Dan talks to two key people from the Crusaders Coaching Leadership Programme™: Crusaders International Academy Manager Grant Keenan, and Kaila Colbin, CEO of Crusaders leadership training partner Boma.
They share their experience of working with the 13-time Super Rugby winners from New Zealand, and how the team has built their culture and environment.
They draw on leadership lessons from Scott “Razor” Robertson, Wayne Smith, Robbie Deans, Kieran Reid and Sam Whitelock.
Here are some of the themes they covered:
· Would you think that the Crusaders might be a bit scared if you’re sharing all the secrets, given that they’ve been so successful?
How do you elevate the game?
If all the teams in a league have a high-performance culture, what happens when you find yourself in the bottom half of the table?
From a coach’s point of view, how do you help people understand their roles?
How can you authentically care about your players?
Should a coach be worried about their authority if they also show they care?
Will the players slack if they know there’s always a soft landing from a caring coach?
Knowing players is important, but can it also become too intrusive?
What is meant by accountability and vulnerability?
Dan chats with Jeff Neville, the host of The Loose Head podcast. Jeff has gathered an amazing array of some of the top coaches in the game and chat with them about their approaches.
Now it is time to find out what he has learned and ask him the questions. We focus on three pods in particular: Andy Friend, Ben Ryan and Pat Lam. MORE
Dan chats to Dan Wooler and Christian Lang from the Star Scheme. The scheme supports clubs in building their junior numbers, with the aim to specifically develop strong, trusted relationships between the club and player. MORE
Dan chats to England's U18 men's head coach Jon Pendlebury about this role and how he goes about his week looking after this exciting group of players.
A former professional player with Leeds, and then heading up the Yorkshire and Wasps academies, Jon became head coach of England U18s in 2019. In this role, he is also the Pathway Development Coach for the 14 England academies. He is just completing an MSc in Sports Coaching at Leeds Beckett University. MORE
Dan chats with Dave Ellis, who has coached Super Rugby with the Blues, at Connacht with Pam Lam, as well as working with New Zealand rugby as a resource coach. MORE
Dan with Gary Townsend, the Bristol Bears Junior Academy Manager, chat about a question from coach Renzo Vedovelli on scanning.
Renzo runs an U15s team, and his 9, 10 and 15 tend to look into the ball rather than at the opportunities. MORE
Dan Cottrell speaks to Inside Running Academy boss, Mike Rogers. Mike, who's just finished a season in the US MLR with the New England Free Jacks talks openly about his experience coaching in both his homeland of New Zealand and the States.
There is a very moving passage where we discuss vulnerability and authenticity. Mike's message about his relationship with rugby and his family will strike many chords with coaches. MORE