Bob Dwyer Rugby Workshops

Ask the Coach

Here is an opportunity to ask Bob or Mike a rugby coaching-related question.

We will publish your questions on this site together with our corresponding answer.

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Q: More players communication

How can I get my players to communicate more during the game?
by Anonymous

Answered by Mike Penistone 

 

I think it would be fair to say that not all players are good communicators. Some players just like to play and are quiet away from the sport and in normal life.

However there are times during the game when it is advantageous to communicate effectively.

Firstly.

Listening skills are as important as communication skills. Players should be concentrating at all times to ensure they hear what is being said.

Communication means talk don’t scream. Controlled talk doesn’t spread panic.

Ensuring what you say is received by the person you are directing it to, is best achieved through eye contact. Look at who you are talking to.

To encourage positive talk, design fast action practices, with small numbers, with more attackers than defenders. So that what is said can lead to a positive outcome? Talk from outside to in, if you see an overlap opportunity.

Nominate different players to do the talking in practices.

Build up a glossary of agreed words and sayings, such as, press, push hard, I’ve got inside, my man; that all players are used to hearing, especially when under pressure.

Use trigger words to stimulate greater effort from the team. Action man might be the trigger word for a lift in intensity at the tackle contest.

Design practices for forwards and backs separately. Communication between backs and forwards can be quite different. Close quarter communication, small talk, under pressure can be hard to decipher, so ask the players at certain times, what was said, who said it? Consider when’s a good time to talk? 3 meters from the lineout, during a stoppage for injury?

Keep talk short.

Last point…I know a coach who once had a player do a running commentary on the practice he was involved in……………..

“Now I’m moving towards the breakdown, balls won, realigning now, where’s my support, pass it now, stay with me, come short, rip off him”.etc.

Try it, if nothing else it will be fun to listen to…  

Q: Back Row Choice

I have 5 back row forwards who are of a similar standard. Should I select or rotate them?
by Josh

Answered by Mike Penistone

Josh:

In a recent “Interview with Dusty Hare,” Chief scout of Northampton Sain, Dusty stated that back 5 forwards in the scrum should be interchangeable. Such are the squad requirements on professional players.

If you can rotate players positionally there is the likelihood of greater participation.

This partly answers the question at that level. Convincing back row forwards that they may have a role to play in the 2nd row may be a problem at lower (non-professional) level. BUT it may go some way towards alleviating the problem. This can partly be facilitated by ensuring all 5 back row forwards have good footwork and movement skills and can function up and down the lineout. (As Tom Croft does at Leicester Tigers playing 6).Rocky Elson can also operate in this manner playing for the Brumbies.

Once players appreciate this you will have more selection options and replacement options from the bench than previously thought.

SAQ International offers a footwork and movement programme that will help improve your players’ skills. In Coaching Support on our website you can purchase an SAQ programme that will definitely improve your players’ footwork.

Back row forwards who have the skills of back row forwards, but who are playing in the second row will add a new dimension to your teams tackle contest efficiency. Have a look in the essential section of the manual. Session 3 practices 12 and 13 and in the advanced section of the manual, session19, practices 55 and 56.

Becoming more efficient at the tackle contest will help your team produce more continuous play and offer greater player involvement. This will make rotating players positionally more acceptable and give players more game time.

Q: Technique v Effectiveness

I have a player who has, in coaching terms, poor technique but who is very effective as a player. How should I coach him?
by Richard W.

Answered by Mike Penistone

This is a situation that often occurs with young players who are more physically developed than their contemporaries.

There are also many adult players who have poor technique!!

With young players it is always important to build on their strengths but also develop areas of weakness. If young players find it hard to concentrate during technique work and show a lack of interest. It becomes necessary to find an alternative "teaching" approach.

One thing is for sure. Many of their contemporaries will catch them up in terms of physical maturity and therefore nullify their strengths. So we have a responsibility to prepare the player for this time.

Conditioned games are a good way of challenging the "effective" player and putting him under sufficient pressure, to suggest  that he needs more "weapons" in his technique armoury!!  A sudden lack of success may convince the player that he should consider adding to his "weaponry!!" As coach you can step in then!

In our Coaching Support area there is a section on Conditioned Games. Here you will find a range of games that can be used to challenge a player's technical deficiency. Be prepared also to "tailor" a conditioned game to a particular technical deficiency.

Many senior adult players find it hard to improve on technique and quite simply just want to "play the game". This is fine!  Your skill as a coach will be to position the player in such a way as to minimise his liability and maximise his effectiveness. Is he in the right position?

At training sessions always ensure your players take part in "dynamic, opposed fast practices". This is a certain way to stretch the level of ability of the player. Working fast puts pressure on technique and as with the young player, may prompt a conversation...."player to coach".

"Counter Attack practices from a ball turnover", as seen in session 16 of the Intermediate section of the manual put pressure on both the reaction time and the technique of the players involved.

This practice will certainly afford you the opportunity to suggest ways in which your players� game can be improved by working hard on the basic techniques of the game.

Remember also that a big strong straight runner will attract more and more defenders who will ultimately limit his effectiveness.  Now is the time to encourage him to improve his offload techniques having reduced the numbers of defenders in other areas of the field.

Hence players with poor technique can still be an asset to the team!

Q: More defensive problems

My team's defence around the breakdown is poor. Opponents frequently penetrate in this area. How can I prevent this?
by John

Answered by Mike Penistone

 

John...I think one of the most effective ways to deal with this problem is to start on "the whiteboard". The players have to understand why we defend the break down in a particular way.We don't want them to become "robotic" as all tackle contests are different but certain general principles need to be understood.

Practice 49 in the Intermediate section of the manual shows players  how to position themselves on arrival at the breakdown. The "flow" of play is important, ie from which direction has the ball come. ( this is clearly marked in practice 49). This determines the set up!

By defending the far side of the breakdown ( tackle contest) first, that prevents the opponent who picks the ball up first at the base of the ruck or maul from attacking that area. The second defender to arrive blocks the near side of the breakdown off and our two most vunerable areas are secure. 3rd to arrive stands within arms length of the 1st defender and prevents a "quick' half back from scooting around the first defender.

The arrival of the first attacking receiver determines where our next defender should position himself. Usually opposite but slightly on the attackers inside shoulder. Although some would say stand on the outside shoulder of the receiver as most receivers drift on the pass!

Remember arriving at the breakdown requires some decision making. The second part  of practice 49 tests your players understanding of defence and defending at the breakdown. All players regardless of position will at times have to defend this area so Understanding is parramount.!

Then you can move onto tackle technique at the breakdown and winning the space!

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