New England Patriots and the Socratic Method

[jmt57]

Bill Belichick thankful for Patriots players who ask questions like coaches

Stumbled across this article which offers a glimpse behind the curtain known as the New England Patriots.

I doubt this type of open engagement of questioning and player involvement is encouraged in most pro football organizations.


What's Belichick thankful for?

Sometimes it's not enough to sit there and listen.

There's plenty of that. Listening. Through all the meetings, the practices, the walkthroughs. Players listen. They learn. Coaches coach. They teach. That's a given.

But inside the walls of Gillette Stadium, the approach to improvement is Socratic. There's a back-and-forth that exists between coaches and players. Questions aren't just answered, they're encouraged.​

 

[Uptown]

Uh oh...Questiongate??

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Ted Wells must have been at “toilet paper stuck to shoe” imbecile level.

 

[maust]

Well that just can't be right, we have been told repeatedly (most famously by Lame Johnson) that Dictator Bill runs a fear based organization. Fearful people don't dare question anything.

 

[signbabybrady]

I bomb atomically, Socrates' philosophies
And hypotheses can't define how I be droppin' these

 

[long distance]

Nice title . but comparing “back-and-forth that exists between coaches and players“ to Socratic Method and philosophy is a bit of a reach..

If Socratic Method would indeed enter “the walls of Gillette Stadium“ im not sure football would be the end product..

 

[Love The Drake]

I bomb atomically, Socrates' philosophies
And hypotheses can't define how I be droppin' these

Triumph great track

 

[PP2]

Nice title . but comparing “back-and-forth that exists between coaches and players“ to Socratic Method and philosophy is a bit of a reach..

If Socratic Method would indeed enter “the walls of Gillette Stadium“ im not sure football would be the end product..

Why not? It's meant to stimulate critical thinking.

 

[TennisBallHead]

Ted Wells must have been at “toilet paper stuck to shoe” imbecile level.

Bill (Belichick): "Dust. Wind."
Ted (Wells): "Dude."

 

[maineman209]

IIRC, Arland Socrates was the replacement starting Center for the 1982 Colts. He was noted for questioning each and every offensive play call, typically framing the question as, "Wait! What??"

 

[Tony2046]

Nice title . but comparing “back-and-forth that exists between coaches and players“ to Socratic Method and philosophy is a bit of a reach..

If Socratic Method would indeed enter “the walls of Gillette Stadium“ im not sure football would be the end product..

Splitting the football world from every day life is sometimes necessary.

" these teams are going to war" - no they're really not .

" that was a heroic effort " - and yet nobody's life was saved.

" ... so n so is a genius.." - The NFL has apparently surpassed the Royal Societies genius membership.

So using the term " Socratic method " relative to the rest of the league makes sense. Imo.

Left up for debate is whether the Eagles are having a blast or not.

 

[1960Pats]

Is there a way the Pats could go from the Socratic Method toward the Spartan Warrior Method in the draft? That would work for me.

 

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

Splitting the football world from every day life is sometimes necessary.

" these teams are going to war" - no they're really not .

" that was a heroic effort " - and yet nobody's life was saved.

" ... so n so is a genius.." - The NFL has apparently surpassed the Royal Societies genius membership.

So using the term " Socratic method " relative to the rest of the league makes sense. Imo.

Left up for debate is whether the Eagles are having a blast or not.

Then there's the greatest philosophical question of the sports world- Do you control your own destiny?

 

[long distance]

Why not? It's meant to stimulate critical thinking.

The writing on Gillette walls is not “Know Yourself“ but “Do Your Job“.
Id guess there's only so much critical thinking BB or any football HC (not to mention NFL*) could tolerate (or provoke)..

(Poor BB has reportedly enough troubles with TB12 method as it is..)

Splitting the football world from every day life is sometimes necessary.

" these teams are going to war" - no they're really not .

" that was a heroic effort " - and yet nobody's life was saved.

" ... so n so is a genius.." - The NFL has apparently surpassed the Royal Societies genius membership.

So using the term " Socratic method " relative to the rest of the league makes sense. Imo.

Left up for debate is whether the Eagles are having a blast or not.

Nice post. I understand that the term “Socratic“ there was used “loosely“ (w disregard of actual philosophic concept) so i was just joking a bit while appreciating seeing Socrates name in the thread title..

.. it is true though that BB has his share of ironic approach to teaching..

 

[archstanton543]

Another comparison: The NFL head office forced BB to drink hemlock tea twice.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

The Socratic method has a negative connotation that it is akin to bullying...
Witness this scene from the 70's movie The Paper Chase and law school.



It's been used for generations by mentors/professors in health professions and law to challenge residents and test their ability to think quickly......While it is effective ( been on the receiving end plenty) for some people other methods are as effective....
Using the words Socratic to describe Belichick might be viewed around the league as supporting the impression that the, "Patriots Way" is a repressive, bullying no fun way of doing things....
Holley's book PAtriot Way certainly described a different way, of questioning and learnng and expecting people to "do their jobs" and not in a John Houseman type of way..

 

[captain stone]

I wish that Bill would listen to more people during draft weekend.