NO amount of historic success can make any community football club immune from the effects of a negative culture.
Identifying any negativity and taking decisive steps to change the culture at a club is a must if one is to transform a club into something long lasting and positive.
There is a crucial proviso. In terms of football, the technical director and coaches must be in full control of the football/technical decisions.
First and foremost, one has to identify that the culture within a given club is actually in need of improvement. Establishing a “club culture” requires a strong technical director who is not making decisions based on gaining popularity.
Such a person requires a thick skin and the ability to make decisions that are in the club’s best interests.
Most importantly, his/her decisions must be supported by club committees, otherwise why engage experienced and accredited football people if they are not trusted to make the football decisions.
To put it very bluntly, parents are increasingly becoming influential in team selections and tactics, especially when their son’s and/or daughter’s teams do not get the results that they (the parents) want.
Coaches must be supported to enable them to make “football” decisions free of any nepotism or pressure.
I am certain that every club has elements of positive and negative culture, so my advice is to concentrate on further enhancing the positives, and highlight the fact that certain behaviours are no longer acceptable.
It is most important that everyone at the club is working towards the same goal.
Parents, players, coaches and administrators need to be conversant with the big picture and understand that results, while important, are not necessarily the priority, especially during the development phases in a player’s journey.
It is my view, that established goals should be in line with a set of shared values such as encouraging players to have fun and express themselves creatively on the pitch. Objectives should never revolve around win/loss ratios and league positions.
Community football clubs rely on volunteers, and club committees are always grateful to people that offer their time.
The problems arise however, when volunteers, sponsors and committee members try to influence areas within a club for which they have no expertise.
