There are degrees of risk. Swimming in crocodile infested waters is an enormous risk, betting 50 cents on the outcome of a coin toss is a small risk. In everything we do in our day-to-day life we are constantly weighing up the risks and so it is in sport. Footballers are encouraged to take ‘reasonable risks’ – it could be playing on after taking a mark or kicking for goal from a tight angle. Each scenario has risks involved and the players need to weigh up if it is a reasonable risk. Basically it is a case of risk management and the more often players make the right choice, the more often the team will benefit.
When you can look at those two individual scenarios, each has a safe option. If you mark the ball in front of Adelaide’s Andrew McLeod for example – are you taking a reasonable risk by playing on and trying to get around him? Playing on might create a goal but the safe option is obviously to go back and take your kick. If you are hemmed in on the boundary is a shot for goal a reasonable risk? You might kick a team-lifting goal but the safe option is to put the ball to the top of the goal-square. Players that make the right choices are said to have “footy smarts” – basically they weigh up the risks and make the right choice more often than others.
Essendon assistant coach Mark Harvey said the coaching staff work hard with players on risk management and making the right choices. “In some players it is innate but it is something that can be taught,” Harvey said. “Team rules are put in place to basically give players a guide as to what we expect of them in terms of when they should back themselves. These rules cover most situations but obviously occasions arise when they will have to make a decision themselves. Hopefully we give them the right grounding and they make the right judgement call more often than not.”
Harvey said confident players make the right decisions more often. “I also think players who challenge themselves – who get out of the comfort zone – are better equipped to make good decisions under pressure,” Harvey said. “It is why so many clubs do what might be considered unusual activities during the pre-season. A couple of years back we put the players in the Tasmanian wilderness and told them to find their way out. I think Sydney sent their team along the Kokoda trail. It is all a part of their education process.”
Harvey likes the idea of players being out of their comfort zones and his latest idea could see him take a group of players to the Antarctic next pre-season. “I haven’t even put the idea to the club yet but I think it is something that might be beneficial,” Harvey said. “I’m sure it would challenge players – to spend a couple of days trekking in those conditions would really push players to the limit. I’m not sure if it is possible but I wouldn’t mind having a look at it. I suppose the club would have to weigh up the risks – I don’t think Sheeds would be too happy if I went over with ten players and came back with eight.”
