Written by The Telegraph Sports Book of the Year 2019 – Sevens Heaven by Ben Ryan – chronicles the ups and downs of a coach who moved his life to the other side of the world to coach some of the most gifted athletes, the Fiji Men’s 7’s team. Without doubt some of the most skillful players in rugby, the Fiji 7’s had a reputation as one of the best in the world but perhaps not the most consistent with a perception from outside the camp that an increase in discipline may have been required.
A culture lacking discipline can be a bit of a tightrope walk for coaches. Too much discipline on the athletes and the fun and enjoyment of why we play sport can be taken away. Not enough discipline and the energy required to compete with illustrious opposition is expelled distracted by things that won’t aid performance. It takes an insightful coach with a high level of self-awareness, emotional intelligence and integrity to have the positive impact Ben Ryan had on the players in the team, even with those players who didn’t make the Olympic squad. His philosophy on how to instil discipline to the team was simple but highly accurate:
“The standard you walk past, is the standard you become.” Ben Ryan Coach of the 2016 Men’s Rugby 7’s Olympic Champions: Fiji.
I thought about this philosophy of Ryan’s when reading the latest high-level scandal to hit performance sport in the UK. On Friday, Ex-British Cycling and Team Sky chief doctor Richard Freeman was been found guilty of ordering banned testosterone in 2011 “knowing or believing” it was to help dope an unnamed rider. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/56367117
It is currently unclear on who knew what within the leadership of British Cycling and Team Sky about the 2011 incident. Early responses to the ruling from those that were part of the leadership of British Cycling and Team Sky have been to label Dr Freeman as a rogue actor working on his own to order the testosterone. This position contradicts the role the same leaders of British Cycling and Team Sky have been sure to share in the past, that of a rabid hunger to obsess over every detail and marginal gain in the pursuit of success: more clever and more thoughtful than the opposition.
Leaders in sport have a responsibility to support their athletes to reach the standard required for external success: but not at any cost! Leaders have a set of values that are clearly exampled through their behaviours and will be replicated as acceptable throughout a sporting organisation. This is exampled by Ben Ryan in ‘Sevens Heaven’ in a hugely positive manner, having a profound impact on the players with the impact not isolated to the Olympic success. When leaders behaviours are shown in a negative or detrimental manner, as we have seen in the past few years with numerous examples in UK high performance sport, often the term ‘grey area’ is mentioned. I have seen it written about with regards to tough coaching rather than abusive coaching, legally accepted exemptions rather than doping and gamesmanship rather than cheating. The ‘grey area’ acts as a shield for people to believe they have high values and are good people, doing the right thing unlike those who are abusive, dope and cheat. The ‘grey area’ nearly always has a negative impact on the mental and/or physical health of athletes.
Perhaps we need slightly less grey in our leaders of high-performance sport? Perhaps we could develop leaders in sport where ethical behaviours are given more importance than podium positions or on field success? Perhaps poor ethical behaviours of leadership is the standard we daren’t walk past any longer?