Hi {sForename},
Welcome to Better Rugby Coaching Issue 91
(Please forward to friends and colleagues without cutting, thanks)
Pre season
do’s and don’ts
In all the excitement of pre-season training, it is possible to forget some of the principles of preparing your
team for the first game, or indeed the whole season. RugbyCoach identifies some of the key do’s and don’ts.
Don’t expect pre-season to get the players fit
for the season
Yes players need to be fit, but getting them to be match fit for
the first game is an ambition which does not take into account
the whole season. There should be a whole season fitness plan
with constant targets for improvement as the season
progresses. Better to focus on getting the patterns and
structures right. To a certain extent players can get themselves
fitter outside the normal team sessions. If you are not
convinced they will do this then it will need a fresh form of
encouragement for them to change their minds.
Do expect high standards in session one
Though some latitude must be given for rustiness, the
standards and attitudes should be set out quite clearly from the
start. If the standard is not being reached, then the players will
know they need to improve. Bad habits now will be hard to
break later on. Make sorry an unacceptable word on the
training pitch. Instead every effort to put the mistake right
quickly is far more important.
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Don’t cover every move
Identify the core moves for lineout, scrum and back line and
then build on them as the season progresses. Trying to
remember a myriad of different calls confuses the key message
– the simple things done right first time. And when we say
“right” it means quickly and accurately. If the hooker can’t
reach four in the lineout at this stage, don’t practice going to
the back of the lineout; get the basic throws to the front right
first.
Do have a game at every session
Why do players turn out for pre-season? Unfortunately top of
the list of reasons is not always for the greater good of the
team – they want to enjoy themselves. We tell the youth
coaches to do it, so why not with the seniors: a game, even a small sided non-rugby game at the end of a pre-season session
will keep the players motivated and wanting to come back.
Remember, in pre-season they don’t have a game to look
forward to at the end of the week. The other reason is more
subtle. A coach can start to work out which are the competitive
players and, not always mutually exclusive, who are the team
players.
Learn what makes them want to come back
next week
Unless you have the luxury of contracted players or a school
team in compulsory games time, then it is good to encourage
players to come back next week. Use feedback from players
and understand the signs of enjoyment. And the key signs of
enjoyment? Sweat, smiles, keen to talk to each other about
the session, and thanks after the session.
Informal ways of
feedback can be in the huddle after the end of the session –
ask a couple of players to tell everyone what they felt they
improved upon in the session. Sometimes it helps the players to
realise themselves they have benefited from your hard work.
QUICK REMINDERS BOX
- The focus on fitness is for the whole season not just
for the first match – don’t lose too much valuable
team training time on individual fitness.
- Quality right from the outset – set the standard.
- Build up the moves repertoire slowly – quality not
quantity.
- Find out if the players are feeling they are benefiting
from the sessions to keep them coming back.
- Players like to play: give them games at every
session to keep them motivated and start to judge
the character of the team.
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Fitness jargon: Lactic acid – a waste residue produced after periods of intense workout. It makes your arms and legs feel
like lead. You need to build up a tolerance to it by (1) having a good aerobic level of fitness and (2) by purposely working through
it in training.
In next week’s issue:
More ways to improve
Dan Cottrell, Editor
P.S. Don't forget the Smart Sessions Summer Sale ends Monday 21 August 06. If you do not have a link to the sale site, please email dan@rugby-coach.com and we will forward it to you.
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