Here is a collection of great ideas for planning, fitness, skills and games for your pre-season preparation, whatever age and level of player you coach.
Get the detail right when coaching skills and everything will fall into place. Let's look at what players should do just before tackling a ball carrier. MORE
Got the lungs burning? Now it’s time to get those brains whirring! Put the players in lots of different scenarios which match possible situations they might face in a match to help them think about their options. Decision-making exercises mean that your team will have to connect with each other, communicate and discover what works best. MORE
We can all remember an inspirational figure in our sporting lives, someone who has made a difference. Now you are a coach yourself, you have the chance to be that figure for someone else. What a privilege. Also, what a responsibility. That means that good coaching and management comes from hard work and choosing the... MORE
Every team wants to start the season well. Use these sessions to build your players’ form and fitness so that they are ready to go on that first whistle. MORE
A session ideal for pre-season or in-season if you need to reconnect your players with their handling and pace onto the ball. Accurate passing is essential to maintain a flowing attacking move capable of exploiting mismatches and space. Look at the detail as well as the outcomes. MORE
Whether it’s in pre-season or you need a boost during the season, use this series of three sessions to ensure you have a strong scrum base. Here are the first two weeks.
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Here is a circuit that allows you to train the core running skills – changing direction, changing pace, turning, accelerating and running backwards or sideways. It is good for a pre-season or in season
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Here's an example of a mind-map preparing for a season. It's the starting point for a discussion of what needs to be covered and who's going to cover it. MORE
Developing the tunnel drill, the pairs exercise requires the supporting player to time their runs, plus provides a moving target for the first passer. MORE
Sometimes the most logical answer to a problem isn’t the right one. So when assessing how to improve performance, apply the DAP principle to your thought process – Deep, Accurate, Practical. So, you’ve reached the end of the season or you are getting ready for next season. The most difficult thing you’ll do at this... MORE
Front-on and side-on low tackles can bring down ball carriers quickly. In this tackle template, here's what the defender should do to complete the tackle effectively. MORE
One of the key influences you have on your team is in the hour or so before the match. Learn how to maximise that time to bring the best out of your players and get them flying from the first whistle.
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