Factions: The Founding Fathers were extraordinary coaches.

In Federalist Paper 10 Madison addresses the existence and inherent dangers of factions. What does this have to do with the world's beautiful game?

Everything. 

Madison warned of the dangers of factions and proclaimed there were limited ways of dealing with them.  We could deny factions the liberty they need to exist or force everyone to believe the same way or manage the effects factions have on the whole. Madison argued in Federalist Paper 10 that the only viable solution was to manage the impact factions have on the whole and that the proposed constitution offered the best form of government to do so. Basically, factions exist so deal with them and limit their disruptiveness.

In soccer terms, a program must have a strong constitution or culture to deal with the factions that form within the group we refer to as a "team".  Two of the most talented teams I have ever been associated with underachieved because of factions. Those two teams constantly fought among themselves.  Conversely, two the best teams I have ever been associated with overachieved due to their ability to place the pursuit of a common goal above any factions that existed.

This is where the old "I don't care if you like one another, but we must respect one another" speeches coaches sometimes feel compelled to deliver originate from.

Dealing with factions. This was a primary concern of those who gathered in Philadelphia the summer of 1787. What was right and proper for the good of all the people was the over-riding concern. This led to the amazing order of checks and balances we operate and live under to this day. We coaches strive to establish similar order in our programs for the good of all involved.  How we deal with factions is as important as the X's and O's we employ. Maybe more so.

Program
Team
Individual Player

This forms the template for the process of my decision making as a coach.  The good of the program, the whole, takes first priority.  Next, what is good for the team is considered.  The individual player is third on the priority list of considerations. The individual as a player is third priority. The individual as a human being would, of course, take a higher priority. It is important to remember the context in which we are dealing with an individual.