Martin's Rugby Coaching Forum

I guess that you must of been abducted lat night or something cos your definatly are not thinking straight.

Hello Martin

Well my first season is over and it was completely different from what I expected. I have been the forwards coach of long standing Dutch club.

I started by trying to broaden the knowledge of all the players to the same degree but I soon realised that not everyone learns at the same rate or attends all the training sessions! Obvious you may think.

I tried to keep variety in my training by using many different task even training with a tennis ball or a beach ball. I kept a few key words and phrases ever present: Legs; to get them driving, Body position; to get them thinking about how they enter scrums, rucks mauls and tackles and Quality; to get them to think about the detail of each task they perform.

I think the most difficult element has been trying to create team spirit and to do this I should have focused on a core group of 5 or 6 players and let bring on the rest of the group. Other key members of the coaching structure such as the team manager and senior members of the club were very helpful by talking to team members and allowing them to air their concerns. They also passed the important elements to me so we could adjust our approach accordingly.

I have been too aggressive in training on a few occasions and not praised enough where it was due. Also sometimes I have let training go a bit too long and not finish on a positive note. Discipline was generally good and I found a good trick; if I wanted to say something and someone was talking I would stop what I was saying until they were quiet. After a couple of time the other players would tell their team-mates to be quiet.

I tried to get players to take decisions on the field and play an exciting running style of rugby but also realise that the basic skills of key players such as the hooker, scrum-half and fly-half must be regularly practised in a controlled way to keep them sharp.

Fitness is vital and the use of overload training meant that players could perform in the tough matches to a good standard. I also noticed that many players enjoyed these demanding sessions most off all.

It is important to listen to the concerns of players and to be honest when explaining what you want and why you want it.

It is extremely enjoyable to work with a group of people who are so passionate about what they do. And I have come to respect players, especially those who make the most of the skill and talents they posses through hard work. Most of all I enjoyed the company of people who worked hard on the field and enjoyed their deserved rewards off it.

Give yourself time to develop your coaching skills, set yourself targets - just like players do.

Why not involve the team in your progress: ask for feedback? It feels great if things you did at training starts coming back into the game, it is a fantastic motivator for me

Have fun!

I have recently been asked to get involved in the coaching for the adult players at the local Rugby club.

While I played a good standard of Rugby when in the UK, and having been coached by people like Dick Best, I still realize how little I know about coaching and how the game has moved on. I also realize as a player who loved to play and improve personally and in sub-groups ( I was / am a hooker) as well as in a team overall how much I can relate to your site. Particularly about the infra structure and the organization that must be in
place in the rugby club.

I am a bit of a sprinter metaphorically not a long distance runner and I am concerned I will not stick at it or be happy with my rate improvement. Did you find something useful to keep you focused in the beginning?