Routines for the most important players, the ones who play the least
Football is still a game despite the media and social pressures trying to tell us otherwise. Professional footballers are not machines, they rely on emotions, affection and are at their happiest when they are playing in a team that feels like a family. We all want players to enjoy the game so it is important to nurture the team and especially the players with less game time, to raise the feeling of importance and for everyone to contribute and help each other off the pitch.
The number of competitions and matches allow for squad rotation. The questions that started this subject rely on the for all players to be available, prepared and, overall, motivated to get their chance. How do we achieve this? How can we motivate the individual? Is the group dynamic important to absorb behaviours? How can we support players that play less?… I will try to suggest some points to deal with this situation.
Team spirit is a base for this, as much as results can support the coach’s choices. If training sessions are top quality even when players are outside of the list they will feel involved, cared and ultimately, they will care themselves as professionals. The years competition schedule is dense and rotation is an evidence. Strategic preparation is key to win matches but also players outside of the 11 have to have knowledge (experience by practice) of the game plan. I believe that working on principles demanding intensity from all will promote dynamics (that will change regarding each individual profile) and these relations will make everyone prepared for the moment when they are called. The intention is not to run off strategic exercises but to create them with criteria, not to kill competitiveness and by that the decrease of training quality. By that they will continue to strive for their opportunity and the coach’s decision to give it.
Building trust in the squad is key because rotation is not only a word, it is a “message that passes on decisions” and will make the group stronger. Everyone knows that some players will play more but overall there’s a huge influence of rotating players in the team’s wellbeing. When strategic exercises are set, testing real substitutes regarding the game plan is a strategy and will create opportunities to compete for a place.
From a conception point of view 2 strategies have to be prepared, for a weekly program with 1 match and another with 2 matches. It is important also to establish the routines for the away games (1 assistant works with this group, working with the B team, playing for B team, …). The work on the pitch has to be completed with some fitness training. To keep the group together, work planning the days off is a way of splitting the group less. In the following table I will suggest some routines.
The main factor that affects these routines is the day of the next match. Another variable that is important for me is the frequency of times that the group are separated in recovery moments. Each one of us as players experienced the time of being out of the starting eleven and seeing other colleagues recover separately, so if we can reduce these events and also put in practice some stable strategies that promote variety is the best. Ultimately, every coach should guide himself by his sensitivity to the context and the team, never forgetting the professional aspect of the players being ready to deliver performance. These strategies are thought to keep everyone motivated and, overall, involved in the group as active individuals that are cared “as the most important players in the team”, and, that care and support the ones playing.
Ultimately, every coach should guide himself by his sensibility for the context and the moment of the team never forgetting that players have to be professionals and ready when called to deliver performance. These strategies are thought to keep everyone motivated and, overall, involved in the group as active individuals that are cared “as the most important players in the team”, and, that care supporting the ones who play.
