How what you hate can define your playing style
When I try to write down how I woud like my team to play football, the result is often less than convincing.
- I like us to play with the ball on the ground.
- I like us to have possession—but always with a forward focus.
- I like us to fight hard for second, third, and even fourth balls.
- I like us to move constantly, changing positions and creating space.
Yuck. It sounds generic. Unemotional. Like every other team.
Then I try the opposite: I list the things I hate. And suddenly, everything becomes clear.
- I hate when players don’t fight to win the ball back after losing it.
- I hate when a cross flies into the box and nobody is there to meet it.
- I hate when my team stands still.
- I hate when my team is quiet.
- I hate when my team bickers with one another.
There’s something visceral about these statements. I can feel my emotions boiling as I imagine my team committing these most heinous of crimes.
Flipping these negatives back into positives reveals what I want from my team:
- Spirited - move on from mistakes and never give up
- Connected - understanding and anticipating one another's actions
- Dynamic - constant movement and rotations
- Vocal - lively communication
- United - resolving conflict with respect and cohesion
Starting with what I hate reveals what’s truly non-negotiable for me as a coach.
