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All Blacks coach Graham Henry - Source: Photosport -
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I never blame the coach when my kids lose at sport. I hope I never do. I'm just happy if they enjoy themselves, do their best and don't bring the team jerseys home for washing too often. I also hope my kids never try to pin a loss on a coach - especially now they're old enough to follow sports commentary in the media.
Calling for a coach's head to roll when a sports team fails is universal according to Dr Ian Lambie, a clinical psychologist with specialist expertise in sports psychology. He says calls for "the coach to quit" are common the world over when a sport transcends the game and becomes a symbol of identity.
So it is with England and football, New Zealand and rugby. And so it is that instead of debate over the wisdom of rugby being part of our national identity, we have a chorus of disgruntled fans calling for Graham Henry's resignation as All Black coach.
Again.
Lambie's view is that calling on coaches to quit is too simplistic. He says while a coach has influence, winning under pressure is also about player confidence, attitude, discipline and individual responsibility.
You don't have to look far, though, to find a raft of coaches who have "departed" after team failures.
The ARU fired Eddie Jones in 2005 after a record eight losses from nine Tests. His replacement, John Connolly, resigned just two years later after the Wallabies' quarter finals defeat to England in the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
In April, David Mandigora, coach of Zimbabwe's Dynamos soccer team, resigned after a string of losses. According to local reports, Mandigora threw in the towel, telling the club's leadership he could not continue in the wake of abuse from fans after a shock 1-2 defeat to Premiership newcomers, Eagles.
Mandigora's replacement was quoted as saying he was aware of the challenge he faced, but believed he could stand the heat.
"If we win they throw sweets at you, but if you lose, they hurl stones."
In America, waves of public criticism finally got the better of Alabama basketball coach, Mark Gottfried, who resigned in January mid-way through the season.
Gottfried, who had directed the Crimson Tide team for 10 years, became the first major college coach to be ousted during the 2009-09 season. According to Crimson Tide forward, JaMychal Green, word was "out" on Gottfried's demise right from a poor start to the season.
"But we didn't know it would come this soon ... I was actually shocked that he got laid off in the middle of the season."
And we're not just talking about professional coaches.
In March, parents forced the resignation of a Massacheusetts girls' soccer coach, Michael Kingnan. He said in an email to parents of his six- and seven-year-old charges that he expected his players to "kick ass".
In another email, Kingnan wrote that the girls on his team would "fall, get bumps and bruises and even bleed a little. Big deal, it's good for them (but I do hope the other team is the one that's bleeding.)"
"The political correctness police are not welcome on my sidelines," he added.
Ah, yes, this coaching business is difficult to fathom. But no more so than a collective psyche hinged to a game that can only have one winner. Our kids learn lessons from the games they don't win. Maybe it's time a few grown-ups did, too.
