Coaching Style of Academy Coaches

The approach and style of coaching is changing and this clip provides some indicators of how some of our academy coaches have altered how they teach players

Coaching Process-Course Structure

The coaching course is designed to assist coaches to be better at coaching and does not focus on increasing rugby knowledge

There will be several opportunities to coach and receive feedback from the session review

Every review is an opportunity for the coach to learn. Even when participating as a player for someone else, the coach should be considering the process and how it affects their performance and understanding of the task

Positive and honest feedback within the coaching group is a valuable method in which to help each other become better coaches


The coaching process is based on:

Instruction and explanation

Demonstration

Observation and feedback

Listening

Summary

Adapt Your Coaching Style

There are significant changes in the approach to "How best to coach" with regards your coaching style and delivery skills. Here are some examples from some of the Premierships top coaches

Sevens - Uncovered - The Coach

What is the role of the coach. In this clip some of the top 7's coaches give some thoughts on what they do and how they see themselves in the make up of the modern 7's squad

Coach Player Rapport

Do you understand the significance of 'Rapport" and how this can influence how good a coach you are. Elite coaches, experts and pundits provide a clear view of how important this is

I Had To Change The Way I Coach

Mike Ford changed his coaching style, it's a brave thing to admit you were not coaching the right way. How do you coach?

Coaching the breakdown with games

The challenge of using games to coach contact is a tricky one for many coaches. This clip shows the Leeds carnegie academy coach explaining how to integrate games into his coaching and the different styles of delivery

Using Questions to Coach (Kicking Technique)

How to coach - The coach uses questioning as his main coaching style. The players identify the technical points with the coach providing prompts and reinforcement

Coaching Contact Skills With Games - U 11's

Using games to coach can be a challenge for junior coaches. In this clip the Sale sharks community coach delivers a session to develop contact skills at the breakdown by using games, questioning and challenging the players. This can be used for all Junior age groups

RCD - The Future of Coaching

Where will coaching be in five years time, being able to adapt and change is a key skill for all modern coaches

Breakdown - Coaching Players To Make Decisions

The coach uses a combination of drills & games to deliver a session on making decisions at the breakdown. There are some technical points and observations on the coach using classic "Tell & Yell" instructions

New Rules of Play - Under 10s - Coaching Points

This video provides some detailed coaching points that the Saracens community coaches would recommend age groups coaches focus on in their sessions

Developing Your Personal Coaching Style

Valuable coaching insights into developing your own coaching style, confirming player understanding and learning from experience

How to create & share coaching plans

This clip explains how to create coaching plans and share them with other people

Expert - Sir Ian Mcgeechan - Satisfaction as a coach

Sir Ian Mcgeechan gives his thoughts on a coaches ambitions and how coaches can achieve success

Modern Coaching at Oaklands College

This clip provides a summary of how coaches at Oaklands college - Saracens academy partners - approach training and provide some examples of both "What to coach" and "How to coach"

Tackle - Coaching safe head position

Coaching the correct head position for tackling is one of the most important skills for a coach, this clip shows a few examples that can be used with progressions

Breakdown - Using games to coach

Academy coaches use conditioned games with strict rules around the tackle / touch activity to teach the skills required for contact and clearing defenders away. Questioning is used as the main style of coaching

The Skills Coaches Look For

Elite coaches outline the key fundamentals that they look for in young players and what club coaches could potentially focus on

Time To Change Coaching Style

Every 4 years the UK talks about changing the way we coach to develop players for the long term. It never happens however here are some insights into why you might want to change that

How coaches learn - John Neal

Performance psychologist John Neal explores the importance of curiosity for effective coaching.

Coach by asking question's - John Neal

Psychology expert John Neal discusses how important it is for a coach to ask effective questions.

Stuart Lancaster: Coaching Philosophy

The England coach talks about why a philosophy is important and what his views are

Expert - Conor O Shea - why would I encourage someone to be a coach

Conor O Shea - Harlequins DoR talks about the benefits and satisfaction of starting to coach

How To Use Match Footage To Coach

British Lions Analyst Andy Keast provides some tips on how to use match footage to gain a coaching edge. In this clip we look at line out possession

Tips for Coaches - Be positive

How to coach - Tigers coach Tosh Askew outlines some fundamental principles such as being positive and including all of your players in all of your activities.

Tips for Coaches and Parents

Academy coach provides some insight into some ideas on community coaches and parents of players

What the Coaches Look For

Premiership Rugby coaches talk about the signs they look for in assessing a team or unit and translating this into practical coaching points and plans. Log in to see more.

Games for coaching Contact

The coaches use a variety of conditions for both the attackers and defenders to reinforce the coaching points. Small sided games enable players to learn in a live environment similar to actual match conditions

Brian Smith - Coaching Philosophy

London Irish Director of Rugby Brian Smith, on why coaching is about being a great communicator.

Conor OShea - What are the key attributes of a coach

Conor O Shea gives his thoughts on what makes an effective rugby coach

Paul Gustard - Advice for New Coaches

Saracens' Paul Gustard gives some words of wisdom to new coaches.

Quins - Our coaching philosophy

Harlequins coaches talk through their coaching philosophy and what it means to their players

Geech - Lions Coaches were Years Ahead

Were the Lions coaches ahead of the game. The 1997 coaches discuss tackle techniques that are only being implemented now

Games for Coaching - Examples

Coaches often request ideas to help them plan sessions. Here are some examples of the conditions that coaches can apply to make training more challenging and enjoyable

Coaching tackle technique & progressions - Mini

Coaching tackle technique never stops. As players get older, the challenges become more complex and coaches need to provide more detail to improve the finer skill sets. This video provides some expert tips that may help you improve tackle technique and the first phase of the ruck / breakdown.

Coaching Defensive Systems

Coaching defence starts with some warm up games and progresses to specific skills and the coach then builds upon these basics. A system of defence is then introduced and practised in a conditioned game

Coaching Tips from the Premiership Champions

We have plenty of coaching examples and ideas from the 2013/14 Aviva Premiership Champions, Northampton Saints. Log in to see more senior, academy and youth coaching.

Premiership Coaches on Continuous Learning

No coach knows it all. Even the top professionals go out and look for inspiration and advice from their peers, and from other sports.

Dean Ryan: Reasons for Coaching

Dean Ryan talks through some of the main motivations for becoming a rugby coach.

Coaching with Games is the Future

Elite coaches use conditioned games to teach the basic skills and change the conditions for progressions and increase the intensity

Paul Hull: Coaching Philosophy

Paul Hull describes the key elements of his coaching philosophy: - Find different ways of getting the best out of individuals - Find the best way of getting the message across - Keep things fun

Coaching Philosophy - Contact is key

Head coach Dickon Edwards talks through the theory behind their approach to contact and why that approach is important in understanding how you want to play

Coach the Scrum Half Pass

This clip outlines some of the fundamental techniques required to become a good passer of the ball from the ground, an essential skill for scrum half's. Simple and easy instructions for both coaches and players to benefit from

Neil de Kock - What makes a good coach?

Saracens and South Africa scrum-half Neil de Kock highlights rapport as the key to being a good coach.

Listening is a coaches technique

Psychologist John Neal highlights the importance of listening intently to coach more effectively.

Expert - Sir Ian Mcgeechan - The Coach's Role

Sir Ian McGeechan on the role of a coach

Using Silence As A Key Coaching Tool

Very clever yet simple use of "Silence" in coaching players. This clip shows how you can draw knowledge from players and engage them in creating skills games

Paul Hull: Do Players make Good Coaches?

Paul Hull explains that sometimes former players can make great coaches, but they need to combine their technical knowledge and experience with the right communication skills.

Interview - Sir Ian Mcgeechan - Coaches Role

Sir Ian discusses the benefits of getting involved in coaching and the main responsibilities

Defensive Game with Coaching Points

A touch game conditioned to develop the drift defence. Worcester Warriors Community Coach Tamara Taylor explains the objectives of the conditions, gives feedback and adjusts them when necessary.

The Switch - coaching points

What you need to know to coach the switch

How to - Create a Coaching Plan

Follow these steps to create and share a coaching plan.

Game to coach Depth

Ex England Sevens coach Russell Earnshaw talks through the importance of depth and keeping "Connected". He uses a simple exercise to work on various techniques and makes it competitive to keep the intensity high

Tips for Coaching Sevens Rugby

Sevens expert Russell Earnshaw talks through his coaching philosophy and approach to drills, exercises and games

New Rules of Play - Under 10s - Scrum Coaching

The introduction of the scrum for both mini players and coaches can be confusing. This clip explains the the reasoning behind the 3 man scrum and the technical points that ned to be taught

Paul Gustard - Top Tip for Coaches

Paul Gustards 'top tip' for coaches, new and old.

Warren Gatland as Lions Head Coach

Coaching tackle technique in groups

The ability to move from 1 to 1 tackling exercises into unit & group skills can be tricky. Here are some tips that you could use

Interview - Conor O Shea why a coach?

Player / Coach Relationship

How much say do your players have in how you train and prepare? Premiership Rugby stars share their experiences.

Women's - Clips of coaches

Women's - Clips of coaches

HSBC - Gatland Appointed Lions Coach

Former British & Irish Lions Jason Robinson, Gavin Hastings and former Wales international Jonathan Davies commenting on the appointment of Warren Gatland as Head Coach of the 2013 British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia.

Head position - How To Coach

Making sure that defenders put their head on the correct side is the most important aspect of tackling, coaches can improve confidence by using contact shields and surprise tactics to help train players improve their technique

Richard Wigglesworth - What makes a good coach?

Richard Wigglesworth highlights an ability to interact with players as the trademark of a good coach.

Harlequins - What Coaches Look For

What is it that elite coaches look for in players

Coaching the new Scrum Laws

An brief summary of coaching the new scrum engage sequence. Always include a good upper body warm up and highlight the importance of a strong core with your players. Check the 'Body Position and Technique' section for full videos including hooking technique.

Maul and Ruck - U9 Coaching

Notice how these players do not naturally set up rucks. Both teams try to keep the ball away from breakdown situations.
What would these games look like if the coaches stepped in and insisted on rucking?

Running skills key coaching points

What are the key coaching points

Coaching Defence with Games

The Wasps academy manager uses games as the central learning principe for coaching defence and the systems he wants to introduce to his players

Intro to coaching the lateral pass

Basic principles for the coach to focus on

Coaching the Breakdown

The battle for the breakdown can decide matches. There are many elements that make up a solid breakdown, including ball presentation, speed of support and effective rucking technique. Log in to RugbyCoachingDrills to see video tutorials from top coaches and players.

Pressure's on - Coaching Decision Making

Total Control Under Pressure - When teams performances unfold late on in matches and players seem to struggle to make the right decisions its usually to do with fatigue and pressure. How can coaches help players to improve in this area

Conor O Shea - do coaches ever stop learning

Conor O Shea - explores why coaches should never stop learning

Coaching the spin pass

Saracens academy coach Rory Teague explains the basic principles of the spin pass including the exercises and progressions that can be used to help players improve their techniques and accuracy

Structure & principles of how to coach defence

A brief overview of the importance of strong defensive structure and some basic exercises to build it.

The Miss Pass Key Coaching Points

To review handling Key factors

The MIss Pass - coaching tips

To develop the Miss Pass

Kiwi Tackling - Coaching Dominant Tackling

To be a dominant tackler you need to practise the core skills regularly. The tackle has many factors to it and here are some tips from New Zealand

Tony Rea - Can coaches learn from each other?

Chopping Feet To Coach Safer Tackling

Use equipment or players to force players to take smaller steps prior to the tackle, as attackers get better at late movement defenders need to practise in more demanding positions

The Loop Pass - coaching points

To develop and progress the loop pass

Good Practice - Referee & Coaches Briefing

Coaching 7-a-side Rugby - Flat 6 with sweeper

In Defence:

Stay alert, keep on toes, specific communication, react, work hard

Defend what is happening – not what you think is going to happen

Trust the defence system, trust your team mates – trust yourself

Coaching Process- INSTRUCTION

Plan what to say before you speak and stand where all can see and hear

Gain their attention before you start

Keep the message simple

Invite questions and check for understanding

Coaching 7-a-side Rugby - Restarts; kicking long

The objective for the kicking team is to back their defence and force a turnover ball

Also utilised the long kick if you do not have an accurate and consistent kicker

If you are the receiving team, have four players up near the 10m line

Coaching Process-FEEDBACK

Ask questions to generate self-feedback

Limit information to 1 – 2 key points

Give specific and simple information

Keep feedback positive

Coaching Process-OBSERVATION and ANALYSIS

Focus on each key factor at a time

Observe action several times from different positions

Compare observation with correct template to find matches and mismatches

Decide on your action: Build on strengths, correct error or do nothing to see if any issues can be self corrected

Tony Rea - Coaching Philosophy

Coaching the leg Tackle

An example of a basic 1v1 exercise to practice the leg tackle.

Coaching 7-a-side Rugby - Restarts; kicking short

As possession is king, gaining possession from a kick off is vital for effective 7s. Especially considering that the team that scores takes the kick off.

Geech - Coaching Philosophy

Sir Ian provides an insight into the famous British Lions tour in 1997 and how important it is to have a clear philosophy. This ground breaking tour still has fundamentals that apply today

Switch - simple coaching exercise

To develop handling skills

Good Practice - Referee & Coaches Debrief

Coaching the breakdown

Looking at fundamental breakdown skills to manage the contact area. Log in to see the full session

Men's - Clips of Coaches 1

Coaching 7-a-side Rugby - 7 up defence

In Defence:

Stay alert, keep on toes, specific communication, react, work hard

Defend what is happening – not what you think is going to happen

Trust the defence system, trust your team mates – trust yourself

Coaching 7-a-side Rugby - Choice Touch

This small sided game is design to develop intuitive decision making.

The players need to recognise the situation and react accordingly.

Practice through a conditioned game is the most effective way to develop the necessary skills to recognise a situation as it unfolds and to react appropriately and without hesitation

How to coach the Catch or Choke Tackle

Some of the latest ideas around tackle technique and what defenders are trying to achieve. This session provides the technical progressions needed to teach the choke / catch tackle

Coaching Process-DEMONSTRATION

Its important to remember that most people are visual learners. Even when your instructions are clear, reinforce the understanding with a demonstration.

Avoid whenever possible doing the demonstration yourself as you cannot see that you are correct.

Position so all can see and hear

Focus attention on 1 – 2 key points

Invite questions and check for understanding

You may need to repeat the demonstration, particularly for those involved initially, as they have not seen it