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Bill Walsh implemented the system as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in the late 1970′s and went on to win three world championships, with two more achieved using this philosophy after Coach Walsh retired.
Up until Coach Walsh implemented the West Coast offense, there were two competing offensive philosophies that dominated Football.
The first was that of a 'ball control' offense where one team would attempt to control the clock by running the football repeatedly.
The effectiveness of this strategy came from the fact that the clock continues to tick after a running play or completed pass, but stops for an incomplete pass.
This means that if a team is large and powerful, it can dictate the pace of the game by controlling the clock and preventing the other team from taking the field.
When paired with a stout defense, ball control can be a highly effective strategy.
The Pittsburgh Steelers exemplified this style of play during the 1970′s.
The second offensive philosophy was a vertical passing or "Air Coryell" offense, named after Don Coryell.
The basis of this philosophy was to have fast receivers positioned near the sidelines and send them on deep passing routes if the defense crowded the line of scrimmage to stop the run.
This style of offense still relied on 'establishing the run' to open up deep passing lanes, but made its mark with the ability to produce big plays from long passes.
The Dallas Cowboys of the 1990′s were successful in using an Air Coryell system.
The problem that Bill Walsh sought to solve with the West Coast Offense was one of finding a way to win Football games if you didn't have a large, physical offensive line and powerful running back required for a ball control offense or the explosive receivers and strong armed quarterback required for a Coryell offense.
The West Coast Offense relied on an intelligent quarterback making quick reads and short passes with precise timing.
By focusing on high percentage passes, it would allow an offense to control the clock by achieving many first downs.
Furthermore, it relied more heavily on disciplined execution from its players than physical prowess.
In this fashion, Coach Walsh changed the paradigm of professional Football from being about who is biggest, strongest and fastest to who is the smartest and most disciplined.
By focusing on quick passing plays, the opposing team had a difficult time tackling the quarterback before the ball was thrown.
By creating plays with multiple passing options, the system was difficult to defend without leaving at least one player open.
By instilling a culture of disciplined execution, the 49ers were able to achieve victory against other teams with more talent.
This philosophy is not only applicable to American Football, but also to your investing career.
There are some people who advocate for a 'ball control' strategy of investing that focuses on 'safe' investments like CD's, bonds, and other low risk instruments.
The object of this strategy is to avoid losing.
Like in Football, this strategy requires you to have a large, powerful portfolio in order to produce sufficient cash flow.
Other people advocate a 'big air' strategy of investing that focuses on speculative opportunities with the opportunity to produce big gains.
This system requires just the right investments to be executed at just the right time in order to make the big play happen.
If any of the conditions are not right, things can fizzle very quickly.
An alternative strategy for your investing career is to focus on a system of disciplined execution that looks for multiple options and takes the opportunities as they are presented.
People who invest the "West Coast Offense" way will look for the things that are undervalued so that they can capture the opportunities while they are available.
The windows of opportunity will frequently shift, and are not always open for very long.
This system focus on producing steady, reliable gains one decision at a time.
As these gains compound over time, they will march you closer and closer to financial freedom, similar to a football team marching toward the end zone.
The strategy that you choose for creating your financial future will determine what is needed for you to be successful.
Many people are born without wealth, and few have inside information on hot opportunities, but anybody can develop intelligence and discipline.
Which way will you choose? Champions Pay the Price One of the great characteristics of Bill Walsh's teams was the disciplined repetition that they would go through until every aspect of their game plan was executed perfectly.
For key plays, this would frequently mean practicing hundreds or thousands of times so that when game time arrived, the plays could be done without any hesitation or second guessing.
True champions 'pay the price' for their success long before the victory is won.
The place where champions really come from is not the game field...
it is the practice field.
By doing the work and investing the time, champions are completely prepared for game time.
When the time of opportunity comes, they have done the work to perform flawlessly.
This same principle applies to business and investing.
The people who prosper are those who are disciplined and pay the price for success.
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