Soccer and soul

I love soccer! I have never played the game myself but my 16 year old son plays in Högaborgs Bollklubb and has done so for the past 8 years. The soul of soccer is the team!

One crucial motto that is used is the team comes first and I kind of like that idea. Not all the time but lot of the time. I have a degree in project management and the first thing they told us when we started was; when a project succeeds it is because of the teams efforts and when a project fails it is the team manager’s fault. True or not that is very often the perception. This is also the result very often seen within soccer, when a team doesn’t measure up they often blame the coach and fires him or her. No mercy. No explanation. You are out!

I have seen coaches that just made all the difference both ways, good and bad. I have seen coaches totally loosing it even when it comes to children as young as 6 years, not a pretty sight I can tell you. I have also seen coaches for adults bringing out the best of a team but what about the team’s own responsibility? How responsible are you as a team member when it comes to the result? What part did you play? Did you even participate or did you just hung up your shoes so to speak?

Leadership, group dynamics and team building are all great interest of mine and I think group sports are a great foundation in life for all of us. Last year I heard about a guy in the Swedish soccer organization, people were talking about him as a great inspiration and mentor. His name is Johan Fallby and he is a Sport Psychologist and behaviourist for all national soccer teams from the age of 15 and up. As it came about I had the pleasure to talk to him and I was truly inspired! Players in HBK told me about him and how he talked about inspiration, motivation and great team responsibility.

So it is my great pleasure to announce that Johan Fallby will be one of the lecturers at Academedias inspiration day the 15th of October this year in Malmö!

More information will follow soon.

Donna