How former England player and experienced representative coach, Mike Rafter, prepares teams for a new season.
Rugby training plan
Over five weeks we play a round-robin tournament based around three games – rugby netball, touch rugby and soak up tackle/power walking rugby. Each game is strictly refereed so all the benefits are apparent.
Team captains are nominated and they are then allocated an initial squad of five current players. It is the responsibility of the team to ensure there are enough players for each games session. They can do this by recruiting up to five other players not already nominated.
These can be new players, players outside the initial squad or friends who want to try out playing for our team. The benefit of this system is it generates new players from a wider circle of contacts and there is a better chance that these players will come back again.
“Teamship” is a good motivator and it is easier for a new player to come with his friends than just turn up. With the whole team responsible for making sure there are enough players for each games evening, we never have a situation where one team does not turn up.
Set up rugby training session
The three rugby training games are familiar to most players. However, I have some strict criteria and rules so players can improve their skills and fitness.
Each game lasts for 10 minutes, with a two-minute changeover. With six teams, each playing one round on each evening, the whole rugby training session should last no more than 45 minutes.
The games are played all together on one pitch marked out as in the picture above. Apart from cones and three balls, I use three referees, a timekeeper and a scorer. I have found that local referees are always looking for some “rugby fitness” training and are happy to get involved.
With the commitment so small, it has not been difficult to persuade these people to participate and it adds to the authenticity of the games. All the results are recorded and posted on the club noticeboard. There are two points for a win, one for a draw and a record is kept of tries for and against.
Here’s the recording of the webinar on U12s to U16s early season planning with head of rugby at Desborough College, David Kilcoyne. When the recording starts, we are talking about what laws are coming into play at the start of the season, post covid, before we begin the main presentation after four minutes. Here are... MORE
In this exclusive event for Rugby Coach Weekly subscribers, Desborough College head of rugby, PE teacher and qualified coach, David Kilcoyne calms your worries about how you approach the start of your season.
1. Discover your most important start
2. Understand your golden thread
3. Exploit your team's new rules
4. Unleash your superchargers MORE
A book review of Ulitmate Crush: Waseda University Rugby, Leadership and Building the Strongest Winning Team in Japan Katsuyuki Kiyomiya translated by Ian Ruxton.
The Japanese love slogans.
Ultimate Crush, which was coined for the Waseda University rugby team, translates differently according to the dialect used*, but the core meaning of “overwhelming victory” is clear. MORE
Don’t leave key decisions on your day-to-day coaching to chance. If you think you will be able to use common sense when something happens, you could be fooling yourself. MORE