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I found this interesting article which suggests that Brad Fittler and Ivan Clearly aren't going well because of age. Have a read of it.
Are these coaches just too young?
Steve Kilgallon | July 19, 2009
www.leaguehq.com.au
A LEADING sports psychologist has a novel explanation for why the Roosters and the Warriors sit at the foot of the NRL table: their coaches aren't old enough.
New Zealander Craig Lewis, who helped guide the Kiwis to the 2005 Tri-Nations title, has studied the ages of the 16 NRL coaches and concluded that clubs should seek older coaches if they want to be successful.
"In the NRL today, it seems there might not be any substitute for time on this Earth," Lewis said.
After round 18, the teams led by the six youngest NRL coaches occupy the positions of 16th to 10th on the ladder (the only exception was the 11th-placed Wests Tigers and their ultra-experienced coach Tim Sheens). The average age of the coaches at the helm of the eight sides in play-off slots was 48 years 11 months, while for the bottom eight it was 43 - nearly a six-year age gap.
The Roosters' Brad Fittler (37 years and five months) is the NRL's youngest coach. His side is running last.Yesterday it was revealed he would be replaced by 55-year-old Brian Smith as Roosters coach next season.
The second-youngest coach, Ivan Cleary (38 years and four months), is in charge of the 13th-placed Warriors, who meet the Roosters in Sydney today.
Lewis said a lack of experience often translated into a lack of man-management skills.
"That each of these 16 men understands the technicalities of rugby league shouldn't be questioned, but do they all understand the intricacies associated with leadership and the business of people?"
Lewis said many key leadership skills - reflection, a commitment to continuous improvement, identifying one's own skills and developing a unique style - were learnt over time, after a lengthy apprenticeship. Lewis suspects that neither Cleary nor Fittler has had formal training in motivating their players.
"I suspect that's their problem," he said. "I've little doubt both have an intricate knowledge of how the game is played but in sport it's the little things that matter - the things that can transcend performance beyond what could be realistically achieved through a mere knowledge of the game.
"Leadership is a work in progress - it's definitely not a finished product.
"It's a vision built and developed over several years. Doing your time is a common trait amongst most of history's great leaders."
He cited two examples: the former Kiwi coach Brian McClennan, whose tremendous confidence was built on a long apprenticeship; and the legendary American football coach Vince Lombardi, who also waited a long time for a senior post. Lombardi was 47 when he finally took on the Green Bay Packers, having begun coaching a school team at 31 and getting his first professional job as an assistant at the New York Giants when he was 44.
"Mine has been an apprenticeship of trial, error, modification, refinement and advancement - the very same apprenticeship experienced by most high-achieving leaders in business and sport," Lewis said.
"Leaders serving an apprenticeship are in a constant phase of learning, developing their strategic appreciation, their systematic thinking style and their approaches to people management as they go."
Steve Kilgallon | July 19, 2009
www.leaguehq.com.au
A LEADING sports psychologist has a novel explanation for why the Roosters and the Warriors sit at the foot of the NRL table: their coaches aren't old enough.
New Zealander Craig Lewis, who helped guide the Kiwis to the 2005 Tri-Nations title, has studied the ages of the 16 NRL coaches and concluded that clubs should seek older coaches if they want to be successful.
"In the NRL today, it seems there might not be any substitute for time on this Earth," Lewis said.
After round 18, the teams led by the six youngest NRL coaches occupy the positions of 16th to 10th on the ladder (the only exception was the 11th-placed Wests Tigers and their ultra-experienced coach Tim Sheens). The average age of the coaches at the helm of the eight sides in play-off slots was 48 years 11 months, while for the bottom eight it was 43 - nearly a six-year age gap.
The Roosters' Brad Fittler (37 years and five months) is the NRL's youngest coach. His side is running last.Yesterday it was revealed he would be replaced by 55-year-old Brian Smith as Roosters coach next season.
The second-youngest coach, Ivan Cleary (38 years and four months), is in charge of the 13th-placed Warriors, who meet the Roosters in Sydney today.
Lewis said a lack of experience often translated into a lack of man-management skills.
"That each of these 16 men understands the technicalities of rugby league shouldn't be questioned, but do they all understand the intricacies associated with leadership and the business of people?"
Lewis said many key leadership skills - reflection, a commitment to continuous improvement, identifying one's own skills and developing a unique style - were learnt over time, after a lengthy apprenticeship. Lewis suspects that neither Cleary nor Fittler has had formal training in motivating their players.
"I suspect that's their problem," he said. "I've little doubt both have an intricate knowledge of how the game is played but in sport it's the little things that matter - the things that can transcend performance beyond what could be realistically achieved through a mere knowledge of the game.
"Leadership is a work in progress - it's definitely not a finished product.
"It's a vision built and developed over several years. Doing your time is a common trait amongst most of history's great leaders."
He cited two examples: the former Kiwi coach Brian McClennan, whose tremendous confidence was built on a long apprenticeship; and the legendary American football coach Vince Lombardi, who also waited a long time for a senior post. Lombardi was 47 when he finally took on the Green Bay Packers, having begun coaching a school team at 31 and getting his first professional job as an assistant at the New York Giants when he was 44.
"Mine has been an apprenticeship of trial, error, modification, refinement and advancement - the very same apprenticeship experienced by most high-achieving leaders in business and sport," Lewis said.
"Leaders serving an apprenticeship are in a constant phase of learning, developing their strategic appreciation, their systematic thinking style and their approaches to people management as they go."
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