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“Academe, n.: An ancient school where morality and philosophy were taught.
“Academe, n.: An ancient school where morality and philosophy were taught.
Academy, n.: A modern school where football is taught.” Ambrose Bierce
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Last Saturday, Barcelona Football Club won the UEFA Champions league title for the third time in six years, defeating Manchester United 3-1. Barcelona’s characteristic style involves keeping possession of the ball, quick passing, and waiting for gaps to open up in the opposing side. How do they do it so well?
In searching for the secret of Barcelona’s success, two things stand out. One is the fact that the club is owned by 150,000 of its fans rather than foreign tycoons or big name shareholders. The other is La Masia, the club’s youth academy, which recruits boys from around the world and provides a unique blend of soccer training, academic study and character development.
“We want to make them better players and better people by teaching them about respect, teamwork, humility, sacrifice, applying themselves and commitment,” explains academy director Carles Folguera.
Most of Barcelona’s squad is home grown, and the fruit of La Masia’s relational values is seen in the way trust and consistent teamwork are as much in evidence as the talent of the players. Even the world’s number one player, Lionel Messi, who scored the crucial second goal for Barcelona, never hogged the ball or tried to outshine his colleagues.
If only the same could be said for FIFA. Wednesday’s re-election of 75-year-old Sepp Blatter after the withdrawal of his challenger amid various allegations of corruption has brought the sport’s governing body into disrepute. This week’s Economist explains how FIFA uses the World Cup “to sustain a global network of patronage”, and details how much of its vast revenues it spends on itself.
One thing which makes football the ‘beautiful game’ is the way which everyone has to play by the same rules, which ensure that if you don’t play fair, you don’t play at all. Human nature always tends towards bending or breaking the rules to gain some advantage; this is kept in check on the football pitch by an impartial referee. In the marbled halls of FIFA, however, there is an urgent need for a different kind of whistleblower.
Read on...
An article on Pierre de Coubertin, the values which he sought to build the modern Olympic movement on and their final expression in “excellence, friendship and respect” can be read here: http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-3653-0-0-0&sID=138368
Walk the talk
How much do we rely on ‘star players’ for the success of our organisations? Winning teams may not need them, if they encourage each member to play to the strengths of their colleagues, and cover for their weaknesses. Is there a lesson you might learn from Barcelona’s example?
From the Bible, Ephesians 4, verses 2-3: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
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