Rugby coaching tips to help new players settle in

A successful team is a stable and cohesive one. Peter Tann offers a five-step guide to helping new players settle in.

Success with the illusion of stability

Team stability is often an illusion. The successful English sides of the early 1990s under Geoff Cooke appeared to be virtually unchanged for four years, yet the side actually changed by up to five players a season – one-third of the starting team!

The integration of new team members into an established side is, therefore, a critical issue.

1. Get to know your players

You may have a very clear idea of the particular rugby qualities that a new player possesses, but what do you know beyond that?

By gaining a greater understanding of your players as individuals you can help improve your ability to integrate and motivate them. Players care about what you know when they know that you care about them.

You can start by asking players to complete a questionnaire or "player information sheet". Example questions include:

The things they like to do in training.
The tv programmes they watch.
The books, magazines, films they like.
Their rugby, sporting heroes.
The music they like to listen to. This is very important if you use music as part of your pre-match psych-up.
The strengths, weaknesses of their game.
Their ambitions as a player.
Their reasons for playing rugby.
Their interests outside rugby (something to be strongly encouraged, especially if you coach children).

Encourage the players to be as honest as they can. Emphasise that this helps build effective teams and encourages clear communication. Most importantly, once you have collected the information, use it.

Making the effort to get to know the player, and not just for their rugby, can pay dividends when trying to understand their wider motivations. The process of asking is a classic motivational tool for the player – it shows you care.

2. Make use of your senior players

Ask senior players for their tips on how best to integrate new players, as well as feedback on how the new players are settling in.

Pair up new players with experienced team members during rugby drills. This will help new players feel less like outsiders and will help them quickly pick up the values and behaviours expected of and by the squad.

3. Avoid cliques

Cliques are groups of players who stick together. Particularly in the context of integrating new players, cliques are a negative influence.

Franz Beckenbauer, coach of the West German football team which won the 1990 World Cup, attributed their success in part to the cohesiveness of the squad: "In previous years we would see players sitting down to meals and meetings and staying in their club groups. This year everyone mixes in and it makes for a better team."

I am not referring here to natural camaraderie that develops between players, and which is one of rugby's greatest strengths. For instance, in my playing days the first post-match drink I had would always be with the other two members of the back row I played with. I just made sure that I had a drink with other team mates afterwards too!

Whilst it is inevitable that players will spend more time with some team mates than others, cliques tend to be disruptive and are exclusive. Avoid them by splitting up players to work in different groups or on different teams during training drills. If you have the opportunity to, vary whom the players room or eat with.

Team meetings and discussions (see below) can also promote positive relationships within the team and make players aware of the damage cliques can cause.

4. Team meetings

Spend time before or after training with team meetings. New players can be given the opportunity to work with other players in small groups, thus continuing the work of avoiding cliques. They can given the responsibility of feeding back to the whole squad, or their views on a particular issue, such as match strategy, can be solicited.

To help the new player, the coach can let them know in advance, or even discuss on a one-to-one basis, what they will be required to comment on. This gives the player time to prepare and approach the meeting with more confidence. In this way the new player can begin to feel a part of the squad as his views are shown to be valued.

5. Roles and responsibilities

Make sure a new player understands and accepts his role within the team and any responsibilities that go with it. For example, backline defence. Clarify any other expectations, such as concerning behaviour, match day dress, and the like. After all, players hate being criticised for doing (or not doing) something they did not know about in the first place!

As with all the other points, this is about maintaining clear and open communication.

One useful tip for clarifying responsibilities is to list all the responsibilities a player has in a specific position whilst asking them to do the same. Any discrepancies can then be clarified, and the role can be understood and agreed to by the player.

This article is taken from the Better Rugby Coaching e-newsletter. Click here to sign up and get free rugby drills, tips and skills twice a week.