30/08/2024

Responsibility in sport

Remember how trying to control Covid, the Government constantly encouraged its citizens to act responsibly. Even though we eventually found out they – personally and privately – did nothing of the sort.

Many people said this word ‘responsibly’ lacked clarity. What did it mean? Radio conversations tried to clarify it. It seemed to mean thinking about the consequences - the outcomes - of your actions.  

Boris and his boys made it clear that it was our duty and liability to avoid irresponsible reckless behaviour. We were encouraged to engage our brain before going out. Charity may begin – but does not end - at home. Or, to put it another way, the whole of the planet is our home.

Although each of us plays an important role in maintaining our own health - by watching our diet (including alcohol and excluding drugs), exercise and sleep – we are not the only ones to be held responsible.  Society and thus the government should help to promote health and prevent disease by better targeted health education as well as improving the environment and sport facilities.

As sport is a metaphor for life – and can teach us much - let’s take a look at the professional level. 

Great sports coaches and managers help athletes to improve not only their performances on the pitch, track or field, but to develop their full human-potential. Once athletes realise they are appreciated and cared for as human beings, they are more likely to respond by giving of their best for the sake of their boss.

Coaches and managers know that their owners and fans deem them responsible for the performances of their teams. They know that they need to be prepared and expect the same of their team; they know they need to adjust their style to each of their team member’s needs. What works for one person could be detrimental to another. They figure out the best approach for each by watching their players in action. They choose encouragement over criticism; but when they must criticize, give feedback as soon after the match as possible. 

They know they need to be honest yet compassionate, when sorting out issues. Then move on. They need to have high expectations. And believe in their team. Rather than ignoring or sidelining under-performers, they help them improve. They know that their team is only as good as the weakest member.  So, they set clear goals and milestones, and celebrate when these are hit.

Players are responsible for their fitness and need to watch their diet – including alcohol intake – their sleep as well as exercise and technique training.

Proper fueling of the body prior to, during, and after exercise requires personal experimentation to find the ideal fit for you, the individual athlete. There is no “one size fits all” approach; we are all “experiments of one” when it comes to fueling during exercise. Sportspersons need to determine, through trial and error in their training, what works best for them. However, there are some basic guidelines that will eliminate much of the guesswork, so they can more rapidly learn how to properly fuel their body during workouts and races.

1. Keep fluid intake during exercise between 550-800/ml per hour.

2. Restrict caloric intake to 300 cal/hr during exercise.

3. Avoid simple sugars in food; use complex carbohydrates only.

4. Exercise over two hours requires protein, too.

Carbs alone won’t satisfy all energy requirements after exercising for two hours. Protein will have to satisfy roughly 10% of energy requirements. Best to use a fuel (such as Perpetuem) that contains both complex carbohydrates and soy protein,

5. Use soy, not whey, during exercise.

6. Use liquids as main energy source, even during prolonged training and races.

7. Remember to replenish electrolytes during exercise.

8. Don’t rely on salt tablets to fulfill electrolyte requirements.

9. Don’t ingest anything prior to a race without having first tested it in training.

10. Replenish with carbohydrates and protein as soon as possible after each exercise session.

The team playing on the field gets credit if it succeeds, but the hard work put in by the back-room team often goes unnoticed. These unsung heroes – the assistant manager, the coaches, opposition analysts, fitness and conditioning coaches, nutritionists, physiotherapists, masseurs, scouts, youth team coaches and even kit managers - together shape a team and its performance. Over the years, the role of football manager has changed.

Managers are currently responsible for running and functioning of the team. They have the autonomy to choose the supporting staff. They also manage player’s contracts and can add - or ask the owners – to add more players if required.

A football manager has different responsibilities pre-season, during the season and post-season. This is why they are so important for their team.

In the pre-season phase, they take care of following responsibilities: they formulate and coordinate operational plans for the team; prepare contracts of the players and coaches and assure the execution of the contracts; handle the budgeting duties and allocate the budget adequately; appoint personnel and other team staff for smooth functioning; assist in sponsorships and endorsements; look into ticket sales and merchandise.

During the game-season, the following responsibilities come in play: coordinate delivery of the operational plan, liaise between players, coaches, club executives and general committee, ensure availability of the equipment and they are in good working condition, prepare running sheets and match reports for all the matches and ensure players attending tribunal hearing are supported by good advocates.

After the match, the manager acts as a spokesperson for the team and handles the press. While the players and the coaches get to rest between two matches and gear themselves for the next match, the manager and his team don’t get time to rest. They are constantly on the move preparing for one match after another.

It seems to me that sport mirrors the three stages of parenthood: before, during and after their children leave school. Worth a thought?

Randy Duane Couture, an American actor, former U.S. Army sergeant, retired mixed martial artist and former collegiate and Greco-Roman wrestler, made it clear that martial arts breed a stronger level of responsibility compared to traditional team sports. “It breeds a particular integrity where you have to take responsibility for yourself...In a team sport it's easy to say, ‘Well the team didn't play well today’. That doesn't really fly. You have to take responsibility and accountability for yourself and step up and evaluate whether you're giving it everything you can give it.”

“I have always tried to be true to myself, to pick those battles I felt were important. My ultimate responsibility is to myself. I could never be anything else,” stated Arthur Ashe,  the first black player selected to the United States Davis Cup team and the only black man ever to win the singles title at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open. He retired in 1980.

“At 17, I already had responsibility because I took care of my family, but in the football, I was young. I wasn't experienced or the captain. I was just in the team.” Admitted Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, a Brazilian former professional footballer - now aged 80 - regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He was among the most successful and popular sports figures of the 20th century.

“It's the one thing you can control. You are responsible for how people remember you—or don't. So, don't take it lightly.” Wise words from Kobe Bryant, a legendary basketball player, completing 20 seasons in the NBA and winning five NBA world championships with the Los Angeles Lakers before his retirement in 2016. 

Known to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time, he often went by his self-given nickname "Black Mamba" on the court, which, to him, reminded him of who he wanted to be when he stepped into each game. In a 2015 interview with Ahmad Rashad, Bryant explained, "When I step on that court, I become Black Mamba. I am that killer snake. I'm stone cold, man."

Sadly, on the morning of January 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant, along with his 13-year old daughter Gianna (Gigi) and seven other victims, lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.

Life has taught me that there are 7 “Be-Responsibilities” if you wish to build a winning team – including a family:

1.    Be caring

2.    Be committed

3.    Be communicative

4.    Be a coach

5.    Be consistent

6.    Be energetically contagious.

7.    Be a positive role-model.

Why not ask your children - and your friends and allies-in-life - what they think? How many marks out of ten would they give you? 

As they come to an end, summer holidays give you and your children – before they return to school - time to think about this.