Studies have indicated that players are three times more likely to respond positively to a new drill than one they have practised over and over again. How many can say that they can create new drills on the spot? Not many, that’s for sure. Only when you have been coaching for a number of years will this confidence befall on you. Until that point, having rugby coach resources can be very beneficial, like the ones that can be found in our Video Library. For the sake of player development, keep your coaching ideas fresh, change up the drills you teach, coach new skills and be remembered as a rugby coach who showed he or she was willing to learn and develop as well as the players.
3. Engagement, dedication and commitment.
This is what is commonly labelled as the “coach killer.” How can we as a rugby coach plan a training session, a recovery session, a gym session or an entire season for that matter if we cannot rely on the dedication, engagement and commitment of all those involved. I remember when I was playing premier grade in Christchurch, New Zealand, admittedly I used to slack off every now and then due to who knows what, I was an adolescent male. But looking back at that with the coaching knowledge I now possess, I understand what impact that actually had. Even if it’s one training night, a weekend away or an injury, lack of dedication, commitment and engagement is a huge challenge a rugby coach must overcome. So how do we overcome these?
a) Start by setting the standard. Turn up to training early and be the last to leave. We all know the role of a rugby coach is far more than teaching skills and patterns; we are also counsellors, mentors and role models. If you’re always there you can build a culture around you, and have players buying into it.
b) Set the expectations early. Hold a team meeting in the clubrooms with everyone in attendance – including parents, trainers, physios, managers, assistant coaches and players. As long as everyone is aware of what is expected, we can manage and measure the commitment.
c) Always work on player engagement. This starts and finishes with keeping things fresh at training, making sure game days are well organised and ensure players are enjoying themselves.
If the expectations are clearly defined to everyone involved, then everyone can be held accountable. Make sure everyone knows what happens when commitment is judged to be poor and stick to a decision, no matter how hard it is to make. And most of all: set the standard and have everyone buying into your enthusiasm. After all, you are giving up your time too!
Conclusion:
So there you have it, above are several ways to overcome three of the biggest challenges we could face as a rugby coach. Don’t get me wrong, there are a multitude of challenges out there so if you have a particular one you need assistance with, leave it in the comments section below for us to address in a later article. If you’re ever looking for additional drills, fresh ideas or downloadable resources, visit this link to join the Global Rugby Coaching family for guaranteed monthyl assistance. We hope this article has added value to your rugby coaching.