Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, Rugby Skills, Rugby Training | Tags: front on tackling, rugby tackling, skills training, technical training
Here are a couple of exercises to help your players work on their front on tackling.
Better rugby tacklers use good footwork before the contact to get themselves in a strong position to make the tackle. They jam their head into the ball carrier once contact has been made.
Notice the low impact of the runners to concentrate on good tackle technique.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, Rugby Training | Tags: coaching tackling, rugby defence, rugby defense
Defence coaching focuses on technique and systems.
The drift system shifts the players across the field as the ball moves across the field. The tackler will probably be making a side on tackle in the drift system.
When is the drift system employed?
When attack team is aiming to pass the ball out wide. The tackles are likely to be made from 10m and beyond the side of the ruck or lineout, unless the opposition cut back in. From slow ruck ball, the defence will be spread across the field, so the drift is minimal. It is more likely from a scrum, some lineouts and quick ruck ball.
How NOT to coach drift defence
The game picture must be reflected in the training picture. Here are the pictures that don’t work so well:
1. Running and shifting to make a front on tackle.
2. Running at static bag holders.
3. Running at bag holders who are less than three metres apart.
4. Running up less than five metres.
5. Covering less than 10 metres laterally in a drift defence exercise.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, Rugby Skills | Tags: rugby decision-making, Rugby Drills, Rugby Tactics
I am looking at developing some tactics for one of the team’s I am involved in.
I am going to try to introduce the tactics through the “drills” we use.
Now the word “drill” makes some coaches wince. Coach educators would say don’t use the word because it reminds us of repetitive actions will no decisions at the end. I can see this, but don’t mind using the word if those around understand what I mean and are willing to try something out.
To set up the tactic I want to create a number of potential scenarios the players face and then let them decide what tactic to employ. It is an experiment to a certain extent, because I don’t know how the “conditions” I am setting on the game will change so the players will face different types of defence.
The key is to provide opportunities to try out some methods of attack and then see if the players respond to the potential tactics.
More on whether it works next week.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, Rugby Team Management | Tags: England rugby, Martin Johnson, yellow cards
Here is a story from the life of Sun Tzu (400 BC-320 BC), reputed to be the author of the Art of War.
The king of Wu tested Sun’s skills by commanding him to train a harem of 360 concubines into soldiers. Sun divided them into two companies, appointing the two concubines most favored by the king as the company commanders.
When Sun first ordered the concubines to face right, they giggled. In response, Sun said that the general, in this case himself, was responsible for ensuring that soldiers understood the commands given to them. Then, he reiterated the command, and again the concubines giggled. Sun then ordered the execution of the king’s two favored concubines, to the king’s protests.
He explained that if the general’s soldiers understood their commands but did not obey, it was the fault of the officers. Sun also said that once a general was appointed, it was their duty to carry out their mission, even if the king protested.
After both concubines were killed, new officers were chosen to replace them. Afterward, both companies performed their maneuvers flawlessly. (taken from Wikipedia)
Can we draw rugby parallels with England, yellow cards and leaders on the pitch?
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, Rugby Skills, Rugby Training | Tags: All Blacks, empowerment, questioning, rugby decision-making, Wayne Smith
Last night I was at a seminar at the Ospreys where Wayne Smith talked about decision making. Wayne is currently the “backs” coach for the All Blacks, though this title is vague in the sense of the range of work he does with the team.
His message is simple: decision makers have make their own decisions, so give them to power to make them.
He does this through a range of mediums, with questioning and games as the key pillars in his approach.
He is also a man who invites integrity and displays an outward calmness. His measured presentation recognised the difficulties that any team faces, even one as talented as the New Zealand team. It is not by talent alone that the All Blacks are regarded as the number one team to beat.
I took eight pages of notes.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching | Tags: level 1 course, rugby coach educators, WRU, youth rugby
The end of a coaching course is a new coaching dawn for many coaches. They come out of the course invigorated and ready for action.
And so they should.
The level 1 course is a must for any aspiring coach whether they have played international rugby or just put on their tracksuit for the first time to coach their child’s team.
I have just finished tutoring a course in South West Wales. I had six coaches in my group, all with a huge variety of backgrounds and ages. There was no variety in effort and enthusiasm though. It was, as it always is, refreshing to have such a positive attitude to learning, self-improvement and problem solving.
I was being assessed as well. All the “coach educators” are internally verified to help us deliver more effectively.
If anyone is venturing onto a level one course in the next few weeks, here are a few top tips beforehand:
1. Get plenty of sleep – they are long days, though they fly by.
2. Don’t worry about your rugby background.
3. Get stuck in to all the activities – push yourself, challenge yourself.
4. Be prepared to change your way of thinking.
