Brentford’s victory over Arsenal as the 2021/22 Premier League campaign kicked off will certainly create some massive and exaggerated headlines today. Brentford won promotion to the Premier League after winning the League Playoff back in May. They have not played top flight football since 1947. And today they defeated Arsenal, a London rival, who have won 8 league championships since then and are a very successful Premier League club.
As the Brentford fans serenaded their victorious team with “Hey Jude” on repeat as the team lapped around the stadium clapping the fans and posing for pictures, I began to well up with emotion. The club played it’s last top division match 74 years ago and today began their Premier League campaign with a 2-0 win over Arsenal. This club had built a new stadium to begin last year and this was the first match to see it reach capacity. Filled with fans who not only cheered on their team with all their heart and soul - but when Bukayop Sako entered the match for the visitors in the 59th minute they gave him a raucous standing ovation. Sako was racially abused after missing the penalty that secured Italy the Euro 2020 championship over England this past summer.
As I watched the final whistle blow and the cameras stayed live on the celebrations to allow us fans to soak in all the excitement, I noticed something very telling about the team spirit of the Brentford squad. Every player, regardless of whether they were on the pitch or the bench, were shaking hands and embracing each other and the club’s Danish manager Thomas Frank was embracing every player, engaging with the crowd, stopping to pose for pictures with young fans. His players followed his example and walked the perimeter of the ground engaging the supporters and soaking in the moment.
These embraces, hand shakes, and interactions with the crowd reminded me of Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool, Monty Williams and the Suns, or Brice Arians and Buccaneers. Players and Staff who truly care for each other. A study in 2010 gathered all the statistics around NBA teams and counting the number of physical interactions between players - hand shakes, help getting up, pats on the back, embraces, etc. The headline was “The teams that touch the most win the most”.
I think about the last dozen or so youth soccer matches I have witnessed. Most goals were celebrated in a muted fashion with only a couple players slapping hands. I have actually seen players hold their hand out and be ignored then awkwardly turn about and head back to their position to restart the match. Coaches seem complimentary and happy, but not necessarily Klopp-like. They are taught to not be too emotional.
Many coaches and players will attempt to mimic what they see on the pitch technically, tactically or physically - but not necessarily socially. Just like putting in a new system of play or working on a weak foot takes methodical training, so does creating the environment where players and coaches are vulnerable and truly care not just about the results but for each other. It takes work. You can’t just tell someone to celebrate their teammates or encourage their team passionately from the bench. It must be part of the team’s values. Values that are lived every day, in every session and every player and staff member has bought into.
When Steve Kerr got the coaching job for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, he went to meet with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawk’s coach Pete Carroll. Coach Carroll asked him how he would coach the team. Kerr began to rattle off the offensive sets he was hoping to run, etc. Coach Carroll then challenged him to lay out his VALUES. Then challenged him to think about what players would FEEL every day not the plays they would run.
When I think about youth sports today, I would love to see every organization, team, and coach think about their Values. Educate the team about the values and make sure players feel them every day. Make sure your team knows the values, can state and define those values to new players, family or friends. Team Values are often overlooked as teams focus on the 4-4-2, zone defense, or the spread offense. Ultimately, those tactics may help win games, but the Values are what players will remember and are what build the next generation of leaders.
Steve Kerr’s values are Joy, Mindfulness, Compassion and Competitiveness. What are your values and how does your team reflect those values?
If you aren’t sure where to start, reach out and let’s get started to define them and help build a true Culture in your group.
Be the BEST. Be YOUR BEST. BE YOU TO THE MAX.
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