For the coach who has to referee: tips, reminders and essentials

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Dan Cottrell

Dan is a practising RFU Level 3 coach and coach educator. He coaches with the Bristol Bears DPP programme, is head coach of Bristol Schools U18s and the Rugby Performance coach for Bristol Grammar School.

He was head coach of Swansea Schools U15, Young Ospreys Academy, assistant coach with the Wales Women's Team for the 2010 World Cup, director of rugby for Cranleigh School, Surrey. He played for Bath, Bristol, Esher and Clifton, South West division, Gloucestershire and Surrey.

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Refereeing

6 tips for coaches who also referee

KEITH LEWIS, who runs leading referees’ community website RugbyReferee.net, provides sage advice on how to get the best outcomes when you ...

Top tips if refereeing your own child's team

Having the whistle can alter the dynamic of parent-child coaching relationships on matchday. DAN COTTRELL explains how to be a good referee ...

New/old ruck laws

Ian Diddams reviews the latest law directives around the ruck, and looks at how you might adjust your training sessions to help your ...

Law trials 2022: 9 at the scrum

Ian Diddams reviews the possible consequences of the current law trials being looked at in the Queensland Challenger series. In this third ...

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Ask Dan: Spreading out and exploiting space

Coaching problem? Put it to our head coach Dan Cottrell. This time: Encouraging players to spread out and exploit space.

Winning wet lineouts

With a slippery ball, ensure lineouts are secure by getting the jumper into space to meet the throw. A pod of three acts together to beat ...

Scan and attack

Challenge attackers to react to different defensive positions. Feeding to varied starting players, the attack must adjust to win a 3v2.

Random 3v2 alignments

Use this to practise on-pitch situations, highlighting vision, the utilisation of space and the game skills required to break defences.

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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.