Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, Rugby News, Uncategorized | Tags: Better Rugby Coaching, brian smith, earnshaw, Rugby Coaching, Tony Hanks
Been away from the blog for a little while, though not stopped interviewing, writing and producing materials. This month alone I have been putting together articles with Brian Smith, Didier Retiere, Denis Betts, Russell Earnshaw, Tony Hanks, Justin Bishop and Richard Graham. Plus welcomed on board the Rugby Weekly Team two great new grassroots coaches who are coaching tutors and mentors.
Coaching wise I have been working with three teams, all with different cultures, ambitions and outcomes. Plus I have been speaking to lots of you about the ups and downs of coaching.
Look forward to catching with you over the Xmas period and writing about what is happening in the rugby coaching world.
Dan
http://www.betterrugbycoaching.com
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Skills, Rugby Team Management, top tips | Tags: backs moves, great rugby tries, set moves, Super 15 moves
Some great moves to try out, but of course, they need:
1. Good set piece ball.
2. Pace onto the ball.
3. Players who are willing to change their angles to find the gaps.
4. Accurate execution of skills.
Lots of wrap arounds here by the way.
Dan
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, Rugby Drills, Rugby Skills, Rugby Training | Tags: fast hands, quick and easy drills for rugby handling, rugby handling drills, soft handling in rugby
I like these drills because the players have to start outside their comfort zone and yet will enjoy the success when they are good at them. Ideal for warm ups and for work ons at the start of sessions.
I have used all these drills/activities and found them to work well with a good range of players. Probably a bit far advanced for Under 11s unless they are particularly skilful.
Filed under: Rugby agility, Rugby Conditioning, Rugby Drills, Rugby Team Management, Rugby Training | Tags: fun exercises, pre-season, team building, trust
Here is a team building exercise video. Obviously you can use the equipment they provide, but some of them are generic too.
Remember: rugby is a dynamic game of changing situations and these exercises can build rugby mental strength.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Drills | Tags: scrum drills, scrum session, using tackle tubes
I like the idea behind this session, but you might think there are some problems with the players flying off their feet.
But good for looking at scrum body profiles. Perhaps it would be good to put some weight on the bags. A cheap alternative to a scrum machine?
Dan
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: mini rugby tackling, rugby defence drills, rugby tackling drills, tackling
Loved this video, dying to try it out soon. Must be great for young players who are learning how to tackle.
Dan
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, Rugby Training | Tags: Black Ops, coaching rugby, learning, video games
We find our kids spend too much time on them, become addicted to them and end up with pasty white faces…the curse of the video game.
But we can learn plenty from the kids “playing video games” for our own coaching.
1. Why do they play on them for so long
Because they are competitive. The players keep wanting more.
Lesson: players like to play and they enjoy a challenge.
2. They can make mistakes and not feel bad
“Game over” and start again is the worst they can hear.
Lesson: players know when they have made a mistake – don’t make a fuss, let them start again.
3. Practice makes perfect
They keep playing, experimenting and improving – the finger and eye coordination is breathtaking.
Lesson: think about the practice environment – they are playing a game, learning from their mistakes and working out how to solve the problems themselves.
4. No manuals, no help?
To start the game, they may use a brief tutorial, but then plunge straight in. However, they will want tips, cheats and shortcuts. They get this from their friends and surfing websites.
Lesson: be a port of call for problem solving, not just someone who tells them what to do. They will ask when they are ready – are you ready for them to ask?
Dan Cottrell
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, rugby defence, Rugby Drills | Tags: defence techniques, R80 rugby videos, Rugby Drills, tackling, tackling drills, technical rugby drill
The R80 series of videos give some good technical methods and this is one of the simplest and most basic.
Watch for the boxer stance and approach and how square the tackler remains during the tackle.
Since the drill concentrates on technique, it is worth “suiting up” the tackler so he can make multiple rugby tackles.
Overall a good rugby tackling drill that is simple to set up and easy to observe for good technique.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby News, Rugby Refereeing | Tags: fair play, French rugby, learning the game of rugby, Rugby Refereeing, Sebastien Chabal
Read this article first.
TV pundit and former Lions hooker, Brian Moore decided to learn to referee and managed to pull a muscle in his first game. He was definitely a poacher turned gamekeeper. But he was brave enough to put himself in the firing line. Perhaps he might have tried it as a player…I wonder whether he would have played differently.
Now, the naughty Sebastien Chabal is to referee some games himself. My first thought was that few would argue with his decisions. Well, for the first five minutes anyway. After that, he will find that the referee is only a human and will be prone to mistakes. Many a referee will tell you that they may make fewer mistakes than any player on the pitch yet they will be picked up on the smallest error.
A lion in the lions’ den. Will there be tears? I don’t think so, but I do believe that Sea Bass may be a little more careful in what he says in the future.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, Rugby Drills, Rugby Skills, Rugby Training | Tags: coaching rugby passing, lateral passing, rookie coaching, rugby basic passing, tag coaching, usa rugby
The US rugby development team are doing a great job rolling out rugby to new players. Here is one their coaches showing young players how to develop lateral passing. It is not a new idea, but it is extremely well executed.
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