Ask Dan
Got a coaching question?
Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coach Weekly’s head coach and editor can help.
A former player for Bath and Bristol, Dan is a level 3 coach, level 2 referee and course tutor. He has coached international rugby with Wales Women, representative rugby with Ospreys U25, U18s and U16s and is currently coach with Swansea Schoolboys U15. He also coached his son’s team from U6s through U16s.
He’s a regular contributor with ConnectedCoaches and a former director of rugby at Cranleigh School.
It’s always good to have somebody to ask for advice when you encounter a problem with your team. Whatever your coaching problem, Dan is perfectly placed to help.
Check out recently asked questions to get the advice you need. If you are a subscriber drop Dan a line (you’ll find his contact details in this week’s issue of Rugby Coach Weekly digital magazine) and he’ll even send you the resources you need from our archive of coaching sessions.
in Ask Dan, Attack, Rugby drills, Tactics
Subscriber question: Is there a session I can use to bring the full back in on the narrow side after a lineout? MORE
in Ask Dan, Attack, Tactics
Q: “We’re good at winning our set-piece ball but often struggle with the ensuing phase. Can you suggest a move we could run from the set piece?” MORE
in Ask Dan, Passing & Handling, Rugby drills
Subscriber question: I have to produce a 40-minute session for a level 2 course – it concerns a 2 v 2 support loop using whole-part-whole. Can you give me some ideas on how to approach it? MORE
in Ask Dan, Rugby drills, Scrums & Lineouts
Subscriber question: We’re struggling to win lineouts in games despite looking good in training. How should we adapt our training? MORE
in Ask Dan, Attack
A question from a coach who works in senior rugby. On Sunday we were in control of the match (15 to 3) at the end of the first half. Unfortunately we lost 15-21. The main point according to what we have seen, was the lack of patience and skill in maintaining possession and instead a... MORE
in Ask Dan, Contact, Tips
Though you may have been on the courses, it’s not you who has to get up-to-speed. The framework provided to clubs includes such areas as concussion awareness indicators and “Graduated Return To Play” (GRTP)schemes, to help clubs deal with concussion in the most appropriate ways. However, despite these excellent resources and help, down at the... MORE
in Ask Dan, Attack, Defence, Rugby coaching, Rugby drills
Q How can you improve players’ alignment to stop them getting too flat, so they attack with pace. Nick Howe, St Paul’s School, U13s A While you can drill alignment, it rarely transfers into matches. That’s because players don’t sense the context and therefore, when they reach the same situations in matches, they don’t... MORE
in Ask Dan
End-of-season awards evenings can be fraught with difficulties. It can both motivate and demotivate key players and stakeholders and create unwanted divisions. MORE
in Ask Dan
A good coach arrives at training ready to deliver his or her session. Assuming there’s a co-coach or team manager who looks after the health and safety, what does that good coach look like from car-to-pitch? First, they should be corporate in their appearance. Club caps, beanies, rugby shirts or training tops are excellent ways... MORE
in Ask Dan
I coach an U13 team in Western Australia. I am trying to increase the urgency and physicality of my forwards at the breakdown. We run a variety of intense ruck drills at training on Tuesdays and Thursday which the lads enjoy. They seem to hit me and the other coaches hard when cleaning out but... MORE
