Review with next year in mind Extract with Wayne Goldsmith

PERFORMANCE CONSULTING - Ten Tips to make sure your end of season RE-view is a PRE-view for success for next year. The end of season is fast approaching for all rugby league teams. Typically the end of season means a well earned rest, a few quiet drinks with team mates, some time with family and then............the END OF SEASON REVIEW.  Here are some tips to help make this year's RE-view and PRE-view of success next season. 1. Review with next year in mind - don't waste time looking back in anger
Reviews can make people very nervous and many coaches and players see it as a negative process. A well planned and well implemented review can be THE most critical element of planning for the next season and is an opportunity to move forward.

It can be one of the most positive and productive times of the year. It is the time when feedback can be given and received with real positive energy and enthusiasm.

Don't waste the review time by looking back and micro-analysing every aspect of every game, tackles missed in game one etc.

This has all been done through the season. Use the RE-view as a PRE-VIEW: use it as an opportunity to get your best people together and work co-operatively and honestly to improve next season.

2. Benchmark against the best - whoever and wherever they may be.
Rugby league is a close community and secrets do not stay secrets for long. It is safe to say that everyone knows what you know.

In this closed environment, teams need to look outside rugby league for the best solution - not just the rugby league solution.

If you were looking to improve the individualisation of player's preparation, the answer might lie in one of the Olympic sports. If you were looking to improve on field endurance, the answer might lie in soccer or AFL. If you were looking to improve player leadership skills, the answer might lie in the corporate sector, business community or even politics!

Once you have identified the problems, look for THE best solutions.

3. Keep things that you do well, change the things that aren't working - 10% rule
One of the biggest mistakes teams make at review time is to throw everything out and start again. Most clubs do far more right than they do wrong.

If your car's gearbox is broken, fix the gear box - don't replace the engine, tyres, brakes, steering, cooling system and stereo. Build on the things that work well and change or eliminate the things that don't. Try to adopt this simple three step review process of each area:

• WHAT DO WE DO THAT WORKS - WHAT SHOULD WE KEEP DOING?
• WHAT DO WE DO THAT DOESN'T WORK - WHAT DO WE DO THAT WE SHOULD STOP DOING?
• WHAT ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN INTRODUCE THAT WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT ON PERFORMANCE - WHAT SHOULD WE START DOING?

4. Know what the budget is for next season BEFORE you start planning
Before you start planning for next season, make sure you are clear on what you can and can't do from a budget perspective. Everyone has millions of ideas and suggestions of things that might work but in a real world, most clubs are working on a tight budget and it is a matter of prioritising.

Start with the things you MUST do - e.g. train hard, eat well, sleep and recover well, manage and minimise injuries.

Then start to look at things you WANT to do - e.g. introduce new equipment, new specialist coaches and staff, training camps, new facilities.

Then look at things you WISH you could do - e.g. altitude camps, individualised diet management, specialist coaching services for individual positions.........