Looking and Learning

With Super Rugby now underway it is a great opportunity to look at these games with the knowledge of your own teams’ strengths and weaknesses, and see what you can learn that you can take forward in to the season.

After only a couple of rounds, and looking at the New Zealand sides, there are some obvious signs in place in the way each franchise is approaching their playing style, probably based as much on the philosophical approach of each coach as much as the personnel in each squad.

Of course it would be great to play an explosive type game such as the Blues are producing, but they have many explosive individuals in their mix. It’s a toughie if you haven’t got these players.

Tying their game together though is a well organized defensive plan and a group that are able to keep the ball in contact and generally win or compete at the physical contact zones.

Both of these aspects take a great deal of strategical and technical coaching before they are easily assimilated in to the plan as a whole.  If either of these components of the game interest you then watch them closely, in fact record and study them, so you observe and learn the role of each individual, particularly the first three around the ball area. Get that right and then build.

The Chiefs have an ability to remain calm and focused even if things at the time are not going that well. This composure comes through belief, and belief comes through working so hard at training on a particular aspect that the game seems easier.

 Of course they have a highly competent coaching team, but the message is that whatever you choose to focus on, then the follow up work needs to be reinforced and fine tuned at every opportunity. Unlike Super rugby coaches, you have a minimal amount of time to get things right, so choose carefully and train with accuracy and intensity.

The phase play of the Chiefs is well worth studying as it has a slightly different bias than most other rugby teams, and achieves a good balance of physical direct play and a more open style and continuity. I’m sure many club players would enjoy this pattern as against the continuous rucking pattern as they make their way down the field.

Have a look and see what makes this different and write a list of the strategies and technical skill requirements. I’m sure much of this could be achieved if you are prepared to spend the time on it and develop skill and pattern drills that are suitable to your team. You’ve got the concept, now develop how you are going to introduce and fine tune the pattern during your training. This is what coaching is all about.

If your players are keen on improving than chat to them and choose a player for them to watch during a match. Where does this player position himself in certain situations? What skills does he require that your player could develop? What is it that makes this player good in his position? Choose one or two aspects and get to work. As the coach you will need to drive this. Keep it simple and fun.
Get as many players as possible learning through the same process and if you are really clever you could get some mini units studying their positions together and forming some plans and plays. I’d imagine a lot could be learned by studying Kieran Read, Andy Ellis and Dan Carter at the Crusaders and see how they interact and what effect they have on the game.

A lot of interest can be created by developing some of your game plan around this type of philosophy. Once you get it underway then keep an eye on the franchise and see how they develop it further. This is what coaching is about. Keeping a step ahead.