”If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”

That is an expression that I sometimes agree with, and sometimes don’t. I have mentioned it in this column before: I think the perfect timing for making changes are when stuff is going well for you. Meaning that I could definitely think of trying to change while having success, which would be a version of fixing something that is not broke.

But there is one phase of a floorball season, where I think this expression has a lot of offer to us: during the indoor pre-season phase. Almost all of us (except for lazy guys who would want to stick with their initial views on floorball in general and tactics specifically) want floorball to develop as a sport. We want to be bigger, better, faster and gain more recognition from people around us. Still - I think - this is the time of the year where we take backward steps for no obvious reason.

I am thinking about the new coach, taking over a new team, and being so desperate to put their own stamp to things, that they decide to revamp an already working low defensive system, because that is where almost all coaches actually have an opinion and a system ready. I am of course generalizing now, but I promise you that the low defensive system is where most coaches actually have a well thought opinion.

The thing is, that at the highest level of floorball, your low defensive system is already certainly working, and most probably the thing that does NOT need fixing. That is where the ”if it ain’t broke, why fix it?” comes into play. I checked on all goals scored in the men’s quarterfinals, the superfinal and the cupfinal, and six out of eight teams scored more counter attack than possession goals. So most probably, when you are tearing down a teams low defense to replace it with your own, you are fixing something that was not broke.

Imagine if that energy would be put on offense instead? 

* Maybe we would end up with a sport where it will be a fight for possession, because that is how you can put opponents under pressure, make the audience hold their breath because of the excitement that the team with the ball might score any second now? And we would still have the excitement of a fast break counter attack, because these chances will always be quality goal chances and quick exciting plays.

* Players would have more fun playing and practicing the sport, since instead of again working on how not to concede goals (but in another fashion than with the last coach), they will be looking for ways to shoot holes in the other team.

* This would obviously also make teams forced to go pressing a lot more, since you will not want to have the opposing team settling with possession in your own end, because they can bury you with their lethal shots and amazing offensive instincts.

Now that would be an amazingly entertaining sport, that would take big steps towards being what we want. Dynamic in the sense of teams having to be ready to play pressing to not concede goals since the opponent has some wicked offensive plays and players. And dynamic in the sense that teams are getting better and better at punishing opponents who are weak on decision making and ball skills. To me, that as an alternative to revamping your low defense system every second year, sounds like a pretty preferable option.

_{David Jansson}

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The Author:

David Jansson (1980) has been the Coach of the Swiss National team since June 2015. Already as a 17-year old, he debuted in the SSL (Swedish highest division) and between years 1995-2005 he had played for 3 different clubs  - Jönköpings, Älvstranden and Pixbo. His coaching career includes two years as head coach of the swiss club Floorball Köniz (2009-2011) as well as four years by Pixbo Wallenstam. He had also worked as the sports teacher at the floorball gymnasium in Gothenburg. He lives in Kloten.