Know your audience

There’s obviously a big difference between coaching a good group of players and a poor one.

Sometimes, though, I don’t think we make the proper adjustments when coaching lower-ability groups.

For instance, I rely on games as the primary tool in my training. I believe that, if I can turn a task into a game, players will benefit more.

However, it’s crucial to strike a balance and maintain rhythm during training. Introducing drills can be an effective way to slow things down and bring order to a session.

With less developed players, games can be pretty hard work. They might not have the skills to perform or compete effectively.

But that’s not the main problem. They often get tired very quickly, making them even less receptive to competition challenges. The slower, larger players will lose out and become despondent.

These days, I take a different approach. First, I make the sessions shorter. Second, I mix in more drills with the games.

We do something ordered, so achieving a basic result is easy before adding more pressure. The drills aren’t complicated and don’t take much time to set up.

For passing, I might have three players running onto a pass from a feeder, aiming to make two passes before they reach one line and a final pass before they reach the next.

The session’s final game is close to the actual game, as you would do with seniors.

I won’t make a big thing of the skills we’ve been using during the session. I might emphasise them during the game with praise points or areas to consider.

With better players, you increase the intensity. Drills are short and sharp, and games are noisy and pressurised.

The difference is that you want to force mistakes. You push players to the edge of their ability. You ask questions they may not have answers for (yet). You create scenarios with more than one answer.

Our expectations should change, too. Many developing players want to enjoy training without too much pressure. They might not respond well to aggressive competition. But don’t be afraid to make them sweat a bit.

What remains constant are our standards. These are primarily our own and reflect how we conduct ourselves.

Coaching can be challenging at times, but it’s essential to maintain these high standards.