Weighing pros and cons of player selection on training performance

Football coaches make their player selections based on their performance in training.

The process of selecting a starting lineup in football is deeply analytical and requires years of experience from the head coaches/managers who make the decision. Player selection is a critical aspect for coaches nowadays with a lot of competition on the sides. People outside the workings of a football club, such as fans and journalists, sometimes fail to grasp the amount of work and observation it takes to strike a perfect balance and decide on which players get the nod ahead of their hard-working peers.

A general understanding of the selection process suggests that football coaches select players who outperform the rest in the training ground. They have cited a player’s “performance in training” as a reference for their selection or removal from the starting lineup or how much game time the player receives in their careers.

However, there are advantages and disadvantages of selecting players for the starting lineup solely based on their performance in training. Players like Sunil Chhetri or Mohammed Rafique, both extremely hard workers in training, can have contrasting impacts in a match. Therefore, it always helps to weigh the pros and cons of making team selections on training performance alone. Here is a deeper look.

Pros

Individual development 

When a head coach rewards players with a place in the starting lineup based on their training performance, it sends out a clear message to the rest of the players to up the ante. This leads to increased effort in training, improvement of the players in terms of individual skill levels, and the overall growth of the team.

Fair selection process

Picking a starting lineup on training performance is seen as an objective approach. Following this method, a head coach/manager throws player reputations and past performances out of the window, giving each individual, no matter the seniority, an even playing field.

Motivational aspect

Selecting a lineup on training performance acts as a brilliant motivational factor that can, otherwise, be a big challenge for the managers. Outcomes such as players reporting on time, not missing training sessions, implying tactics from the tactical board onto the field, etc, are fairly common to see when team selection is influenced by training performance.

Cons

Inconsistency

Player selection based on training performance may not produce ideal results in a match-like situation. Factors such as the venue, the crowd, the pressure, and an unforgiving opposition can hinder the performance of the most seasoned players who may perform well in training.

This is where players like Sunil Chhetri or Mohammed Rafique can have an immensely contrasting influence on a match.

Performance in a match

Building on the previous aspect, selecting players based on training fails to cover key aspects such as decision-making under pressure and adjusting to the constantly changing demands of a game. This is where one needs to gauge the momentum and increase/decrease tempo accordingly.

Plenty of players, who excel in training, underwhelm in match-like situations which are deeply influenced by ever-changing tactics and momentum. 

Lack of chemistry

Understanding team dynamics is an important aspect of team selection. Coaches try to strike a perfect balance and field a group of individuals that complement the playing style of the team. Players who perform well in training and get selected into the lineup may not complement the team structure, balance, and playing style.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.