What is the meta-game?

The meta-game are all those factors that are above the game that directly affect the development of the game, but that does not depend on the protagonists, the players, or maybe they can not control it consciously.

As coaches, do we have influence over these external factors to the game that affect the game?

Many times in the experience of every coach we believe that there are things that happen and affect the game that we can not control, and we look for excuses to justify it. Or the opposite, as coaches we sometimes think that we can control everything that affects the game.

According to Stephen Covey: we do not have any control over some factors that transcends during the competition, but we do have control of the other percentage of factors that although we do not only give a lot of importance, they do affect the development of the game.

Therefore, our job as trainers will be to influence what we can control, and not be able to justify or manage that part that we can not control directly or indirectly.

On what aspects can we influence as coaches directly or indirectly?

Some examples of factors that we can affect searching a positive incidence on our team, or the decrease of the strengths of the rival can be shown below by examples… Can you identify with which aspects of the meta-game these examples affects directly or un-directly?

Some coaches such as Mourinho or Simeone work very actively in the management of the meta-game and are great specialists in this. Removing pressure to their players or encouraging participation and pressure from the fans during the game are some examples of aspects that can directly help to increase our team’s performance.

What about you, do you consider all these factors?

Apart from the press conferences, in which other moments we can manage the meta-game?