Do we want thinking players?

Reading my posts you will understand I like the Adaptive Game, I love to see players react to situations with creative and sometimes surprising solutions. When I discuss these situations a lot of coaches seem to think that this is due to the natural talent of these players, you either see “it” or you do not. We even make it something mythical when we call it “French Flair”.

I do not agree, and the French philosophy is not at all as simple as “Go play and do whatever pops into your mind”. There is a lot leading up to that. We can educate our young players and create the opportunities for them to explore the dynamic movement of the game. We get the players we create.

Creativity

What is the definition of creativity anyway? Dictionary.com gives us this:

• Run into an opponent
• Go to the ground, place the ball
• First support player to take position over the ball
• Wait for the scrum-half to pass the ball to the fly-half

It is this approach that takes us to “The Gameplan” with all the zones and what should and could be done where.

Joysticking and game principles

Instead of joysticking our players into position as coaches, players need to understand the position making process themselves. Yes, for this we need a minimum set of guidelines, but these are more defined by the rules of the game itself:

• You score by carrying the ball forward, evading defenders and ground the ball behind the goal line;
• If you can not go forward, you may pass the ball to another player who can;
• You must release the ball when you are tackled and on the ground;

These Big Rules already give some important tasks and responsibilities to the players!

Creating a learning environment

The coaching philosophy is about creating the situations in practise where there is space to run into, players can go forward and have to evade defenders and their supporting players have to adjust their supporting running lines accordingly.

But the learning environment is also a place for the players to experiment and experience what works and what does not work. Us coaches need to allow this happening and not interfere but guide the players.

Related material

• Frances Pollin, who I copied that image from, has published an interesting study in coaching creativity, autonomy and tactical sense;
• I tell more about Pierre Villepreux and his ideas about decision making in rugby;
• An example with the 1+1v1 exercise;

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