Strategic Thinking in Amateur Football Clubs
The competition in amateur football in Western Australia has increased dramatically in the past 10 years throughout the grades. This has been brought about by new coaching techniques, better playing fields, good lighting enabling players to train for longer periods, improvements in footwear, physiotherapy, diet, and muscular conditioning through weight training and other methods of conditioning.
Most senior coaches encouraged their players to be involved in some form of physical activity on the nights they were not involved in football training. This became apparent as the decades passed as two training sessions per week were not sufficient to maintain a fitness level for the higher grades of amateur football.
As far back as the 1970’s ‘A’ grade amateur football clubs were training 3 nights per week and on Sunday mornings.
Playing speed and physical intensity increased necessitating changes in communication, commitment and control of field play.
Training methods changed with an emphasis on continuous movement or ‘play – on’ styles of delivery by hand and foot leading to players needing a greater aerobic capacity.
The days of running laps to improve fitness were ignored as short sharp training exercises were found to increase aerobic capacity beyond the level of ‘slogging’ exercises.
Coaches are now learning to plan more effectively to outsmart competitors and avoid unpleasant defeats. This has been brought about by the increased level of competition and it now applies to all grades throughout the competition. The level of remuneration some coaches now receive also encourages them to be successful.
Coaches who are now thinking strategically can see into the future with confidence so that their action will yield the best outcomes.
The ability to change the play or the plan is what distinguishes genuine strategy: the dynamic of action and reaction that yields optimum results.
Strategic thinking is about setting goals and developing long- range plans to reach these goals, plans based on careful analysis of internal and external environments and on the actions of others.
Strategic thinking involves thinking logically and deeply about the future.
It means embracing the idea that where we want to be five years from now, should inform what we do today.
This page is dedicated to Trevor Beard of GT Bobcats who proudly sponsor the Pickering Brook Football Club.
