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Coaching Teenagers – The Practice Session

Remember these key points:
•    Each session is a collaborative exercise. There must have been discussion at some stage prior to the session so that the players understand why they are doing this particular training.
•    Their ideas should have been gleaned and from these the coach will formulate his plan.
•    Then the process is about questioning – listening – discussing – deciding – coaching
•    Players want to improve and expect that a coach can help achieve this. Use other specialist coaches where applicable no matter what the level of the team.
•    Players will train hard so long as they can see the purpose in any activity. The harder they train the happier they are. The more they learn the more positive they become. Positivity will lead to a strong team bond which is what they are all about.
•    Keep your language and actions positive. Take time out before training or after training to find out more about a couple of your players.
 

A 60-minute Session
•    Discussion: from the previous game and the debrief. A few key points that the players had bought up. You may have decided an aspect to work on at training. Discuss this. Make sure you know their thoughts on the topic. Fit these in around what you have organised. You might use a player to talk about his ideas and introduce them (if they are practical – don't write them off without plenty of thought).  Discuss the session outline and get each player to set at least one goal. Buddy them up – at the end of the session they can give their buddy a mark out of 10. [ 10 minutes]
•    Warm Up: They may have a favourite game. You may have a favourite game. The coach may introduce a couple of variations to the game that will be helpful during the core part of the coaching session. If the session has a rucking component for example the coach might require the 'touched player' (Touch Rugby) to go to ground in the correct body position, recoil and place the ball back with a long arm before the next player can pick it up. These ideas are only limited by your imagination.
•    The warm up could be physical activities that are related to the core topic. If the lineout is to be the topic the forwards might sprint 15 metres; get in 3's; each have a turn at lifting and jumping; sprint on …. Or there may be some plyometric included (jumping exercises). The backs could do some short sprints changing directions at a series of cones about 5 metres apart set out in a zig zag formation, plus a series of jumping over small hurdles.  
•    Some teams will appreciate a game a lot more but others who can recognise how the warm up fits in to the overall plan will be happy to do the activities.  [5-7 minutes for warm up]
•    Skill Instruction: This can be individual, mini-unit, unit or the whole squad working together. Obviously the more you break it down into small groups the better organised you need to be and if at all possible it would be ideal to have at least one extra coach on board for the day.
•    If we imagine the topic is the ruck once again then the following processes should take place: discuss the sequence of events – ball carrier roles and techniques / arriving player’s roles and techniques. Depending on your group you may just cover off on a couple of aspects – approach to contact / taking the ball in to contact / during and after contact / the desired outcome and why ….  Have everyone viewing as you demonstrate with the ball carrier and a tackler (passive). Ask for comments ….    Set up players in pairs or groups of 4 depending on ball availability.  Away they go with the coach/es monitoring the progress. The tackler can also help coach the ball carrier. Stop and discuss the main areas that need to be addressed. Players might view these again.
•    The progression could be in groups of 5 with 3 v 2 and an emphasis on the ball being placed correctly.  A 5m square grid. Tacklers in reasonably hard. Ball carrier plus two players cleaning out. The next session the coach might work more with the techniques and roles of those cleaning out.
•    A form of game is always a good idea in the final 5 minutes with the coach keeping an eye on the ball carrier to see if he is achieving what was originally desired. If 2 coaches are available there might be two games of 6 v 5 in in a 10 x 10 grid. Short and sweet.
•     This part of training could be videoed by a parent or an injured player and put up on YouTube or shown during training on an iPad.  Remember your coaching phrases – 'Fast – Balance – Explode' is always a good one which can be used in many aspects of the game. In this case with the ball carrier it will refer to running fast with the ball; getting in to balance before the contact (short steps/changing direction) – and exploding through beside the tackler or in to the tackler to try and dominate him.  [15 minutes]
•    Application of the Skill in a Game Situation: Have a team run based around the requirement of the quick ruck ball from set piece plays.  There will be a number of these situations that may have been discussed earlier. The reason they are not scoring is because the ball is not coming back quickly which was identified as a problem with the player who is being tackled.  [7 minutes]
•    Introduction of a new play: This will come from an idea previously discussed and something the team have agreed on. It might be a tap penalty move, a play from a lineout, a tricky kick situation. It doesn't matter what it is it will be fun and motivating carrying it out. Make sure it is practiced a few times before the next game and remind them about it before the game.  [ 8 minutes]
•    Fitness or Fun: At the end of any training it is important that payers leave the field with a smile on their face. If they have enjoyed the session they will look forward to some hard work. Sprint relays or a race around the field are just two ideas. Make it competitive.  If the session has been a bit disjointed, and these can happen even for the best organised coach, then play their favourite game.  [5 minutes]
•    Debrief: Take a couple of minutes to get the whole squad together and have a quick debrief about the session. This is important. Wrap arms in a circle. Give your buddy his mark out of 10. Have a team call. Then they can disperse. It ties the session up so that they are all on the same page and it creates a 'togetherness'.  [3 minutes]
•    At the end of training have a chat with a team member. How do you think things are going? Which parts of training do you like/dislike? What is your favourite position? Maybe we could set a goal together. Do you have any ideas that we should be using in the games or at training?