Selection

The Rugby Coordinator and Pre-Season Preparation – Selection

Selection at Small Blacks level is more about making sure each squad has the appropriate number and that each child has the same opportunities to play in as many positions as possible – once positions become apparent.

Selection will also involve common sense aspects such as players being in the same team as their best friends and if kids arrive in the one car of a keen parent keeping those players together.

The coach has the responsibility of ensuring all the players have fun and a positive experience.

Defined selections begin to take place once the child begins playing fifteen aside but once again there are a number of aspects to consider, the first one being that the children want as much as possible to be playing with their mates.

The coach should make sure that players are able to continue trying out several positions and not determine too early that a certain player can only play one position.

The coordinator also needs to consider whether or not all the better players are in one squad and the lesser players make up the next team or two. This needs to be discussed with the other schools in the same competition so that all are working using the same criteria.

It is about now that the coaches need to take responsibility for coaching difficult players and treat this as an opportunity to help these players become better people through building their self-esteem and treating them with dignity and positivity. Make sure these few are treated as valued members of the squad. If they do not respond to this then it is time to work out some strategies.

By the time players are reaching 1^st XV level at high school or being selected for the top team at club level there is a requirement to have a method to the madness of selection.

Ultimately selection is often based on the selectors instinctive judgement but in all reality selection needs to be objective and based around some methodology.

To be able to coach a team successfully you must know your players and this is a good starting point.
From the list of players that are available to you find out as much as you can about each individual.
Once the strengths and weaknesses of the individuals and the group are in place
it is easy to develop a concept and a plan of how the team will play.
With this information in place the selection process can take place.

1- Know what you want so you know what to look for. (Have a set of criteria as below)
2- Identify a player and watch that individual for at least 10 minutes. The selector is monitoring all on-ball and off-ball activity.
Have a number of trusted people acting as selectors carrying out the same method of viewing. Ensure that they have been through the initial analysis of what and why.
Make notes or talk in to a recorder.
3- Hold a de-brief straight after the trial. Follow up with video analysis if this is available.
Report back as a group on the video footage.
4- Rank the players by position at this meeting. Identify the players who are definitely ‘in’, definitely ‘out’ and ‘maybes’ who need to be watched again.

It is a good idea to have a broad view of selection criteria.
The coach may make these up based on what they see as the major needs of the team.

Ideas could include:
1 - Number of positive involvements
2 - Ability to break the line
3 - Tackling percentages / number of tackles/ big hits
4 - Leadership aspects.
5 - Ability to score points.
6 - Possession winning ability
7- Positional requirements suitability.

There may be different criteria for different positions. As a selection group these need to be discussed and put in place.

Some important criteria in any selection process concerns the attitude of everyone. Many a good player can destabilise what is going on if they do not understand the importance of being a good ‘team person’.
Coaches will often agree that attitude far outweighs skill when it comes to selection. Just how the coach handles this can be the difference between a happy side and a side lacking motivation and desire.

Some of the criteria used when judging players could be:

• Wearing the correct clothing
• Turning up on time
• Being a positive influence at training.
• Intensity at training.
• Extra work in own time.
• Positive influence in game.
• Positive influence away from the game.

The coach will spot the individuals who don’t fit in for some reason or another and needs to have a discussion about these aspects before selection or non-selection.
Not every good player starts off as a good person.

Finally, selectors must be able to justify their selections to the players.
The players need to know their strengths and weaknesses and what their ‘work-ons’ are.
They also need to know who will be watching them play in the next team down so that they have an opportunity to get back in to the higher team.

There is a lot to do but the more knowledge the coach/selector has on each player and the more information they can provide will make life a lot easier.