Four ways to ensure training starts on time

Players turn up late for training for a variety of reasons.

Unless there is a genuine delay due to traffic, work or domestic problems, it is often because of the motivation to be ready in time.

Use these three tricks to make sure your sessions begin promptly.

Start earlier

If your session is supposed to start at 7pm, maybe consider starting it at 6.45pm instead.

Use this extra time to develop ’work-ons’, with training based on individual skills. Some examples may include spin passing, ball placement, body positioning for contact, kicking and catching, one-hand passing skills, jumping skills and throwing in.

No player likes turning up when training is going on, so they will sense that they should be training at 6.45pm.

Start the team session at 7pm as planned, with a focused, team-based activity.

Start with a game

An easy-paced game is as good as a warm-up for helping players to prepare for training.

The best games are touch rugby or a game the players have played before and know the rules of, meaning they can get straight into it. 

Begin the game five minutes before the official start time, which rewards players who are on time and ready to play.

Players who are arriving as the game is in progress can easily join in. You will find players running across the field to put their boots on and get involved. 

Lay out some bibs at the side of the pitch so they can put them on and join a team. If the numbers increase quickly, be prepared to split into two groups. 

Don’t let the game drag on for too long. Move into your planned training activities, with the promise of a game at the start of the next session.

Flip-learning nudges

’Flip learning’ is where some of the content is viewed and digested before the lesson or training session.

Again, with all the messaging services out there, why not send over the first 15 minutes of the plan to the players. 

Since you can focus on skills, either through exercises or games, you won’t need specific players to attend. Therefore, if you have some absences due to injuries or illness, you can still continue with the plan. 

For example, you could send this out:

6.55pm Game: five-pass rugby.

7.05pm Game: target passing, with points for passing for the players. Watch this clip from last week’s game (and link to a YouTube video).

7.10pm Activity: target passing. Emphasis on follow-through.

be tough on discourteous players

You can, if you are feeling particularly tough, suggest that any player who comes on to the training area after 7pm will not be part of training for that night, unless they have informed you in advance of their late arrival.

With messaging services like WhatsApp, most players or parents will be able to contact you. 

Alternatively, if you are having a game for a warm-up, don’t allow late arrivals to join and instead ask them to do some laps.