EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
05/7/2022 | Rugby coaching
Using the example of an U15s team, here’s how I would use a constraints-led approach underpinned by ecological dynamics. MORE
05/11/2022 | Attack
Understand how to create then take advantage of 3 v 2s by isolating and splitting the two defenders. The chaotic starts mean more options and decisions for all the players involved. MORE
05/3/2022 | Rugby coaching
We all instruct as coaches at some stage of a training session. However, direct instruction is either overused or, in reverse, underappreciated. Here’s a guide on why and when to use it. MORE
05/14/2022 | Mini tag
Use parent stations to allow you to run lots of activities with a parent overseeing each activity. It requires one parent, minimal setup and minimal instructions. Each station runs for two to three minutes before the players move to another station. MORE
05/13/2022 | Mini tag
Use parent stations to allow you to run lots of activities with a parent overseeing each activity. It requires one parent, minimal setup and minimal instructions. Each station runs for two to three minutes before the players move to another station. MORE
07/28/2020 | Mini tag
Get your ball carriers used to running forward to score tries. This session can be run as a warm-up or as a proper tackling session as well. Often players fail to run forwards even when they know the try line is that way. This session should encourage them to attack a space in front them and go for it. MORE
05/10/2022 | Footwork and evasion
A player races out to pick up a ball cleanly and then win the race to the far line. MORE
05/1/2022 | Small-sided games
"An attacker tries to get the ball onto a cone before they are touched by a defender. Defenders can only run around the perimeter of the shape.” MORE
04/22/2022 | Attack
Attackers aim to use feints, footwork and handling to score over one of two try lines. MORE
05/5/2022 | Rugby drills
04/19/2022 | Rucking & Mauling
04/16/2022 | Rugby drills
04/14/2022 | Rugby drills
04/12/2022 | Rucking & Mauling
04/7/2022 | Kicking & Catching
This session is fun, easy to set up and works your players’ footwork and conditioning. The players will be jumping and side stepping around a “shipwreck” trying to avoid “pirates”. The game further develops the decision making elements from the initial session. (You can also get the players to set up the “wreck”.) MORE
Mauling is a powerful weapon and you don’t have to be a big side to use it. A great tactic is to set up a maul from the back of a ruck to create go-forward and tie in their defenders. MORE
Protect your rucks by covering against the “inside” defender in the tackle contest. Have a player who works on the “inside clean” to drive this potential stealer of the ball and the “outside clean” to check the even more savvy defender. MORE
01/28/2022 | Warm Ups
Get your players ready for contact with these games. They'll warm up your players’ shoulders and upper bodies in a fun way to prepare for sessions involving contact. It will put them into dynamic positions that they might not usually be used to. MORE
01/13/2022 | Rugby drills
Get your session buzzing with these three activities for an active warm-up. By using games, chaos and lots of movement, the players will be using all the key physical literacy skills in a busy environment. MORE
09/4/2021 | Rugby drills
"When asked what my three go-to U12s warm-ups are, I have no hesitation in listing them out", says Dan Brockhurst, owner of DB Sports Coaching. MORE
05/20/2022 | Rugby drills
Use parent stations to allow you to run lots of activities with a parent overseeing each activity. It requires one parent, minimal setup and minimal instructions. Each station runs for two to three minutes before the players move to another station. MORE
05/18/2022 | Rugby Coach Weekly with Dan Cottrell
Dan chats to Kevin Mulcahey about his experiences coaching both novices and experts and how you need to change to meet their needs. MORE
05/4/2022 | Rugby Coach Weekly with Dan Cottrell
Dan chats to Jacob Ford about his remarkable journey to becoming Bury St Edmonds RFC and Ipswich School's director of rugby at the age of just 23. The topics covered included: The best way to speak to players to allow them to grow What makes the players respect a coach What efficiency in training and a game looks like Being mentored by your dad (Mike Ford, former England and Bath coach) The differences and similarities between coaching professional players and school players Should bench players get paid the same as the starters Working with players who are older than you Developing a style of play that suits your team Can a coach make excuses for a poor performance MORE
05/2/2022 | Round-up Rodeo with Phil Llewellyn
Host Phil Llewellyn with guests review some of the many great podcasts, books, articles and webinars from the last week. This week's guests: Laurence Halsted, former GB Olympic Fencer, former Performance Director for Danish Fencing and currently Director of Mentoring at the True Athlete Project. Dr Jon Rhodes, founding member of Imagery Coaching and lecturer at the University of Plymouth and Richard Cheetham, Senior fellow in Sports Coaching at the University of Winchester and coach developer with a variety of sports. MORE
10/19/2021
Lineout training should be based around getting the basics right first. When Gary Gold was coaching the South African team with Victor Matfield and they were the best lineout in the world, he used to say: "They know where the ball is going, but Victor will always beat them into the air." But a lineout is not just about the jump/lift. It's also about what happens afterwards. Here are four activities to develop different aspects of this set-piece situation. MORE
10/5/2021
There are so many elements to passing, which ones do you concentrate on first and how do you train them? Here are a bunch of the priority skills you need and then great ways to train them. MORE
06/15/2021
The RFU has brought forward plans to reduce the tackle height at age grade rugby to below the armpits. Talking to experienced school coaches in particular, they don't see much change in the impact on the game as a whole. However, it is an excellent opportunity to reexamine your tackle technique training. MORE
“The boys have really enjoyed the drills from Rugby Coach Weekly. It's been great having them at my fingertips and every training session this season we tried new things, which I believe helped keep the boys interested and enthusiastic.”
Phil Hopkins, Perigueux, France
72 of the Game's Tactical Concepts in Simple, Plain Language MORE
With so much to cover when coaching young players, it can be a daunting task to know the basics... now there's help MORE
