Being a coach is without a doubt one of the hardest but potentially also one of the most rewarding jobs. Looking at the pressure the S15 and national coaches has to endure I have often found myself wondering who on earth would want to be a coach. Sort of; βnot for all the money in the world would I want to be a coachβ.Β
End of last year I found myself at a point of not having a choice anymore. I had enough with the quality of the coaching my oldest had to endure for the last three seasons and put myself forward to do the coaching.Β
I had no previous coaching experience but rugby being a passion I went at it with zest. The U/11 enrolments this year for the club just 20 and with it being the first year they play 15 a side our group didnβt pan out to be very strong. In New Zealand the Maori boys have a big growth advantage. They are bigger at the young ages, faster, stronger and better ball players. We ended up with none of these natural talented athletes in our group and I had to mold this bunch of skinny white kids into a team.Β
Previous years the main problem was lack of rucking skill and no commitment at the rucks. So that had to be sorted and quickly. We (the assistant coaches and me) started creating a number of rucking drills which all worked towards small sided games involving mostly rucking and blow-over ability. I bought some click tellers and had parents keep score of consecutive rucks and turnovers in these games to shift the attention away from trying to score individualistic tries towards teamwork at the rucks.Β
Week after week (only one session per week though) we went at it first getting them to drive the ball up and protect it. Then drive it up and knuckle it to the ground. Knuckle to the ground essentially meaning pushing the ball away from your body on the ground once you hit the deck. Next step was to get the supporting runners to blow-over. At this stage the small sided games was a bit of a mess with the boys either over committing (every one rushing in with nobody left to pick the ball up) or under committing (everyone waiting for the ball to come back).Β
Adjustments were made to the drills so that the boys now starting to work in groups of 4 namely first one drive it up, rip it and knuckle it, next one blow over, next one pick up and swing to the runner taking the ball up. Back to the starting line-up with everyone now moving one up in the order. Back to the games. Teams now get points for having a receiving runner in place and for every time they move the ball through three set of hands.Β
Last week before the first game we began working on line-outs, scrums and backline passing. At this age groupΒ the boys still donβt compete in the scrums so we could hide some of the real tiny fellows in the scrum but not all of them because the rucking is extremely competitive. No lifting in the line-outs but jumping and driving-up on attack and defense are on.Β
Way too soon to our liking the first match arrive and the opponents being one of the stronger clubs with a large number of natural athletes in their team. We are talking rucking or more specifically about body position, blow-over and commitment at the rucks before the game. We had the backline learning to straighten up and with No12 taking the ball up and 13 blowing-over with the next arriving player spinning the ball. So much more we want to do but the game is on us.Β
It is with much fear that we line-up Saturday morning. We took the boys through the drills. I had a team talk warning them that lack of commitment, aggression and low body positions are going to see them annihilated by the big boys in the other team. The seriousness set in the young faces; we group hug and on we went.Β
We coaches are almost too fearful to look at each other. They kick off. One of ourΒ littlest fellows catch and went straight at the opponents; dip and drive up just as taught protecting the ball as he go in. Under a blanket the pack drive-up and blow over. Phase after phase we string in until the ball went astray. Scrum. Sjoe! All three of us coaches breath-out a sigh of relief. That was not to bad; hope it was not a fluke. Their scrumball; out it comes; our defense are right up and the ball carrier get forced back in the tackle. Under a blanket the pack drives over again. Out comes the ball; thought the hands; 12 straighten up, swing to 13 angling away. In aΒ flash, No.15 whips in between the two centers -just like we practiced- straight through; score under the post.Β
Suddenly I understood why coaches coach. The pride brings tears to my eyes. Wow! What a feeling!!Β
Soon afterwards one of the big fellows in the opposing team gets the ball and charged through for a try. I ran up behind the posts. The message donβt allow the big fellows to built-up speed. Hit them went they get the ball.Β
But the best is still to come. Soon afterwards we string in 13 phases in a row. In almost perfect fashion the players set the ball up as they charge into contact; the supporting players blowing-over at speed and the backline take the ball up at speed, set it up with the loosies blowing-over. On it went phase after phase until we score. What a try! How do you describe the pride?Β
By the end of first half the boys are starting to run out of puff but we hang in and in spite of another break away try we go into half time leading 12-10. Parents came running up with the click teller scores on breakdowns; 25 for us 9 for them. A comprehensive victory at the breakdowns but I can see the boys are puffed-out and we donβt have enough subs -with 4 players sick or away- to keep it up.Β
Second half is agony. We just canβt keep it up. The boys are getting slower to the breakdowns but show heart. Conner the smallest in the team make a huge tackle driving right through and over one of the Maori athletes trying to Sonny Bill Williams with an offload. The boys hang in. We get close to scoring on two occasions but the supporting legs are turning to jelly.Β
McLook junior is tackling like a demon. He makes another big hit on one of the monsters in the opposing team -on the charge- but he stays down. A fathers and coaches agony and pride all in the same mix. He gets up but canβt walk; foot at a funny angle. Out a breath from the run across the field I determine it was a huge knock on the vastus mediales. The knee and ankle still intact; what a relief!Β
But the game goes on. I get one player to feint injury and while handing out the water bottle talk the team up and re-affirm the need for keeping the ball and slowing the game down. Itβs too much info, too soon in the season at this young age.Β
Another one of our big tacklers stay down and had to leave the field and we hang in but we know it is just a matter of time.Β
Five minutes left on the clock before our defensive line-up finally break and they score. Soon thereafter another try against us. Oh a coaches agony.Β
We lost but I felt likeΒ I want to burst with pride. The breakdown count 12/9 againstΒ us in the second half bringing theΒ final or overall breakdown score toΒ 34/21 in our favor. Thatβs my message to the team. Boys we were the best team on the field but the lesson of this match is if we donβt hang on to the ball the big boys are going to hurt us.Β
We now know weβre on the right track and as the fitness improves the score line will soon start to reflect the breakdown score.Β
A Maori -father of one of the athletes in the other team- wants to talk to me. “You the coach”, he asks? Yes. “This here is my son I want him to play for your team.” I remember seeing him listening in while I was giving my team instructions behind the poles. “Why?” “Why do you want to bring him over”, I ask?Β
Straight to the point he went like the Maori tend to do. “They play proper rugby”, he says, pointing to my players.Β
I walk away sad about the loss but feeling mostly pride. What a job being a coach? Iβll do it any day, I thought, free of charge.Β
Scrumdown wrote:
Thanks Scrumdown.
@ McLook:
Great advice. Thanks.
Minora – the advice given at 24, 26 and 28 is very sound indeed.
From a sport coaching perspective – I absolutely agree. It covers the foundation – with increased skills levels come higher confidence in doing.
Breaking down performance as a whole into manageable steps (even baby steps) and stages is vital – as the youngsters improve in execution thereof so would their confidence grow.
When we confuse confidence with beingness we encounter problems – as we get when we speak of “confidence” players. Confidence is not being – it is a belief in doing an ability/skill.
That is all fine when we want to improve confidence in the doing of skills and improving of performance.
Yet when we want to change/improve an attitude – “loser” mentality – we might need to address the following as well.
We have to look at Mindsets and States – and starting with the effect of Fixed and Growth Mindsets is as good a place to start than any.
In Fixed players believe their abilities are fixed – and even though they may believe they will improve they ‘know’ it will always only be to the defined limit of such ability.
In Fixed they also belief they have or don’t have “Talent” for something which “Talent” is defined/fixed – therefore if they, out of previous losing own experiences, believe the are not “talented” enough – zero amount of coaching skills will make any significant difference.
Because as soon as they are playing against “more talented” players/teams they can’t possibly win and if they do – the win is “written off” as luck/once off/circumstances/etc.
They still do not belief they are “good enough”.
So what ’cause’ this Fixed Mindset? Sadly parents, teachers and coaches – often with the best intent when they praise ability/talent/IQ as well as when they value such “fixed” abilities. I mean if you either have it or not – what’s to do? π
Also – the moment a child experience they are – eveluated – not on being any more but on ability/IQ/performanceM for most kids this happens around age 4. Before they are ‘oulik'(quite)(sp) and most everything they do is fine and OK – and then life changes forever. Kids experience over and over that WHO they are and their growth counts/are valued far less than WHAT they do and what their abilities are deemed to be – FOREVER !!!
How often have we said a boy of age 11 HAVE ballsense or not ???
In Growth Mindset you do not believe IQ/ability is fixed – you do not also believe in “talent” – so what DO you believe then?
You believe that anybody given their current physical development can constantly improve their ability/IQ and that improvement is dependent on effort/process/strategy.
So this is where the above advice is sooo valuable.
By talking/installing/believing/demonstrating Growth Mindset the players will through the Pygmalion effect start to live it.
(As a rule I dislike working mentally with youngsters – as a mindcoach – the parents have tooo strong a counter influence)
My advice is thus if possible to try and get parents to support and enact a Growth Mindset – a very tall order as most of us believe in the Fixed Mindset.
I hope this has added value to you amazing challenge and opportunity! Feel free to ask some more makker π
OK – that said!
We all have contexts where we are ‘more’ Growth Minded and other contexts where we are “more’ Fixed Minded – ALL of us.
The real game is then to start to ID when we are in Growth or Fixed Mindset and to what extend/degree!!!
Using as scale. Of 0-10 is very helpful.
I prefer to add continuum concept with Fixed on left pole at 10 and Growth on right pole at 10 with ZERO in the middle.
Once you and your players AND their parents do THIS – coaching will be mostly about the development and expansion of skills. All skills – individual and collectively as a team.
So what then when Johnny can’t catch/pass/kick/tackle as per “godly defined talent standard” hehehe or are we the “gods”.
Well then we break the skill down into manageable chunks and go through the steps and stages as many times as needed – because ALL of us are on different developmental paths given our personal history.
Is it possible to coach any skill (even ballsense) at any age?
Absolutely YES – given the players physical development.
Here is my story – I was useless at catching and passing a rugby ball – I used to shat on any player passing to me in a game or expecting me to pass to them. All my playing career I was teased about how utterly shite I was catching and passing.
I myself and all my coaches “clearly” realised I was nor “godly endowed” with ball handling talent.
Then at age 42 I mind-coached at a high school 1st rugby team – and was ‘hammered’. Then something strange happened – the coach coached the catching and passing skills deliberately and I watched day afyer day after day – and started to help the boys not ‘getting’ it – within one season – was amazed at the level my ‘talent’ all of a sudden changed.
Then 3 1/2 years ago my son started to play cricket a sport I never played because of my ‘non-talent butter fingers’ and corresponding fear for the red stone – within two years I noticed how few balls I dropped when joining fielding practice and simply catching and doing throw-downs.
Today when I shower and the bar of soap slip out of my hand I catch it more often than not before it hit the floor – often inches off the floor π
I am also blessed with a son who has very limited sport required ability. We have to think, practice, develop and improve nearly every skill required in a different way.
At every sport he tries his hand he is judged incapable and thus ‘untalented’- his latest sport (this quarter) is hockey. What a journey, what a challenge, what a growth experience!!!
THAT has even more than anything else convinced me that – Talent is a Myth !!!
McLook this was my reply at RW to Morne’s reference of your article:
– – –
The Brand says:
May 11th, 2011 at 10:00 am οΏΌ
Morne @ 9.16
Great read at RT
Eish had me wiping tears β f*ck you for that β loved it sooo much.
Great to be crying this time of the day about what somebody else write on the other side if the world. Amazing times we are living!!!
– – –
Hehehe – Thanks
@ The Brand:
Thanks TB. If I understand you correctly the focus shifts from a Fixed mindset to that of Growth, by breaking the skill learning / teaching into manageable chunks?
What I did yesterday with my team is to sit them down and implement some of the learnings from my discussion with McLook, i.e. lets focus on achieving smaller targets (competing and winning at breakdowns, putting together phases, number of tackles, number of turnovers, own lineouts and scrums won etc.) and focusing on the bigger picture i.e. why we are here – not to win the league, but to grow from boys into men by playing a sport that we LOVE and by building a TEAM (Broederbond).
I then took McLook’s advice and split the team into 2 teams (4 forwards, 4 backs in each side) and had them practice rucks and mauls with quick ball to the backs – along with positive feedback and encouragement. I did notice a lot more effort and sense of achievement from the guys in winning the small battles and realising that they can do something right.
I love this article and all the comments on it, i would like to keep this topic going. I have Grand children now also in Sport, my oldest grand daughter is 10 and in grade 2 and plays netball , in a struggling team, this article and comments will help them for sure. I already asked my daughter to read it.
My second oldest grand child played his first Bulletjie rugby game last Saturday, i could not attend , i was torn in two by that, i had to visit my aging mother but my thoughts was also with him. I bought him a great Springbok sweater, according to his dad he played quite well, he says he scored 10 tries and the medal and smile that he had proved that he really enjoyed it. He is in a small pre primary school at Mariepskop and there is just enough kids to make up a team. With his 2 best friends they are a naughty trio, but the interplay between them on the rugby field mesmerized the other teams, they passed like pros and scored tries galore. Hell this oupa can go on and on, so proud and glad he enjoyed it. His dad was most impressed by his tackling, according to him he floored a few boys good and solid.
We must make these articles a regular feature on Rugby-Talk. This gives Oupas like me a chance to Brag too. :LOL: I will move the thread to pages after a week,if GBS agrees. It will be under OTHER RUGBY, Junior Development.
I will prepare that space in the meantime.
super @ 37
you’re a OUPA? π―
jeez, how OOOOOOOOOLD are you then?
..
hehehehe, well now that you’re back to earth … congrats on the youngster’s 1st steps in rugby there, super … sounds to me like he was playing province rugby there, lol.
anyway, you’ll be able to see a few of his games for yourself soon!!! π
McLook, what a fantastic article…..
Those kids will remember with pride the days when they played as a team and the skills they learned on and off the field. All good stuff……….. π
@ superBul:
As I do not have children I was however, very proud when my Border Collie who is an excellent football player seemed very taken with rugby when she played with the 6 nephews on Easter Sunday!!
She was great at intercepting passes, however did not understand the concept of knock on’s or passing the ball forwards!! π
bluebird @ 40
“She was great at intercepting passes, however did not understand the concept of knock onβs or passing the ball forwards!!”
..
π i was going to say something about “possible blue bulls contract”,
but
i think i’d rather not!! π
41@ Ashley:
No Ashley, Lions cheque book far fatter these days, and she will fit in anywhere in the team / squad / Union with attributes like those!
Yep dis so waar,
My Grandson is now 4 and he also started playing rugby this year, it is not bulletjie rugby though where they grab each others tags, this lot still tackle and everything…..it is so cute, when one kid gets the ball they all ‘hopie’ him and then the ‘coaches’ stand there and pull them off one by one unceremoniously deposting them to the side. it was soooo funny.
deposting=depositing EISH π
@ Tripples:
hahahahaha that must be funny, i wonder if there is any videos of this on You Tube.
trips @ 43
lol
sal bietjie kyk of ek ‘n video gemaak het daarvan
@ Minora – well done with implementing what was said on thread.
It is more the difference between Fixed and Growth Mindsets that is important.
As long as parents, coaches and players believe their abilities are – fixed/defined – we are stuffed.
The moment we begin to believe our abilities – all of it – is in development/process, we start to ask different questions leading to different evaluations and judgments.
Then the evaluations are not of permanent nature but rather of development -e.g. where are these players on a scale of 1 – 10 for example in executing the skill – and then where are the players on scale of 1 – 10 on executing skill consistently?
What standards are we using?
Then it becomes ‘natural’ to break skills down into steps and stages for coaching and measuring successful execution.
The alternative in Fixed Mindset is to believe the players are incapable of doing it – incapable of learning it because the don’t and never will have the “natural” abilities!
Then we find the carrot and stick approaches – which are sad indeed.
I expect 2 things from my kid and a 3rd thereafter.
1 – he has to put full effort in what he is doing.
2 he has to manage his attitude – so that his attitude is beneficial and not harming to results.
Thereafter only 3 – evaluation and adjustment to strategy/structure/process/ steps and stages of skill.
Without great 1 and 2 we are wasting time on 3!!!
Hope this clarified some more π
@ The Brand@35:Hehehehe, Yes mate even though I wrote it -in a moment of ecstasy after the match- I got tears in my eyes when I re-read it. I was in such a high after the match that I just had to write something about it.
I sat down and wrote the whole thing in 10 minutes. Essentially just typing away as the emotions swept through me. While re-reading I started choking up. I know it’s like laughing for your own joke but the emotions expienced during the game came flooding back. My wife came into the room asked what’s wrong. I said I wrote something you’ve got to read and walked out. When I came back 5 or 7 minutes later she was crying her eyes out in front of the computor.
superBul@37 wrote:
Great idea SuperB. THis way junior coaches like myself can post questions and share training ideas. I’ll write something about the drills I’ve been using with some drawings and I’ll alos explain more about the small sided games which is crucial to integrate the drills into the game situation.
@ McLook:
Have you got access to the Pages?
If not i will just copy your articles to that
@ Minora@36:Great. Repetition is key, however. We start every training session with drils; always focusing on ball protection, blow-over and pop-up offloads from the ground (after getting tackled). Devide the team into groups of 4 or 5 and line them up with one being the defender and the rest driving up, knuckle it and then progress into blow-over and swinging the ball away from the contact.
We then divide into backline and forwards doing line-outs, scrums and backline drils. After that we bring the two groups together and work on running lines and set moves of scrums and lineouts. Essentially integrating the backs with the forwards.
For the last 10 minutes we play high intensity small sided games. Teams get points for recycling the ball and/or for moving the ball through a certain amount of hands after recycling it before taking it into contact again. Double the points for a turnover. These are 2×2 minute sessions with 1 minute rest in between and then a play-out of 2x2minute halfs between the two winning and two losing teams. This is done on 15 by 15 meter squares. The larger the square the less work the players do because they can pass the ball into space. If the field is too small it turns into a brawl.
@ superBul@51:Haven’t looked yet. Got to run now. Wife is waiting to go to town. I’ll check later. Cheers
McLook, I registered especially to congratulate you on the best article I,ve read in a long, long time. It brought tears to my eyes and I don’t even have children. I’ve been lurking for long time and could resist commenting on this, even all the comments and discussions make sense for a change. How about an update on the progress of the team every fortnight or so. Wish you all the best with the team.
Birtie – second that!!!
Maybe the other dad-coaches will also give fortnight update.
Hehehe – I re-registered for article.
Bring these articles on, i loved it and we have thousands of Fathers and grand dads who are so proud of their kids in Rugby. Some cant wait to share their pride. I am sure GBS would love to tell us about his sons progress to. Feel free to post comments like you did.
The articles will be in one place after a they are replaced by newer ones. Look under OTHER RUGBY, there will be a button called Junior Development, under that button you will find the older articles and comments on those articles.
@ The Brand:
Our team played one of the top schools in the league yesterday. The turnaround in our pack of forwards was amazing. We overshadowed the oppos pack in all facets – and played with real HEART and commitment for the 1st time this season! Yes – we lost by a huge margin – but we focused our guys on the smaller goals (putting together phases, clean-outs, rucks won, ball to the 9 etc.)and it was noticeable! The sad part was that the other team had a monster of a 11, and all they did was to get the ball to him – our backs could not defend and let him in for 4 tries…
footnote – I only had 16 guys in total to work with so I take my hat off for the little guys biting the bullet and playing through pain and injury – there were no other reserves to come on!
@ Minora 57
Well done !!!
Friggin hell – THAT is a fast turn-around – exceptional and awesome!
NOW you are really able to make REAL differences in the boys lives – these different patterns of thinking and implementing will forever be available for access in their lives.
Unfortunately the ‘educational function’ of presenting sport at schools have taken the back row – only to be for grounded to ‘sound’ true/just as “educators”. The teachers/headmaster will quickly TELL you it is first and foremost and most importantly about EDUCATIONAL VALUE – but meanwhile . . .
I have a real issue with this – and fell into the same trap several times the last 10 years. Its as if we have been skewly programmed – only for winning π
NOW you are able to USE rugby as the tool it is meant to be – to develop our sons effectively. Surely it should never really be about playing better or even great rugby – but rather how do we USE the sport as a tool in the development of our son’s character and life-skills.
I am sure as you look back even now after only what – a week/two weeks – you will clearly see what a difference your own changed approached made in the boys in the game.
The big challenge is to now not only transfer and maintain those changes in practice – a big enough ask – but also in their daily lives! (Including schooling)
This is sadly for me where school and coaches have been missing the point – a fact so effectively demonstrated by you regarding the big 11 scoring 4 tries and the other team believing THEY – ARE – winners.
Winning – for whatever reason have become soooo important that we f*ck 11year olds up – to achieve a win – and really WHAT are we winning and WHAT are we truly losing by those “wins”.
THIS – make LIFE-changes in players using sport as a tool – is what it is all about for me.
Is it still more lekker to win than lose – for sure!!!
But I will rather ‘lose’ “honestly” than win for winning only’s sake!!!
@ The Brand:
And so we come to the end of the season for my U/11 team. We started with 24 players, lost some along the way, and ended up playing with 15 guys (no reserves) in the last 2 league matches. We only won 1 game the entire season, but that matters none! I believe that each of the boys learned a valuable life lesson or two, which will keep them in good stead way longer than any league winners medal!! Fighting the Giant, keeping their heads held high game after game, not giving up, loving Rugby and wanting to do better, targeting and achieving smaller goals, being a band of brothers, and above all HAVING FUN!!
On the opposite side of the coin, I saw teams this season that won their games by:
* 1 dimensional rugby i.e. get the ball to “star” player(s) no matter what and screw the rest of the team;
* coached foul play – e.g. teaching your hooker to kick the living daylights out of the oppo at the first scrum in order to get the upperhand (remember we are talking 10 year old kids here..)”taking out” a scrummy at the 1st line-out..
* Intimidating referees and players, foulmouthing oppos players on and off the field, encouraging fighting and foul play…
*etc,etc, etc
I just wonder what type of parent / person / coach would allow all of this to happen so that the team can WIN AT ALL COST?
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