The Confidence Coach's Sports Psychology Articles
On The Couch With Dr. Martin - 442's Sports Psychology Expert
The Confidence Coach's monthly Sports Psychology Article in 442 magazine. This article was inspired by Leeds United positive start to the Division One season.
Marching On Together
It’s ten games into the League One season and Leeds United remain unbeaten. Following nine wins and a draw they are just three points off the play-offs. This is remarkable for a team which has been docked fifteen points at the start of the season.
Of course, many pundits thought that the fifteen point penalty would send Leeds spiralling into League Two and beyond. A point of no return had been reached, they said. But had they considered that the points deduction would act as a catalyst to success? It could be that, inadvertently, the Football League had handed Leeds United a precise focus. They had donated to Wise and his assistant, Gus Poyet, a perfect gift, the motivational tool that every manager craves for. An enemy to unite his players. A THEM! And the Leeds fans would enjoy it. ’No-one like us, we don’t care,’ can be sung with force and feeling.
Where there is an opposing force, a 'something' that stands in the way of success, it must be clearly identified as THEM. Observe how hard Sir Alex Ferguson has worked to create a series of ‘THEMS‘; opposing managers, recalcitrant journalists, incompetent referees have all been targeted with the purpose of holding his team together. Other managers, like Sam Allardyce and Steve Bruce, bemoan the poor decisions 'small teams' get against 'big clubs'. For them, it is little US against powerful THEM.
Having a THEM on which to focus your energy brings the US together. It creates a unity of purpose which can be channelled productively. The US is under threat from a THEM, which must be repelled. Whatever differences existed can be set aside as internal forces are mobilised to handle the external threat.
Without a THEM there is a danger of a successful team falling into the comfort zone or becoming imbued with self pity. With a THEM, there is edge. The edge that is necessary to win games.
For Leeds United it is the Football League, particularly those who run the organisation. The punishments are seen as self serving and excessive. It gives Leeds a clear foe against whom the spirit of defiance may be invoked. Stand tall against the men in suits. These people have never played the game, but they can decide our future. It is THEM we must defeat; if we can overcome adversity and get promoted at the end of the season we will have won.
In the meantime, however, it is equally important to hold firm against internal strife; when things fall apart, the centre cannot hold - see Jose Mourinho at Chelsea and Sammy Lee at Bolton, both of whom would feel that the enemy is within, a much more subtle and dangerous phenomenon.
A street fighter like Dennis Wise couldn't have invented a more perfect external enemy. It is perfect. A motivational gift, gift wrapped, has just landed on the porch. Thank you, you men in suits, it will be worth every one of the fifteen points!
Martin Perry - Confidence Coaching & Sports Psychology: 0044(0) 77897 56425