Team maturity is quite literally the 🗝️ to coaching, but is rarely spoken about when we share ideas.
I define team maturity as a group's ability to comprehend and execute the vision *repeatedly* in all of the different facets of the game.
A thread 🧵...
I define team maturity as a group's ability to comprehend and execute the vision *repeatedly* in all of the different facets of the game.
A thread 🧵...
Team maturity has little to do with age profiles or whether they joke around in the locker room.
More and more, 18/19/20 year olds are coming into the professional game with elite capacity.
Eg: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 22 and was MVP caliber in his first full MLB season.
More and more, 18/19/20 year olds are coming into the professional game with elite capacity.
Eg: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 22 and was MVP caliber in his first full MLB season.
Team maturity is important because it defines what you can do with a group.
Coaches are essentially shamed into using guided discovery in all instances, but if maturing players can't even envision the destination, where are you guiding them?
Coaches are essentially shamed into using guided discovery in all instances, but if maturing players can't even envision the destination, where are you guiding them?
...and in time-sensitive environments, it might be more effective to tell and instruct.
(Time sensitivity is another subject that's not spoken about enough, by the way).
(Time sensitivity is another subject that's not spoken about enough, by the way).
Coaching is a practice of meeting people where they're at and providing a smoother journey to where they want to go.
This isn't to say you can't stretch people and push a group hard, but you can't skip the first step of meeting them where they're at.
This isn't to say you can't stretch people and push a group hard, but you can't skip the first step of meeting them where they're at.
It's nonsense that coaches go and watch the All Blacks train and then cut & paste their concepts onto a far less mature team. It's malpractice, really.
When you have the 15 most game intelligent players in the world, you can shortcut a lot of things & guide their discovery.
When you have the 15 most game intelligent players in the world, you can shortcut a lot of things & guide their discovery.
In general, maturing teams and maturing players need simplified mental models and performance structures.
They show you (or tell you) when it "clicks" for them and they can take on more.
This is why a clear vision and a full coaching toolbox are essential.
They show you (or tell you) when it "clicks" for them and they can take on more.
This is why a clear vision and a full coaching toolbox are essential.
I re-listened to Eddie Jones' podcast recently.
Asked to give advice, I was struck by how many times he started his answer with "Well, it depends on the maturity of the team..."
Asked to give advice, I was struck by how many times he started his answer with "Well, it depends on the maturity of the team..."
To coach effectively, there's only one starting point:
What is this group's ability to comprehend and execute the vision *repeatedly* in all of the different facets of the game.
It's not what you WISH it was, it's a genuine and non-judgmental assessment of current capability.
What is this group's ability to comprehend and execute the vision *repeatedly* in all of the different facets of the game.
It's not what you WISH it was, it's a genuine and non-judgmental assessment of current capability.
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