The Progressive Coach

The Progressive Coach

Traditionally in New Zealand the coaching approach has been one based on skill repetition. Techniques are repeated time and time again.

Throw in the anecdotal coach who repeats stories and advice given to him from coaches he has enjoyed or endured and there is another little group.

Many coaches are well organised and capable of sorting out basic techniques, common policies and basic tactics but like the above groups, organising is simply one part of being a coach.

Of course there is validity in all the above approaches but rugby has moved on to being a multi-dimensional and multi-skilled game requiring adaption by the players. The rugby player has to read a game situation, analyse it and adjust his game in a split second.

Coaching is about permitting the player to find the best solution in the changing environment of the game. Nowadays rugby requires the involvement of all fifteen players, each of whom will have the responsibility of making decisions.

So along with improving the technique and skills of a player the coach now needs to prepare individuals adequately in terms of options, judgement and freedom of action. This is not only about providing windows of opportunity for players individually and in units in the physical aspects but to realise their full mental potential. Their imagination must be sparked and they must be empowered to be decision makers.

The security and confidence required will be generated by building upon the basic structures and creating a training programme for practicing decision making and risk taking.

So how do you know what to do?  The following system can be applied to improvement of technique as well as situational coaching.
1-    Adopt a clear model of what you expect to see.
2-    Have clear expectations of what is likely to happen (or go wrong).
3-    Check the expectations out in order of likelihood; the probabilities suggested by experience. (Yours and the players)
4-    For each possibility have a solution.
5-    Know what outcome you are aiming at.

Build the picture of the situation and action in your mind. This is your model.
Register in your mind the various aspects involved in this situation – the tactical point where you are located; the various lines (gain line/tackle line); the role of each player involved; the hoped for outcome.

It is possible to create a mental picture of any aspect of play so long as you understand the principles of play (gain possession-go forward – keep the ball – apply pressure – penetrate) and apply these to the situation.

What you are empowering the players to do is to make decisions in phase play situations based on what they see happening around them. To do this the coach needs to set up the scenarios at training.

These scenarios may come through discussion with the team, be based on video footage of a game this group have played in, or maybe from footage of a televised game where the coach or players have spotted something they would like to try out.

A simple example might be a counter attack opportunity when the ball has been kicked over a lineout by the opposition halfback and is taken 15 metres in from touch on his own 10 metre mark by the left wing.

Assuming the hoped for outcome is to score a try (and not force a lineout inside the opponents 22) the following decision making aspects will need to be quickly actioned by all 15 players.

The left wing needs to decide whether he has sufficient support players in position to receive a pass, rather than him making a long kick to the corner down his touch.
This will be achieved by his own backs quickly regrouping behind the wing and across the field.

The wing will pass to the closest player and support the movement. The aim will be to get the ball wide and to the space between the 15m line and the 5m line. By this time several defenders should be in the tackle zone. As well a couple of nominated forwards in the attacking team should be on hand while the remaining forwards are running back and spreading themselves across the field in some sort of organised formation so that they are not just in a straight, flat line.

This is now a crucial decision making time. The ball carrier must decide on any number of options – pass early and support, pass in the tackle, change direction, beat the defender one on one, or set a mini ruck. Based on his decision the closest two players will act appropriately to ensure the ball is retained and can continue.

Then the next really important decision must be made. The player receiving the ball must decide whether to continue to go forward either left or right; the first receiver needs to either use the space down the short side, take a flat ball to attack hard on the openside, or re-align a bit deeper on the open side so as to set in motion another wide attacking option. There may also be space for more players on the short side and so on.

And so this series of phases carries on.

The key to players making good choices is to coach them how to scan as they are running towards the tactical point. I look – I see – I think – I act. It is vital that the players know where the opposition are and also where their support players are grouping. If a coach can achieve this his team will improve immensely.

Then the play needs to be broken up in to its parts so that at each tactical point the options are discussed and practiced. Each option can be broken down starting with a clear picture of your model. (As above)

If the coach has sufficient players to run this type of exercise against an opposition, stopping and discussing where appropriate, then the players will soon realise the opportunities available to them.
If the coach only has 20 players he may have 8-10 defenders and just set up one of the decision making points with the players well aware of what has happened before this.

The whole idea is not to limit your players thinking so that he only has one option in any situation. It may mean less mistakes and his team mates know exactly what is going to happen, but it will not develop him as a player, it will not be much fun to play in, and it will be a ‘hard’ watch.