
The 5 rules of selection
Identifying the players to fulfil your vision is arguably a coach’s most crucial role. Your approach to selection establishes the values of the environment you’re trying to create. Read on to get it right… MORE
EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
You may be aware that England football has won through to the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup. In an exhilarating and tense game, they finally beat Columbia on penalties. In the post-match interviews, the team and Southgate, in particular, delivered a masterclass in coaching approach.
The process is movement, what’s required to do the job in front of you. For example, if you are taking a penalty, you don’t think about the consequences of scoring or not scoring. Instead, you focus on your routine, where the ball is placed, the run up, the strike.
The players talked a lot about “staying in the moment”. Again, that’s about concentrating on the game right in front of you, not dwelling on the past or thinking about the result.
England played well at times, and in other periods of the game, struggled. That’s going to happen, for any team. The opposition will be doing their best to put you off your stride. Errors happen, luck fails. The key is to keep going back to the way you want to play, the plan that you set out.
In his book, Sevens Heaven, Ben Ryan kept telling his team to believe in their flow. It would come. Not always straight away. But it would come. England stuck to that.
Powerful brands have powerful stories. Think Coca Cola or Heinz or Kelloggs. It connects all those involved in a common purpose.
A great story is shared amongst friends and family.
For England, it’s clearly brought them together. They all talk the same language, believe in what’s important to deliver the best football they can produce.
Even if they fall in the next round, they will have been part of something special.
Like other disciplines, rugby has a jargon of its own. Unless the meanings are explained they can be meaning-less. That's why I've explained them in plain, simple English and with large, clear illustrations in my manual Rugby Tactics Made Simple. But not only that, you'll learn how to coach the tactics with my tips. If you’re new to coaching or prefer a more simple style this is a great, straightforward introduction to rugby tactics. "It highlights the key fundamentals of all aspects of play & gives coaches a good understanding of terminology and techniques at the highest level" - Richard Whiffin, assistant coach at London Irish MORE
Anxious about coaching rugby to children? Maybe you're already coaching, but sometimes struggling to get your points across at training? Perhaps you sometimes simply run out of preparation time? Possibly you're feeling your sessions are getting dull? Do you want a few new skills to boost your player's skills now? Or to help your players develop the techniques for seasons ahead? Maybe even the core skills for their whole rugby playing career? Here's the answer... MORE
Ready-made, age-appropriate, safe training activities, to provide a complete rugby coaching curriculum for players from ages 11 - 16. MORE