
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
Personal coaching can really grow a player – but only if you give them the right environment in which to learn and improve. Embrace these five top tips to help bring out the best in each player.
Working with a player one-to-one means you can concentrate on their individual needs. But first, you must work out what those needs are.
To know them better, you have to understand the player’s motivations to play rugby and desire to improve. So ask them about their goals. Then discover what they feel comfortable working on.
From there, you can tailor your session to suit their needs. You can help guide them to seek more challenges, but you can’t force them to want more.
Your goals need to be in line with theirs. You can suggest ideas that stretch them, but it’s the player who needs to confirm their own targets.
One-to-one sessions need different sorts of energy to keep the player engaged and motivated to learn. So try a traffic light approach to keep the session varied:
Red light for static work – explanations, questioning, and technical feedback
Amber light for repetitious work – replicating skills, testing out techniques
Green light for game-like training – adding pressure through fatigue, speed, time or space
The All Blacks have a saying: “If you’re not growing anywhere, you’re not going anywhere”. The player needs to improve or learn how to improve from every session.
It also applies to you as the coach. What have you learned from the session? And what could you improve upon next time?
For instance, consider the language you used, the amount of time you spent talking, the technical feedback you gave the player, the ways you could elicit a different response. Dave Alred, one of the world’s best sports coaches, says he changes the way he operates year on year, based on what he learns from coaching different athletes.
Research shows that the real improvements happen after your training. That’s in the time when the player goes away and does three things:
Your role is to create the excitement to want to reflect, practise and try out the skills. It gives the player the confidence to do it. Your energy and belief will be crucial.
One-to-one training isn’t just about repetitions. Players love to test themselves in a competitive manner. Think of how you can add pressure through time trials or points scoring. It might be beating last week’s scores, or reaching a target in this session.
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