Having been asked to consider the formation for a field hockey team and remembering the close parallel in soccer I thought I had to submit this in writing.
Is it controversial? Is it out of date? Some may say yes, but I think it is not! There is absolutely no doubt in my mind regarding what is the best and most successful formation for a field hockey team or soccer team.
I am concentrating on hockey or else I will get mixed up! You have a goalkeeper, two full backs, three half backs, and five forwards.
Now why do I say this with such confidence? It needs to be said too at this point that we were taught by our English Master at school, and he knew what he was teaching when it came to English and Hockey.
I played hockey for two years at Perth Academy in Scotland, and we won the Midlands Championships in these two consecutive seasons.
Looking around that squad, and there were three elevens functioning, I saw that I was the weakest player on the team, but I was determined to be the fittest.
My position was right half and I had an understanding with the inside right, and outside right in front of me.
If I had the ball and was running with it reasonably well, I kept going, and the inside right would fall back into my position to give cover.
On another occasion I would hit the ball towards the corner flag, and the outside right would make a beeline for that corner as fast as he could, and cross the ball, where the inside trio would be waiting to receive his pass.
I have kept the records of these matches and can vouch for the results.
The two pennants are still being displayed in the Perth Academy showcase over forty years later.
When we had to defend, the two inside forwards would fall back to help us in defence, and on the attack, we two half-backs would move up with the forwards.
There is more.
I went on to Edinburgh University to study Arts and Theology, and was there for six years.
Having gained my Arts degree I started playing hockey again and during the three years I captained my College Team, we won the University Championships in these three consecutive seasons, using exactly the same formation.
I have watched the changes in soccer and other team sports and have seen such boring play.
If your team is trained properly, and we trained and practised twice a week, and if the team is coached with care and insight, and encouraged with the occasional word, this system will win time and time again.
We were asked and invited to come and play by our English Master.
He told us that if we had never previously played hockey that did not matter, as he would teach us, and he did.
We were volunteers One vital part of the formation, and one crucial part of the teaching, is very seldom taught today.
This may make you smile or sneer or snigger, but I assure you it worked.
Never ever foul! Just do not foul! If something happens accidentally that cannot be avoided, but how often do you see a team lose a goal, and then go on to lose a match, as a result of some stupid needless foul.
Is there a coach out there willing to put these principles into practice? I can almost guarantee you, that if you have players who are fit, and players who are keen, and players who are always being quietly encouraged, you will succeed in whatever competition you enter.
One final point, which has to do with formation too! When you turn out at the start of a match be the smarter of the two teams.
Be immaculately dressed! It is worth a two goal lead, we were taught, and I have no reason whatsoever to question that.
Sandy Shaw