“Nothing great in life is achieved without enthusiasm,” according to the late Gerard Houllier, former Director of the French FA’s player development system, coach of Paris St. Germain, Liverpool FC, and Olympic Lyon.

Starting 11, Plus Sub

I had the opportunity to attend a lecture and field session by Gerard Houiller at the 2008 National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention in Baltimore.

I am still enthusiastic about Gerard’s presentation 12 years ago, as 2008 remains the best convention I have attended. Gerard was a class act

I have decided to pay tribute by sharing a synopsis of his lecture.

Gerard Houllier’s Sentimental Phrases

  • Recipe for Winning – ‘Score one more goal.’
  • When Making A Team Talk – ‘Long enough to cover the subject, short enough to keep their interest.’
  • Chinese Proverb – ‘When one has not decided where and how they have little chance of getting there.’
  • Golfer – ‘The harder I work the luckier I get.’
  • ‘Nothing great in life is achieved without enthusiasm.’
  • ‘If you are not fired with enthusiasm, they will fire you with enthusiasm.’
  • A husband teaches his wife to drive by shouting at her – ‘Tell the person what to do, not what they did not do.’
  • ‘In sports, you are not sure to win, but sure to fail if you don’t work as a team.’
  • ‘One of the deepest principles in life is a craving to be appreciated.’
  • ‘To be a good jockey, you don’t need to have a good horse.’
  • ‘People are prepared for bad news, rather than no news at all.’

Key Ingredients For A Winning Team

  1. Vision – Think big! A club must have a vision shared by all members.
  2. Work Hard – To be successful you must work hard consistently. Repetition is necessary.
  3. Respect & Humility – Your attitude determines outcomes. Respect all involved – coaches, teammates, and support staff. Respect your opponents and show humility.
  4. Enjoyment – Smile and show enthusiasm. You will attain better results from an enthusiastic environment.
  5. Positive – Don’t waste energy on what someone is not good at. Work on what they are good at.
  6. Adaptability – Adapt or die whether on or off the field. Convince and show patience.
  7. Competitiveness – Talent always bounces back. Next time we will be ready. (Examples -Alan Shearer & Arsene Wenger)
  8. Communication – Listen. Demonstrate human qualities. Unfair treatment works against motivation. You can show 3 different attitudes when treating players: 1) positive; 2) indifferent & 3) criticize.
    Be brave as a coach and have an open-door policy.
  9. Leadership – Show the way, where & how to go. Reduce the uncertainty of the game and increase progress together.
  10. Team Pride – Celebrate together. A feeling of belonging connects people. Strength in numbers, one for all, all for one. Gerard used the example of a single pencil how it was easy to snap, but 11 together it was impossible.
  11. Confidence – Provide positive feedback, set targets, and make your players feel appreciated.
  12. Motivation – Everything contributes to motivation.

Reference

National Soccer Coaches Association of America – 61st Annual Convention, Baltimore 2008

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