The Back Pass Explains: Succession Planning

In this episode of "The Backpass Explains," the hosts delve into the concept of succession planning in sports. They discuss how teams handle coaching changes, changing trends, and the loss of talented players while maintaining their current level of performance and profitability.

The episode begins with a clarification that they are focusing on teams that consistently maintain their position in the league despite changes. The hosts emphasize the importance of position consistency and then highlight "The Good" examples of successful succession planning in various sports.

They discuss the Melbourne Storm's post-Big Three era in the NRL, where key players retired or moved on, yet the team continued to perform well, becoming minor premiers and winning a Premiership. They also mention the Redbull model and question whether Manchester City is a good example.

The hosts touch on the Australian cricket team's successes and downfall, particularly Steve Smith's early captaincy and the drop in performance. They then discuss Ajax's ability to develop players and maintain competitiveness in the UEFA Champions League and Eredivisie consistently.

Moving on to "Bad Examples," they discuss the Indian cricket team's current struggles, highlighting the politics within the BCCI and the clashes between top talents and coaches. Ferrari's inconsistent performance in Formula 1 is also mentioned, as they tend to have short bursts of success followed by periods of mediocrity.

In the section on "Interesting Examples," the hosts focus on the Seattle Seahawks' approach in the NFL, specifically their decision to trade quarterback Russell Wilson and trust their draft process over traditional ideas. They compare it to the team's previous move of moving on from Cristiano Ronaldo. The hosts also mention the NZ Warriors' decline after a strong season due to a mismatch in playing style and changes in the game.

Throughout the episode, the hosts provide examples from various sports and analyze the impact of succession planning on team performance. They highlight both successful and unsuccessful cases, encouraging listeners to consider the importance of planning for the future in sports organizations.