Complexity Isn't Variety

I’ve recently answered the call and taken up coaching.

Given I’ve recently wrapped up playing - my view is to give the team more options. So I’m trying to extend on the attacking shape and defensive structures so there’s more in the toolbox come game day. I figured - the more we could do, the harder our team would be to pin down.

It made us more predictable.

We spent more time running a system that we stopped playing. Every phase became a decision. Every decision created a second guess. We had so much on our plate that there was no space for the ‘thing’ - players getting out there and playing.

So I had to cut it back.

Less schemes, less calls and an easier approach to the game that gives the boys the tools to fill in the gaps themselves. They’re more expressive, able to play with more passion and play as themselves. All this complexity created more complexity not variety.

The book by Ben Hunt-Davis is about answering one question. Will It Make The Boat Go Faster? Sometimes we think that more equates to effort because effort feels like progress. The boat doesn’t care how hard you work. It cares what you’re carrying.

Sometimes when it comes to the game played in heaven, more isn’t the answer. Less is.