Being a rugby coach means more than knowing how to execute a particular rugby skill, run a rugby drill, or set up a formation. The rugby coaching advice in this section highlights the important issues facing coaches and shows you how to approach them to become a better coach. These articles look at issues such as playing against sides that cheat, coping with problem players, getting a winning mentality and much more.
This is based on an article by Jon Woodward, a Sports Coach UK Coach Education Advisor: The Role of a Sporting Parent: Parents Just Don’t Understand… or do they? Whether you are coaching kids or adults, one of the key people in your players’ lives are their parents. Guide them into making the best environment […]
You may be one of the number of coaches starting with a new team next season. And you know that it will be a great boost if you can get a “W” from your first match. Any coach who faces his first competitive game in charge is bound to be feeling a little more pressure […]
Yes, you do… Tactics are good because you are teaching players to understand the game as a whole and not just the core skills. You will start to give them ideas on how to score more tries or reduce the number being scored against them. Tactics could include: Keep passes short and run straight. Move […]
From Rugby Coach Weekly Sometimes it seems that some wicked person has given your players some “silly smarties” before training, here are four ways you can bring them back into line. Fun is fine. But if it gets out of hand, your session can easily go off the rails unless you implement our simple plan […]
From Rugby Coach Weekly Always hit the spot by using the TARGET model to keep your players motivated and concentrating fully on the job in hand during training sessions. Task Keep activities varied and individually challenging. Break down the skills into their component parts, so players can think about the processes to achieve something. For […]
By Eamonn Hogan, experienced rugby coach working with representative teams in the UK and the US Use a philosophy rather than a set game plan to score more tries than the opposition. Tactics will often confuse children but ideas for playing the game in a set way won’t. As your players become more skilled and […]
If there is a significant breeze on match day, well-prepared plans need to be put into place. This is far more than a quick chat with the 10 before the game. Work specifically with your tactical kickers rather than just “kick with the wind”. They need to know when to kick as does the rest […]
From Rugby Coach Weekly Appearance is a key factor in making players pay attention to you. Not all of us are natural models, but you still need to look smart to get the most out of your team. If you’re scruffy or inappropriately dressed it suggests your coaching will be equally haphazard. Here are a […]
From Rugby Coach Weekly If a young player is making a mistake, we feel duty bound to do something about it. However, youngsters are often intimidated by corrections and also might not take on board what they need to change. What we must correct Anything that can harm the player or someone else. Th is […]
When do forwards give the ball to backs? When they want it, of course, which is when: The team is going forward There are less defenders spread out across the field They are in attacking positions The backs have an overlap or mismatch Ignore set pieces and think about when forwards release the ball from […]
