“Oh, my word!” How often have we heard those three simple words uttered by a sports commentator?
The word that follows (which is presumably his word) might be any of the following: astonishing, amazing, sensational, stunning, glorious, world-class, spectacular, magnificent!
In effect, the commentator is lost for words. Generally, however, those three words are indicative of three different words, said with the same passion, excitement, disbelief or wonder: “IT’S A GOAL!” Or as some commentators would wish us to hear: “gooooooooooooal!”
Goals in different sports can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. We can see the absolute screamers, scored with power from distance giving the goalkeeper no chance; interestingly, the fastest shot recorded resulting in a goal is measured at 221kmph by Hebersen for Sporting Lisbon in the 2005/06 season.
We may witness an acrobatic overhead kick, scored after an athletic leap and a controlled strike. We may watch an artistic flick of the ball wrong-footing the defender and leading to a cool placement in the net.
All such are worthy of a gasping, “Oh, my word!”
However, a goal is a goal and not every goal has to be sublime or sensational. The 35 metre screamer counts as much as the 35 centimetre tap-in.
A goal may result from a deflection off a defender; it may follow a lucky wind-assisted bounce or a fluky own goal.
However, sadly we do not get so excited about such efforts, but each is a goal.
One of the values and purposes of sport at school is for the life lessons that it provides for the children and obviously a key lesson here is that children should have goals in life, something to aim at achieving.
We will leave that to one side for the moment but spread the idea wider and ask ourselves this question: what is (and must be) the coach’s goal in coaching a school team?
Most school sport coaches are intent purely on the winning of matches; they will approach the season with the clear desire to remain undefeated, to smash the rival schools, to gain much notice and praise.
Yes, it is a goal, no question! Sadly, however, such is an own goal; it is purely about themselves, how they will benefit.
It is their own goal, not that of the school or the children.
We repeat, a goal is a goal is a goal – absolutely. But that is the exact point. It is a goal – it is not the goal!
The goal for the coach should really be aiming to help children to progress and develop in their sport but also to learn crucial life skills that will enable them to fulfil their bigger goals after they leave school.
The talented ones who do attain provincial or national recognition should have the goal to continue with the sport to the highest level, not sit back and think they have made it because they have got the kit.
To whom much is given, much is expected.
The less talented ones should also still have the goal to continue with sport; sport is necessary, not optional, even for adults after school, for the key qualities of fitness, fun, friendship and values. That goal must be the coach’s goal.
While considering this, we need to point out that coaches in schools need also to remember that an individual does not score goals; the team scores the goal. An individual, the one whom everyone says is the one who has scored the goal, is simply the last one on the team to have touched the ball before it crossed the line (and the coach is not on the pitch). One major goal for coaches is to help youngsters see and respect that understanding, that goal, so they take it into life beyond school in the workplace, in the family, in society. They are all part of a team, a wider community.
So, hear my word (“Oh my word!”): coaches may look to aim for (and achieve) sensational goals but such goals may only be screamers for the wrong reason, causing children to scream in despair, disappointment and disillusionment.
The goal for every school sports coach is very simple and needs to be repeated week in, week out, each season: help the children to learn from their sport, to enjoy their sport, to collaborate with each other, to think for themselves.
The coach’s role is to help children find and be equipped for the goal (not a goal, not any old goal) for their life. If they can achieve that, then we have every right to add the words astonishing, amazing, sensational, stunning, glorious, world-class, spectacular, magnificent – and then we will have achieved the winning goal.