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RE: Coaching Women/Girls Rugby - Any differences?

brahmins15 — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:56:09 GMT

Perhaps not very "technical" but 'The Times' online archive has three articles printed in October 2003 by Jonny Wilkinson and Dave Alred that give some useful tips and are easy for new kickers to follow. Perhaps a bit more psychology than form but still useful.

On the TimesOnline search line, entering "give pressure a kick in the teeth" ; "finding touch under pressure" ' and "why Doris makes a difference" (trust me on that one) and narrowing the search to 2003 will get you each of articles.

RE: Coaching Women/Girls Rugby - Any differences?

Nieghorn — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:06:23 GMT

My apologies. Just had a look myself and, you're right, there's not much there.

Remembered that there was a good one as part of the ARU's Level III papers, but this is more based on visualisation (which is a very handy thing to have as I find I tend to miss these days due to lack of concentration/focus).

http://www.rugby.com.au/verve/_resources/B.Wood_-_2002_Lvl_3.pdf

(which comes from here: http://www.rugby.com.au/community_rugby/coaching/level_iii_papers,13173.html ... some great high level stuff, but as some L3 coaches I know in Canberra say, there are some not so good ones there as well)

Simple outline with Matt Burke: http://www.rugbycamps.co.uk/6692_8569.php

... and a great video of James Hook talking about his technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2pC4Ic9F2A&feature=related

RE: Coaching Women/Girls Rugby - Any differences?

Rob S — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:06:32 GMT

Could not find the Technical Articles?

Looked at the titles that contain kicking from 2008 down to 2004.

http://www.community-rugby.com/communityrugby/index.cfm/Fuseaction/Home.Story/StoryTypeId/102/SectionId/663/StoryId/11755.cfm

RE: Coaching Women/Girls Rugby - Any differences?

Rob S — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:02:56 GMT

Some great little things there I can take away and try :-)

I'm getting the technical articles now to read up abou the subject.

Thanks again.

Rob.

RE: Coaching Women/Girls Rugby - Any differences?

weathergirls — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:08:39 GMT

^^^^
good post

i was a good kicker in my day but i came from football and could not see' the fuss made over kicking.

your post, the golfing analogy, is how i explain it to the boys now.

biggest problem is people try to knock the spots off the ball.
golf teaches you that power comes after technique and that consistent repetitive movements are the key

imo a video camera is worth its weight when teaching a young-un.

RE: Coaching Women/Girls Rugby - Any differences?

Nieghorn — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:43:08 GMT

There are some great discussion papers on goal kicking on the RFU's community page, under Technical Journal (archive).

I'm a kicker myself and could walk you through an entire routine, but suggest you have a look at those few articles first. I read something from Dave Alred once where he stated that he'd rather take someone's natural ability and build on it, not get them to change altogether to one style. Have since felt that's the best way to approach it.

If you think about body mechanics and how, say, striking too high on the ball will result in a low kick, it's not too hard to watch someone kick several times over and start to see where they're going wrong. I haven't got any training in kinesiology or anything, but if you approach it logically, you can start to suggest little corrections. For example, my last pupil kept stabbing at the ball and not getting much power. What we found is that her 'plant foot' was well behind the ball and she wasn't getting as much of that 'pendulum' swing/contact and follow through with the ball. So we backed up and instead of having several steps back in the approach, worked on that final step, taking one step into the strike, getting her plant foot beside the ball consistently - then, moving back to build up momentum when she understood where she needed to finish.

A mate of mine was a kicker in two RWCs and reckons the process is very close to a golf swing. I don't golf, but use the analogy, and not just in how one stands, strikes and follows through, but also using the concept of the "leg as club". A lot of girls I've coached to kick, do so with a 'noodle leg' (i.e. not making it rigid, losing power). I get them to concentrate on tensing the leg muscles and ensuring there's no bend at the knee or ankle, asking what do they think hitting a golf ball would be like if the club was flexible in the middle of the shaft or at the head. Also, they should think of the foot as the head - you're not going to hit the ball on the end of the club head, but in the middle, and often that's where their boot's logo is, so say they should be striking with that part (my opinion, others say strike on the laces like a soccer kick) and think that the logo is pushing toward the target.

Finally, regarding distance increase. I'm still struggling with this myself, so regular practice is essential. When I was playing, I'd go out 2-3 times a week on my own time for 45mins or so. Not to over-do it as Jonny has admitted he has, but what I think is important is to get into a routine which never changes - allowing both consistency and mental focus - and to get to a stage where one can self-assess and correct through little alterations. Pretty soon, I found I could analyse what went wrong on a failed attempt.

A little game I do for that is 'around the world', starting in front of the posts about 25m back for a 'range finder' - easy, confidence building. Then move out to the left (easy side for a right footer) at 5-10m intervals, not allowing myself to move to the next stage until I completed ... but for inexperienced kickers, I think a less rigid goal is more appropriate, maybe 'see how many can hit at that mark from 3 attempts' and move on, as you need to mentally move on if things aren't working out. After a few attempts from the dreaded touchline, flip over to the right side.

If you can't find the aforementioned resources, feel free to email me (if you can via this forum) and I'd be happy to pass some on.

RE: Coaching Women/Girls Rugby - Any differences?

Rob S — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:18:39 GMT

[quote][b]carlwhitley (11/10/2007)[/b][hr]I have coached girls at county and regional level and also women at club, county and regional level.

I have never heard of anything like that with regards to making contact with the floor. I have always coached it in the same way as I do with boys/men.

One thing to consider, would be the way that a girl/woman kicks. As they said - their pelvis is slightly different to a male pelvis. This would tend to need a slightly more "round the corner" approach to kicking.

But each person will be slightly different, when coaching kicking to women/girls, I watch the way that they move naturally then adjust the coaching as neccessary.[/quote]

Hi there, do you know any resources for coaching kicking, especially conversions? Video's would be nice as well with what to look for and how to correct technique. The players observe the routines by top class kickers, but I would like to understand the reasoning behind this. How if differs for girls/ladies would also be useful. As a hint, treat me like an idiot and talk me through every stage. At the moment, I've got the straight line accuracy, but would like to improve distance in one of my kickers.

RE: Coaching Women/Girls Rugby - Any differences?

Rob S — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 13:30:40 GMT

We have just started back or U15s this season after about two years working with local schools getting them interested in TAG games. This then provided us with a pool girls, but still not enough for a full team. We then combine with another club just for games and play as a combined side. Can you contact your RFU RDO to see if another side in your area also has 6 girls so you can form a side. Perhaps combining three clubs could work?

All training is done as a single club, with home games alternating between the different clubs. We have now played three games this season and the team is coming together.

RE: Coaching Women/Girls Rugby - Any differences?

sneakypete — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:15:16 GMT

Our club are in the embryonic stages of getting a female team up and running ... any of you learned peoples got hints tips on getting it off the ground. Currently we have 6 > 8 interested. I coach Kids level, and appear to be getting sucked in to coaching the females.

The little bits of training that we have done with the 6 we have when they turned up at the Minis training session - is just simple basics. Ball handling, Tackling (eyes to thigh, cheek to cheek, arms of steel)

The later if you use the tactic of both players on their knees to start with the tackler facing the side of the person being tackled. this we found helped the girls (and the kids) to fall without hurt.

RE: Coaching Women/Girls Rugby - Any differences?

tiger — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:41:09 GMT

I coach girls at club and regional level and Im also still playing myself at the grand age of 42 and I have never heard this before.

I have always been coached and have coached exactly the same as boys have been. As a coach you need to observe the skills the girls are weakest at and its generally kicking. The rest of it they give just at much effort as if not more than boys/men do

They can be a pain especially if they are U 17's hormonal I think but give you such great rewards when they win

Keep it up

Claire

RE: Coaching Women/Girls Rugby - Any differences?

carlwhitley — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 06:44:41 GMT

I have coached girls at county and regional level and also women at club, county and regional level.

I have never heard of anything like that with regards to making contact with the floor. I have always coached it in the same way as I do with boys/men.

One thing to consider, would be the way that a girl/woman kicks. As they said - their pelvis is slightly different to a male pelvis. This would tend to need a slightly more "round the corner" approach to kicking.

But each person will be slightly different, when coaching kicking to women/girls, I watch the way that they move naturally then adjust the coaching as neccessary.

RE: Coaching Women/Girls Rugby - Any differences?

Rob S — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:45:54 GMT

Thanks Didds, the girls told me first, I then asked the head coach and he said he is asking around as well. Girls were coached at County level last year, so I assume they picked it up there.

RE: Coaching Women/Girls Rugby - Any differences?

didds — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:24:46 GMT

i'd ask for referemnces for this "not correct for women" - at least then you can be convinced 1st hand.

I've coached regional female u16 and senior sides in the past, plus a female club team... no-one ever mentioned anything like this. (Not that that may not mean it isn't true of course!)

didds

Coaching Women/Girls Rugby - Any differences?

Rob S — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:34:04 GMT

Any experienced girls/women's coaches on here?

Just started, OK roped in, with the U15s at my club. Did a very basic falling over drill, Knees, hips shoulders and present the ball. Was told that this is not correct for Women due to the hips being more exposed to injury. Anyone confirm/deny this and perhaps suggest any other differences in coaching techniques I should be aware of?