Today is Friday. School teams all over the country will be preparing for tomorrow’s matches. At a conservative estimate, somewhere between 6,000 and 10,000 teams from independent schools will compete each week of the autumn term. It’s a serious business.

Often weekly practices and team meetings will make mention of this week’s opponents. Their strengths, weaknesses and level of ability. How many coaches express the hope to their players that tomorrow’s opposition will be really good? Or do they look forward to the games against teams of proven incompetence? Do they want a challenging contest that will provide a...

Inspiring a Love of Running

Lots of people love running. Every evening and weekend the streets, paths and parks are full of adults of all ages running all distances and at all speeds. Race for Life and Park Run are wonderful examples of the sheer delight in meeting the challenge of running. The joy of movement. Marathon running has been a growth activity for twenty consecutive years.

Primary schools are another celebration of running. Kids love to be active: to run all distances and at all speeds.

But, between these two age extremes,...

The Two Ways of Improving Sports Performance

The industry of coaching, sports and schools is about improving performance. Of individuals, and teams.

There are two ways of doing this: the formula is simple

PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT = REDUCTION (of error and inefficiency) + INCREASE (of creativity and magic)

Much of the culture of sport in Britain is focussed on the former. Performers are measured against various criteria, and their level of failure is noted. A percentage of failed passes: a statistic for shots on target, or carries made, tackle count, or centre...