When witnessing the Spanish Football Team's Euro 2012 Cup Final rout of Italy and then Roger Federer's remarkable record equaling 7th Wimbledon title over Andy Murray. I couldn't help but wonder what had truly made the difference between victory and defeat. Then I realized it was practice, practice, practice.
For many years Spain as a footballing nation under achieved at international level despite any amount of trophies being acquired by the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid. When it came to the big stage, time and again they were left wanting. In truth the players simply had not practiced enough together.
Then in the season of 1995/96 something changed to alter all that. A new seed was sown within Spanish football and youth academies were introduced across the nation. A structure was implemented that supported both the development of the footballer and the individual all the way up through 13 or so levels of coaching from junior to senior level and then on into the national squad. A new culture was put in place that encouraged ball retention and placed more emphasis on technical ability than speed and strength which the Spanish believed suited the personality of their players better. Soon all teams were embracing the same ethos and adopting the long term vision and common purpose that was held by the Spanish Football Federation in order to become World and European Champions.
Now all Spanish footballers are coached and play the same way, to their strengths. Training sessions countrywide and at all levels are dominated by 'El Rondo' a game of 5 v 1 where the 5 create a circle around the player in the middle and have to keep the ball whilst the single person tries to intercept it. Great shame is placed upon you by your counterparts if you are the one to lose the ball, it encourages fast, close, one-touch passing that eventually has manifested itself in the art of Spanish football we see today.
As players graduate they join better clubs but continue to play in the same way and onward they go comfortable with their own ability and that of the players around them establishing the right relationship with themselves and their team. All of which has led to an unprecedented run of success for the national squad from Euro 2008 - 2012 encompassing the 2010 World Cup en route. It only took a decade or so to achieve.
With Roger Federer too, in becoming arguably the greatest player ever to hold a tennis racket we can not underestimate the power of practice within his game.
His genius on a tennis court was able to take him so far in his sport but to reach the higher echelons of immortality then he quite clearly needed to practice more.
Prior to winning his 7th Wimbledon title (17th grand slam trophy) at the beginning of the month he had not secured such a prize for the best part of 2 and a half years. Some might have thought that his own personal role of honour had come to an end and people started to doubt his imperious ability to add to his tally. Other priorities seemed to take precedence for the Swiss as he started a family. His opponents all raised their game, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic and even Andy Murray. It was tougher for Roger to win consistently at the top level with less court time available to him.
He however still believed in his own ability as he continued to reiterate to those that continued to ask questions of him. He started to return more regularly to the practice court, he worked harder on his game and on his fitness levels which ultimately enabled him to regain the success he was looking for.
Whether you want to become the best footballing nation, grand slam winning tennis player, greatest Samurai warrior, spiritual guide, accountant, solicitor or business person we all continue to have to practice our particular art, hold on to our vision of what we want to achieve and never give up. It is only then we can raise ourselves up upon our swords and take the necessary steps forward to achieve our goals. Something I hope to do myself in my own practice in the weeks and months to come.
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