve infected these so-called ‘elite’ players with garbage and that garbage prevents them from understanding the true difference between elite and not elite. We’ve spoon fed them bullshit for years and that bullshit is incredibly detrimental to their personal development and the performance of their teammates as well.
And at the end of the day… we’re left with a bunch of posers. Garbage players, garbage teams, and garbage coaches posing as ‘elite’.
QUESTION: How do you spot a poser?
ONE ANSWER: Brian’s comment from that second article that you already read. (Right?)
FC Barcelona’s fabled ‘six second rule’ is ONE example that I’ll use in conjunction with Brian’s comment.
When, let’s say Xavi, loses the ball in the center of midfield, the first thing he does is attempts to regain possession of the ball. He doesn’t stop. He doesn’t wait. He doesn’t complain. He doesn’t roll his eyes. Or stand with his hands on his hips and stare at his teammate with a look of disgust. No. He get’s the damn ball back. And when he loses it again. He gets it back again. And so on and so forth.
You see- that’s elite. That’s hard work. That’s someone who gets off by knowing that he’s the best or knowing that he is striving to be the best. He also knows he’s surrounded by others just like him.
And in my humble opinion… that’s what we lack here. We lack an elite work ethic, both individually and as a team. And for the most part- players, coaches, managers, scouts, trainers, and spectators lack the proper environment and knowledge in order to inspire such an ethic.
Bottom line…
“Work hard. Play hard. Work harder. Play harder.” -The Pig
Tags: Coaching, Development, Soccer, US Soccer, rant, the pig, youth, problems, parents, grand scheme of things, challenge, change, players
