Creativity at play

Creative players are something of a rare commodity, if you believe the media-hype. However, our players are proably more creative than we think, and it is certainly something we can promote.

But, we need to understand what it looks like before we chase it.

Creativity means using one’s imagination or original ideas to create something. In many ways, it looks like players making small changes to what they are doing to solve problems. They might link skills together which they hadn’t previously considered. Or, players draw on other sports or parts of their lives to then project onto the rugby situation in front of them.

Yet, asking a player to be creative is a pretty daunting prospect to many. This is especially true for younger players, who might actually do the complete opposite and not do anything at all.

That’s why you need to create an environment when it’s possible to experiment. You should challenge the players to find a different way. Why not try this out with the activity on page 4.

I believe that if you have a way clearly in your own mind, then there’s a real danger that your language and demeanour pushes them towards that way.

I asked Mick Tyler, who’s a sport lecturer and coach, to comment on and challenge my thoughts.

In terms of creativity, one of the key things is to give them skills to work with. Without the existing more basic skills then asking them to be creative just isn’t going to work.

Linking skills together is definitely a key to creativity. They need some existing skills there to be creative with. It takes a genuinely special mind to come up with something completely new, and even then, I’m not convinced it is possible to come up with anything completely new.

One thing I might question is where you say something like “if you have a way in your own mind there’s a danger of pushing them towards that way”. Modelling “being creative” is actually a really good way of helping the players see how creativity comes about. 

As an expert, your solutions to game problems will be built on stronger foundations (wider experience and more secure skills) and so showing or telling them your thought patterns and in-game solutions should help them.

Overall, I believe that letting them play the same or very similar games repeatedly should allow them to devise new solutions to similar problems and to practise being creative. I think some people see “creativity” as being almost a magical thing that drops out of the heavens, but in my view, it can and should be practised.