Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Fitness | Tags: aerobic, anaerobic rugby, fitness
In a recent Rugby Coach Weekly, one article explained the balance between aerobic and anaerobic systems in rugby before giving examples of how to train in each area.
To the U14 coach, is that important?
Of course, the more we know, the better off we are. It helps us make informed decisions on how to organise our rugby conditioning programmes appropriate to the players we have.
On the other hand, many coaches don’t have time to research this information, let alone reflect and plan the sessions.
Plus, who needs to know that the expression for being able to run for longer is aerobic fitness and anaerobic fitness is about sprint and short bursts of work.
You might say: “Give me the drills to do it. Leave out all the other stuff.”
Actually I liken it to driving a car. I don’t care what happens inside as long as it goes. But my brother loves having a manual gearbox and knowing what happens with what under the bonnet.
My sense is that coaches love the nitty gritty of some bits and gloss over other parts. Let someone else deal with that. That’s why some of us are destined to be forwards and other backs.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Fitness | Tags: Brian O'Driscoll, conditioning, fitness, Gavin Henson, John Hayes, Mike McGurn, rugby coaching blogs
In the last few weeks I have been following an excellent blog from an Irish conditioner called Mike McGurn.
As it happens, he works for the Ospreys, the club I am involved in. However I came across this blog myself.
What makes it so good is that it cuts through the jargon and the “gym is all” mentality, focusing on the individual and what he or she can do.
The stories about Gavin Henson, Brian O’Driscoll and John Hayes make for compelling reading. He has some good tips for amateurs as well.
Here is the link to his blog.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Fitness, Rugby Team Management | Tags: Christmas, eating, fitness, food
Oooh, the temptations of Christmas…just putting in this picture made my mouth water. Luckily I am only the coach, I don’t need to watch my waistline in quite the same way as my players.
This is a difficult time of year for senior coaches though. Fitness regimes become clouded by parties and feasts. Alcohol is just one of the enemies. Piles of food worse.
Players will ignore draconian rules on how much of food they are allowed to eat. When their mother/partner/boyfriend/mother-in-law has lovingly slaved over a hot stove then it is hard to say no to plate full of food.
Many years ago I used to play on Boxing Day and New Years Day in front of paying customers! It was a nightmare. Did I get stuck in or not? One New Years Eve I spent all night on a river boat surrounded by goodies and in the end drank three shandies. The next day I played in a game where we beat a 1st division team for the first time in years (and I scored a try, and it was on the local TV!)
But I have learned not to use stories of “in my day” to tell players what to do. Let them discuss the options, make their own resolutions and then sit back and see.
