EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
It’s extremely frustrating when players fail to be attentive in training. They miss vital instructions, make unforced errors or just slow the flow of the session.
It happens at all ages, though we know that younger players are the worst culprits.
Some of the time, it’s out of your control. The player arrives tired or distracted. But there are plenty of ways you can adjust your session to maintain their concentration.
Here’s a selection of our best ideas. It’s a mix of organising your training and then engaging training activities.
Making substitutions is a challenge for coaches because there’s an implied criticism of the players involved. So accentuate the positive and make the process a chance for development and enjoyment. MORE
The way we coach is an important as what we coach. The most compelling messages are not just content-driven. They matter to the recipient. MORE
Rugby is essentially an invasion game. One of the core skills is evasion, and therefore, by definition, interception. Evasion is not just running to where a defender isn't. It's try to fool them at the same time, to make that easier. Of course, the defender should be thinking the same, just in reverse! MORE
An offload is just another name for a pass out of the tackle. It's a powerful skill because it can create opportunities to attack a less-organised defence. If it is so powerful, why don't more teams use it? Because there are plenty of risks involved, firstly in terms of the difficulty of the skill. Reduce these risks by using the following techniques, activities and games. MORE
Kick offs can be the stuff of nightmares. For some reason, players shutdown from their normal operations and there's a danger that any advantage from just scoring is thrown away. That's just one of many reasons to spend time on the skills needed to secure the ball, skills that some players will only use during this phase of the game. MORE
in Rugby coaching, Team Management
All coaches should have a spark, a creative inspiration to help bring the best out of their players. Create magic with your team by following these tips and developing your coaching skills. 1. Serious fun wins matches Know who’s in charge of the “serious” stuff and who’s in charge of the “fun” at training. You... MORE
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
