You need to plan ahead
Rugby Development Model
How to set-up a development plan? Where to start? How to organise? When I help coaches I use this approach:
- Describe the situation where you want to be;
- Then check and see where you are now;
- That gap is your development need;
This competence gap will help you detail your Development Plan. This is where you describe all the activities and tools you need to execute that plan. It is the “hand and feet”, the representation of what you think that is necessary to achieve that goal.
Describe where you want to be
I have a great Mindmap set-up for this goal, targeting different areas of the rugby game. Mindmapping is a great interactive and collaborative way to describe goals and evaluate.
Evaluate
So, if you do not achieve those goals? You can look at your plan and see how you could / should have done better! My best experience and example is the loss of the EC Under 18 in Madrid and doing analysis of that final and the Development Plan. Erik and I concluded we needed a shift a bit from tactical to technical, better selection process, better bench (and some personal things too). And yes, we estimated we needed on top of the 110 hours of work and additional 10 hours of training. Then: Execute – Championship win, Subsequent promotion to Poule A.
Another good example was a performance review I did with Rodney and Cas RC: just looking at that Mindmap and detailing and discussing the original plans gave Rodney so many pointers and with great enthousiasm and vigor he and the team started the off-season.
The Macro Planning
Where to plot those 110 + 10 hours? You can use the Year Planner Excel Spreadsheet for this. Most teams have a fixed schedule of training sessions, season, etc. It is pretty easy to determine your “budget” like: two times 1,5 hours a week for 40 weeks is 120 hours. The Macroplanner helps you to allocate the budget to cycles.
Product Placement: SuperCoach Online helps you to set this up, but I started with a spreadsheet and I suppose many coaches have set-up something themselves too.
Training period
With the Macroplanning done, the next step is to plan Period Goals, like Defensive Line, Duel and Support of Ball Carrier, etc. I always plan in 6 weeks cycles. But I know youth coaches plan around school holidays and use the holiday week as a transition week. In that Period and for example the Defensive Line you can have technical and tactical exercises working towards improving the defense.
I started adding other Excel Sheets to the Planner too: newsletter topics, evaluation / profiles, Match stats, Players information, Attendance, Shirt sizes, you name it. I became a Digital Coach.
SuperCoach Online
How crazy was it when I started working with Paul and found he had something very similar. From that general approach the idea for SuperCoach Online grew. The advantage of this tool is that it helps you to set up the plan, but detailing the associated exercises is done for you.
Need a bit of help?
If you are interested in a copy of this excel sheet drop me an email and we can discuss.
Related material
- Example of setting up development plan on defense;
- Spending the 120 hours budget;
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