Bill Nelson

The 2010 Rugby League season commenced last Saturday night here in Australia with a fantastic game between the National Rugby League All Stars and the Indigenous All Stars.

The game was free flowing, entertaining, highly competitive and was played with a great deal of sportsmanship, purpose, passion and pride from both sides.

The reality is though that both teams had only been together for one week prior, so one would imagine it somewhat difficult to create too much unity and structure on how each team would play the game.

However it was fairly obvious though that both sides had developed a specific approach to allow them to fully utilise the level of skill and experience available within the two teams, but not so much structure that it would hamper it.

This game was different in that when you see an all star game, in any sporting code it is usually very offensive orientated with defense becoming a very distant secondary consideration. But not on Saturday night.

Both teams did what they could to negate the forward advance of the opposing team. They communicated with each other on what was expected, whose responsibility it was to get certain things done and then when appropriate what a great job had been accomplished.

But what has a game of rugby league got to do with you and your team? What can you draw from this experience and apply to your situation?

Let's take a quick look at few points that I believe may be important:

• Provide the right purpose and a group of people will come together as one to see that purpose recognised and fulfilled?
• Timeframes that are usually restrictive are no longer that way if the goals and purpose are clearly defined, understood and owned by the team. They will find a way to get to where they need to be when the whistle blows.
• Look at the strengths and weaknesses of both the individual and the team and then create a strategy to utilise those strengths.
• Tailor the game plan to the ability and skill of the team. Don't try and do it the other way.
• Sell ownership of the way forward to the team and give them room and opportunity to then do what they do best.
• Give the team reason to take pride in who they are and what they do and whom they represent.
• Don't make the pursuit of success one dimensional e.g play both offense and defense.
• Individual talent, skill and experience are wonderful attributes, but unless they are heading in the same direction, they usually negate each other.
• Communicate at a real and honest level and communicate what is the best interests of the team as opposed to self vested interest.
• Recognise and reward the thinking, behaviors, attitudes and actions that are the trademarks of your team.
• And enjoy the experience and opportunity to show the world what your team is, what it is about, what it stands for and what it well stand up against.

The Journey Continues!