A fun RTC project for coaches and athletes is to interpret Sun Tzu’s The Art of War in a sport context.
The Art of High Performance Sport
The Art of War then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one’s deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field. These are:
Simple substitute the Art of High Performance Sport for the Art of War to and change field for competition.
- The Moral Law
- Heaven
- Earth
- The Commander
- Method and discipline
The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger.
I am thinking that the “ruler” referenced here need to be interpreted as an internal drive to which the athlete devotes their efforts, a dream of success. It is often that athletes will sacrifice health and resources to pursue sporting excellence which fits with the last part of this statement.
Alternately, the “ruler” could be just that, the Moral Rules of Sport as defined by local ethics. Could even be The International Sporting Federations or the current World Champion(s)
Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons.
These represent things beyond our control, yet have potential to significantly impact the outcome at any stage from planning to competition
Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death.
All the parameters we need to be aware off to prepare properly for the competition
The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage and strictness.
In an athlete centred model, the Commander is the coach. A coach needs these same “virtues”.
By method and discipline are to be understood the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure.
These are the management of the infrastructure necessary to support high performance competition; support team, head coaches through event specific coaches, community support and funding.
These five heads should be familiar to every General: he who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail.
I debated a while on differentiating the General and Commander and whom they would be in sport. The General would instruct the Commander, so the General could be the athlete or the High Performance Director. In some cases, such very small organizations, the HPD and coach may be one and the same.
Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine the military conditions, let them be made the basis of a comparison, in this wise:
Essentially, when evaluating state of preparation for performance in two opponents begin comparing the following…
- Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the Moral law?
- Which athlete has the most passion to win?
- Which of the two generals has most ability?
- which program or high performance director has the best abilities, resources contributing to the athlete’s performance?
- With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven and Earth?
- Do the physical conditions favour one of the athletes over the other?
- On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced?
- How strictly enforced in the daily training environment?
- Which army is stronger?
- In proven performance and recent testing, who is performing better when you look at all the strengths and weaknesses between the two, as well as the interactions between the strengths on one and the weaknesses of the other?
- On which side are officers and men more highly trained?
- How much experience does each athlete have, in all areas, not just sporting competition?
- In which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and punishment?
- What are the benefits of winning to each athlete, as well as the consequences of loosing?
By means of these seven considerations I can forecast victory or defeat.
In doing a thorough gap analysis between competitors, you can make realistic estimates of outcome.
The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in command! The general that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat:–let such a one be dismissed!
While heading the profit of my counsel, avail yourself also of any helpful circumstances over and beyond the ordinary rules.
According as circumstances are favourable, one should modify one’s plans.
All warfare is based on deception.
Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.
Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.
If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.
If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.
If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.
Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.
Please post your thoughts under the comments section
I encourage you to post your interpretation, thoughts, contributions and feedback in the comments section!
