Improving Team Performance

PLANNING & IMPLEMENTING:      3- Improving Team Performance - Ian Snook
As the season progresses a coach needs to take stock of where he is, and how to improve. Every team, no matter where they are placed in the competition, can make improvements with careful consideration of the current situation and what you hope to achieve starting afresh.

Initially the coach should readdress the previously planned material.  In the Team Profile have there been any major changes to personnel which you need to consider. Are we using the key individuals in the best way possible?  In your Playing Philosophy consider what you had outlined and practiced as your ‘psychological edge’, what ‘patterns of play’ you were developing, and how ‘the basics’ are performing.

Each of these can be considered using the ‘principles of play’ that you had specifically designed earlier to meet the needs of your players. A reminder of these can be found in the article Understanding the Game.

As an example if your team profile had suggested that you would have a very good lineout and you decided this would be the psychological edge to your game in the way you would use this to create your patterns of play, you need to reassess each component of the package.

Are we securing the ball as we want to? Are we creating go forward once we secure the ball? Is the support in place to create the necessary continuity? Are we able to create pressure through our technical and tactical expertise?  Are these components leading to tries?  No matter what attack aspect of the game you are looking at these are the questions you should ask yourself.
Are we securing the ball? Is the hooker accurate with his throws? Does he know the options? Is the most appropriate player making the calls? Could the calls be made earlier? Are we forming up quickly enough?  Are the lifters using correct technique?  Do they understand the calls?  Does each player know his role in any lineout situation?

The coach should have a check point for the key factors in each individual role. These can be researched on this website if necessary. For example if you start with a hooker, and assuming he knows the calls, can you isolate the error in his throwing that has meant he quite often throws the ball in crooked.  Is he stable and balanced? Does he tense his core?  Is his hand placement comfortable and suitable? Is the ball held suitably above his head where he does not have to make several movements? Is the point of the ball facing the correct way?  Is he sighting the target? Does he follow through with his arms and point his fingers at the target?  Is he practicing before training? Is he practicing under pressure?

The same process must be gone through with the jumpers and the lifters. Drills can easily be devised that can be used as a ten minute warm up before any lineout session.

Once these skills are in place the coach needs to move on to the next ‘principle’: are the team creating go forward through the support being in place and executing correctly.

Choose one attacking aspect such as a back peel on a throw to six. Having sorted out the ‘securing the ball’ aspect you need to answer the following questions. Is the best player receiving the ball from the lineout catch?  What is he trying to achieve? Has he good depth at the lineout so as to get some pace on and make it difficult for the defender at the end of the opponent’s lineout?  Did he turn inwards and keep his eyes on the ball?  What zone is he targeting on his run?  What form of continuity is best?  Do you want a quick ruck?  Would a pass be better?  Who is coming in behind him?  Has he an outside/inside passing option?

If a ruck occurs, what outcome are we hoping for?  Are we looking at a pick and go? Are we going wide? If so, which players are supposed to join in with the backline?  What are their roles? Do they know who they are? Is there a specific call they need to know?  What are the key points in the ruck situation? If you are not getting quick ball are you able to isolate the problem?

If a pass is made and the player gets in behind the defence what are the attack options? If the first option in the tackle is a pop pass does the player know the key factors? Does he need to practice more? Where is the support coming from? What is the plan for the rest of the players?  Who goes where?  What are the expectations?  What are you trying to achieve? In other words; how do you maintain the pressure and eventually score?

This is just part of one aspect of your game plan. You need to be able to isolate the parts that need fixing, and develop the tactical aspects so that the play is successful. It will be more successful if you involve your team, or at least your leaders, when discussing and planning the tactical improvements. There is a lot to know for a rugby coach so it is a good idea to use coaching material, attend courses, and discuss things with other coaches.  It’s great fun though!

The Big Questions you need to ask yourself are:

ATTACK
Are we getting quality ball from the set piece? Are we keeping the ball and creating go forward? Is our support play and continuity creating the necessary pressure? Are we regrouping correctly and quickly if we lose the ball ?

DEFENCE
Are we contesting at the set piece? Are we creating a contest at the tackle/ruck? Are we regrouping correctly and quickly on defence? Are we ready to contest again?
Don’t try to do too much.Choose the most important aspect in your game plan and see how much improvement you can get over the next few weeks. It will be very rewarding. Good luck.