Global Rugby Magazine Issue #5 | Page 19

4) Transparent 3) Be Prepared Transparency is another major coaching attribute we want to portray. If you are clear and concise about what you want to achieve, how you intend to achieve and what is required, you will find you get a lot more buy-in from those associated – players, trainers, managers and parents. Having a rugby coach who keeps game plans, tactics, selection policies or anything else to themselves does not necessarily inspire confidence. Share your plans, your views, your desires for the team and include everyone in the discussion. 5) Communication COACHES Further to the coaching attribute of being transparent, a rugby coach needs to have excellent communication skills. Communication comes in a number of forms and there are simply too many to list – but here are a few major ones: Communication to parents, coaching staff, players, to the captain of your side, club representatives, referees, opposing teams and committees. Having great communications is an excellent coaching attribute we want to acquire as a rugby coach as it helps us get across what we are trying to achieve. FOR RUGBY It amazes me how often a rugby coach will turn up to training not knowing what they are going to implement in that session let alone the outcomes they want to achieve. A typical tell-tale sign a coach is under-prepared would be sending their players on a lap of the field while they try to figure out the first drill or conversation about the training session. A prepared coach would utilise resources, have a planned session and aim to achieve key learning outcomes from each session, and that is a coaching attribute we certainly want to possess.habitasse platea dictumst. 6) Eye For Talent Identifying talent, harnessing that talent and developing it simultaneously is the ultimate goal for this particular coaching attribute. How would you ever find or scout players who show promise in their younger age if you were not looking for it? Simply put, no matter what age of rugby you are watching, keeping an eye out for talent should always be front of mind, you never know, one conversation could change everything for the player, and you.