Tuesday, 10 April 2012

Mick Malthouse - The Expert Coach

I was reflecting on topics for my SCP assignment recently and played with the idea of feedback. I started searching for videos and transcripts of coaches speaking to their athletes after a game or competition. Given I haven’t officially started my assignment this is a part study, part procrastination tool for me.

Being a mad Collingwood supporter I was naturally struck by Mick Malthouse and feedback he has given as a coach to his players. I have subjectively always thought of Mick Malthouse as a pretty remarkable coach and man.

The speech that comes to mind is the 2011 post grand final speech that was telecast on ‘The Club – CTV’ on Foxtel. (The link to the speech) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmSogVno50E

The speech includes some ‘goosebump’ lines and astonishingly Malthouse does not hesitate in saying that some players were not putting in their all in the grand final. I guess this is not surprising in that Malthouse coached all the way up until the end.

“You never plan to lose. You never; it’s like I say to players, when you’re having a shot for goal, close your eyes and imagine you kicked a goal. You never imagine you kick a point. I never even thought remotely I’d be up here saying bad luck. Was it bad luck? Did people come out of the trench? I don't know. I know a few did. Maybe a couple didn't. Maybe a few didn't.”

Malthouse further emphasised a club moving forward at Collingwood but also reminded his players to remember how much it hurt to lose a grand final.

"Will there be regrets? Of course there will. I am not about to tell you about it, you know it yourself. Only you will know if there was something missing, a short-cut taken. Those who will go on in life have to learn from some of this stuff. It takes you forwards or it takes you backwards. Don't kid yourselves, this will be a nightmare. It will stay with you for a long, long time."

This speech is confirms for me the calibre of the coach and the man that is Mick Malthouse. My admiration for Mick goes beyond the bias of the team that I follow but is further into a respect that I hold for his ability to teach and how he holds himself during this.






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