Denis Law, who died in recent weeks and whose funeral was attended by hundreds of legendary soccer players, was an astonishing player himself with his trademark celebration of one arm raised holding the cuff of his sleeve, breaking the world transfer record three times, holding the record for the most goals scored for Scotland (equal with the other legendary Scottish soccer player, Kenny Dalglish, though in just over half the number of appearances for their country).
He was to many people known as ‘The King’, one of what became known as the holy trinity of Manchester United alongside George Best and Bobby Charlton.
In his autobiography written many years ago, Denis Law described how his manager at Manchester United, the great Sir Matt Busby, got the best out of his players, not least when they won the equivalent of the European Champions League back in 1968.
He wrote that “If you had a bad game, he wouldn’t give you a volley.
His attitude was that if you still felt the same way twenty-four hours later, then you would get it in the neck but invariably it never happened because he had calmed down.
If you say things in the heat of the moment you might say things you will regret but if you feel the same way twenty-four hours later then you know you’re right in what you’re doing.”
In a recent interview, another former Manchester United legend, Paul Scholes, spoke of how Sir Alex Ferguson, another hugely successful manager of that club, treated him on one occasion. Scholes had come on as a substitute when the team was losing 0-3, and felt he had played well, helping them to score two goals but then inadvertently made a mistake which led to a goal being scored against them.
As he went off the field, he saw his manager scowling at him but ignoring him, making him feel that he had caused the defeat.
- The law of waiting
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He spent the weekend in fear of what the manager would say to him at the next training session, a fear that turned to reality when he was summoned to the manager’s office.
He was expecting to hear that he had been put on the transfer list but instead, the manager apologised to him for being unfair on him at the end of the match.
He had clearly had time to reflect on the match and revise his thinking in the clear light of day.
If such thinking from such successful managers had such a powerful impact on adult professional players, how much more important is it that coaches in schools follow the same pattern with their young immature pupils!
Too often coaches are quick to speak in the aftermath of a match, bringing the team together in public to reprimand and correct the players.
What are they doing?
They clearly have not stopped to think of a number of simple points, doing that.
The children are for the most part not likely to listen as they are tired, embarrassed, upset and are actually looking around to see where their family (and friends) are for some words of consolation or comfort instead of the tirade from the coach.
Secondly, the children, even if they are listening, are not going to remember a word of what is said when they next meet for practice.
Thirdly, for the most part, many of them do not actually care and will care even less after the coach’s admonitions.
They see more clearly than the coach that it was just a game and as such was a learning opportunity.
However, the most important point is that point made by Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson referred to above.
Coaches should keep their thoughts to themselves after a match as they are most likely very emotional after the loss and therefore will not be seeing things clearly; they are too close to the action to see what really happened.
They may well live to regret that early tirade as the pupils will have lost respect for the coach through such action.
Stay silent and reflect overnight.
Maybe they could take a lesson from our four-legged pets who are instructed to “Wait! Stay! Sit!”
As we call on dogs, we may add “Drop!”; they need to drop their anger, their bitterness, their hurt, actually their ego, and leave it be. In fact, like the dog, they would do well to bury it all.
As Denis Law pointed out, “invariably [getting it in the neck] never happened because [the coach] had calmed down”.
That should be the Law, according to the King – no post-match huddles, no addressing players for at least twenty-four hours.
If it works for the successful managers, why will it not work for school coaches?
Think on that for twenty-four hours before answering the question.
