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The way to succeed is to double your error rate. - Thomas J. Watson

Go to just about any practice and you'll hear the coach preaching to his players about the value of taking care of the ball.  You'll hear her talk about limiting mistakes.  "Champions don't make the same mistake twice!!" is an article of faith among coaches.  After all, if you don't make a mistake you make your opponent work harder to score.

But, what if we turn that bit of conventional wisdom on it's head?  John Wooden credits his coach Piggy Lambert with instilling in him the belief that the team which makes the most mistakes often wins the game.  How can that be?  How can a team make more mistakes — consistently — yet win more games??  When I read that in Wooden's autobiography, "They Call Me Coach", I was puzzled.  It just didn't make any sense.  But, since John Wooden has 10 more NCAA titles than I do I decided to take a little more time before I decided he was wrong…

Reading further I began to understand his point.  The team that makes the most mistakes is usually the more aggresive team.  They are the team that is prepared, understands what each player is supposed to accomplish and has the confidence to take some chances.  Preaching "No Mistakes" breeds a conservative style, but it can inhibit players developing a sense for the game.  And, isn't that why the games are played?

One way you can start coaching with this philosophy is to start asking the players questions.  If a player is out of position, ask the player where they should be. Then ask why.  If no one can answer then you probably never told them — at least not in a way they remember.  A favorite tactic of mine is to explain the situation, then ask to the team "Where should you be??"  for example, in a soccer practice before a throw in I'll announce "Red team throw in, where are her team mates?  Blue team where should you be to defend?"  The younger the kids, the more you have to repeat yourself, but even a 6 year old learns to get behind the ball when the other team is throwing it in.

Give your kids the answers by asking questions.  If they are thinking they will see opportunities sooner and make a few of those mistakes Piggy Lambert valued so highly.