Global Rugby Magazine Issue #5 | Page 20

GLOBAL RUGBY SEPTEMBER 7) Creativity Everyone loves a creative coach. A coach who turns up to training being well prepared, communicates the plan from using drill ideas and resources shows creativity; and this increases interest and engagement in your subjects. You will find if you are creative with your drills, game plans, training games and ideas, you will have a lot more investment from all those associated. 8) Open To Learning In order to become a creative rugby coach, we must be open to learning. This relates back to point #2 in this article – being knowledgeable. How can we portray knowledge if we simply don’t have it? The answer is simple, invest in your own education. Einstein said it – “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” But in order to attain new knowledge, we must first recognise we must seek it. There are a number of platforms to acquire rugby coaching knowledge but none better than one that provides high quality learning aids that cater for every learning technique. Being open to learning is one coaching attribute we must all have if we are to succeed in portraying the above points. 9) Dedication Before now you would have already realised that simply turning up and going through the motions isn’t a coaching 20 attribute we are looking to acquire, it’s not good enough in this day and age. We need to show dedication to our responsibility as a rugby coach, to our subjects, to the club or school we represent and to the systems and tactics we put in place. Being dedicated to our role is certainly one coaching attribute that is admired in a rugby coach and encourages a positive response in any scenario. 10) Be A Role Model Whether it’s turning up on time, being the last to leave, being approachable and showing players, coaches and parents how things are done – this is another major coaching attribute we want to portray. However, being a role model is more than just leading by example – it is enforcing a certain code of conduct, encouraging excellent sideline etiquette, demonstrating drills and skills so players understand what they are trying to achieve and making sure everyone heads into the clubroom with the opposition for a celebratory drink after a match. Being a role model is a crucial coaching attribute and probably the most important one.