Kurt Cobain, the lead singer of rock band Nirvana, played hard and died young. He said: “If practice makes perfect and nobody’s perfect, why practise?”
Actually, the well-worn truism he referred to has been turned into “perfect practice makes perfect” or “performance practice leads to perfect performance”. It can seem that practice is a penance, given that the first thing young players ask when arriving at training is: “Will we be playing a game tonight?”
Captain Richie McCaw of New Zealand holds up the Webb Ellis Cup after winning the Rugby World Cup Final against Australia 2015
And do they really want to be perfect anyway? It was New Zealand’s recent 100% Test year that made me think of perfection. Some are asking if they were best team ever. Whatever the conclusion, the great sides of the past had their flaws and no team has ever played the perfect game.
So, perhaps, perfect is the wrong word. The expression “practice makes perfect” is purely rhetoric. It sounds snappier and more powerful because of the alliteration. How about “practice makes better” or “focused practice with intensity leads to improvements in the ability to perform under pressure”. Not as powerful but more appropriate.
Cobain was anti-establishment and what he said fitted his outlook. But his conclusion was wrong. The reason we practise isn’t just to improve but because we enjoy it – it gives a sense of achievement. We usually practise with team mates, boosting our social esteem.
But Cobain was probably thinking of the coaches who drummed into him that practice was an unpleasant necessity. He dropped out of his baseball team and though a skilled junior wrestler, hated the experience.
That doesn’t mean that all practice is easy and “fun”. It still has to be intense and fast-paced when necessary. Your team should train as they want to play. Your challenge is to set the right targets to aim at – and establish how “practice” will help players achieve them
Sarah Cottingham, teacher educator and Educational Neuroscience MA, challenges us on how we think we learn and how we might apply it to our coaching.
Dan Cottrell provides the rugby examples. MORE
It is interesting to reflect on the impact of famous author Dorothy L. Sayers on modern coaching. Way back in 1947, she challenged teachers to make their students think deeper and think more, so they learn for themselves. MORE
In my previous article, I outlined how I set up my Veo for games and training.
I've now had a greater opportunity to use it for recording games.
Again, I come at this without much recent experience of using video analysis software. I don't have much time to sit down and code games. Instead, I will mainly use the footage to pick out some key points to help inform my coaching and to share moments with the players. MORE
This article comes from Alan Zondagh LinkedIn account. It is discussed by Alan with Phil Llewellyn in a Roundup Rodeo special, with guests Ian Costello and Nick Wood. Former Bulls Director of Rugby and seasoned South African coach Alan Zondagh believes the sport is in need of a drastic overall change. My rugby journey started... MORE
Bill Walsh won three Superbowls with the San Francisco 49ers. When he took over as head coach in 1979 they were arguably the worst team in American football history. Within two years they were the best. This sympathetic and honest book, published after Walsh’s death in 2007, but largely in his own words, explains in detail the methods he used to achieve extraordinary success. MORE
From our Rugby Coach Weekly archive of Touchline Tales, commenting on a game in an U15 Cup tournament. Last weekend we lost 20-22 in a cup game. The opposition scored at the end from a disputed lineout on our line and we felt our jumper was impeded. MORE