close
LOGIN
A moment in time
What’s changed in my coaching world since this picture was taken 20 years ago? Not the most important thing.
I found this picture from 2004, when Cranleigh RFC won one of the Surrey cup competitions.
I was one of the player-coaches, though very part-time on both fronts.
What’s changed in 20 years? My sons quickly pointed out that the shorts are much lighter these days. But I’m more interested in reflecting on my coaching experiences.
By that stage, I’d been coaching properly for 10 years. I was director of rugby at Cranleigh School, a U16s coach with Surrey County, and helped out the Surrey U20s. RCW was eight months old (see below).
The school side had had a reasonable season, and clearly, the club side was enjoying the fruits of cup success.
Defensive systems were in vogue. Phil Larder had helped England to World Cup success less than six months before, and there was plenty of debate about when and where to use a rush or blitz defence. We certainly did plenty of line drills against pads.
We did work hard on body shapes into contact and clearing rucks. Ball placement, on the other hand, wasn’t such a feature as it is now.
Teams with more time used structures, though nothing as formal as pods. Most ran a lot of unopposed.
What hasn’t changed is the importance of connections.
I recently spoke to a player I coached at the school and was pleased when he said that I emphasised the joy of the game, over wins. I don’t think I always did that earlier in my coaching career.
If you connect as a group, you give yourself more chances to win.
As a club side, we connected. We had played together for a couple of years, with a few changes. We would’ve still smiled, even if we’d lost – but the free beer for winning was worth it!
QUOTE
"When a coach is talking to you, he is teaching you something; you should be looking at him. Then you will know what you are supposed to do and what’s expected of you. Be responsible for your own self determination; that’s accountability."
Former American Football
coach Nick Saban
Dan Cottrell
Latest Issue
Subscribe Today
Subscribe Today
Newsletter Sign Up
Coaches Testimonials
Gerald Kearney, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club
Paul Butler, Florida, USA
Rick Shields, Springboro, USA
Tony Green, Pierrefonds Titans, Quebec, Canada
Subscribe Today
Latest Issue
Be a more effective, more successful rugby coach
In a recent survey 89% of subscribers said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them more confident, 91% said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them a more effective coach and 93% said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them more inspired.
Get Weekly Inspiration
All the latest techniques and approaches
Rugby Coach Weekly offers proven and easy to use rugby drills, coaching sessions, practice plans, small-sided games, warm-ups, training tips and advice.
We've been at the cutting edge of rugby coaching since we launched in 2005, creating resources for the grassroots youth coach, following best practice from around the world and insights from the professional game.
