TOVO Institute Founder, Todd Beane looks at the way we view weaknesses on the football pitch. How can we create an environment that encourages players to develop their weaknesses rather than play to hide them?

It might sound a bit crazy to encourage weakness. However, as coaches we must encourage weakness by applauding players when they fail for the right reasons. Keep in mind that coaches are trained to correct errors that they see. These are called “coaching moments” and it works like this: a training session is being executed, a player makes a mistake, the coach steps in to correct the action, and the session is resumed. Sound familiar?

The problem here is that players will hide weaknesses. That is, a player called upon to use his non-dominant foot will rearrange his options to use his stronger foot. A footballer will play an entire match with an orientation and movement pattern designed to play to his dominant side. Why expose your own weakness when you can avoid it? This is very logical, very normal – especially when you have a coach waiting to pounce on every error.

Over time, footballers perfect their ability to avoid weaknesses because those weaknesses only increase the odds of making mistakes. It is the rare coach who identifies and corrects the action not taken – so players show us what they want to, not what they need to.

“I don’t see a mistake as a mistake. It is there to help you learn.” – Johan Cruyff 

The Solutions

To change this pattern, coaches should isolate skills, force the weaknesses to come forth, and encourage trial and error in a positive way. As coaches we can either punish or we can encourage. When we see a child fail for the right reasons, like using the weaker foot but failing to execute it well, then we can use that as a positive coaching moment. “I like what I am seeing, you used the proper foot, well done, keep at it.” This is a far different comment than the negative outcry of many coaches.

When a player tells you, “I cannot do that” just add the powerful little word, “yet.” “You cannot do that yet, but you will be able to with some practice.” This encourages players to do what the game requires, not just what will bring them less humiliation.

The Results

With confidence in both feet, the player will rewire their brain to a new orientation. Options will open up and the execution will improve. When we applaud players when they fail for the right reasons, we create a positive learning environment in which our athletes are encouraged to improve.