Football or Soccer as the Americans call it, is an English game.
In the Netflix series The English Game, the origin and evolution of the sport is brilliantly depicted from being one of the rich and the elite to becoming a path of freedom and growth for the poor and the common man.
If you’re a football fan, I highly recommend the show.
Many of us love football.
I’m filled with fond memories of my younger days when I was an enthusiastic supporter of Manchester United rooting for Eric Cantona and Ryan Giggs.
Those were the days.
Then when I became an adult, I did the unthinkable – I changed my religion and that too I converted to team Liverpool!
My Manchester United friends and relatives have a variety of reactions when they hear of my conversion — from some condemning me (jokingly, I hope) as a traitor to others telling me that one can never truly leave their original religion hoping I’ll return to my childhood team someday.
Whenever I have conducted learning and study skills sessions with students, I ask them to think about their favourite football player.
I then follow up by asking them, “what do you think makes this player a great footballer? How did they achieve their greatness?”
The answers that come up revolve around the following:
- They are passionate about the game (intrinsic motivation)
- They want to be the best and be number one (extrinsic motivation)
- They want to win the prizes/money (extrinsic motivation)
- They train hard, daily and consistently
- They train smart using effective methods
Once my students realise the above, I tell them that the same is required to excel at school or university and even in life.
If they do what the football giants do when it comes to their learning, they will be unstoppable.
If you’re a student, think about this the next time you watch your favorite team play.
There is much to learn from the footballers.
