Coaching
Head of Representative Coaching Development - Lt Steve Wrigglesworth RN
Mob: 07718 161038
Rugby Development Officer - CPOPT Adrian Cherrington
Tel: 023 9272 4426
MOD: 93 80 24426
Mob: 07764 960395
RNRU Coaching Aims & Objectives
The RNRU is committed to enhancing the development and ability of coaches of all levels within the Royal Navy. Within a formal coaching structure we aim to provide effective coaches for all Representative, Command, Establishment and Units sides. Our coaches are key to the re-generation and development of Navy rugby.
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COACHING COURSES
The following Level 1/Level 2 Coaching Courses have been programmed in for the remainder of this season:
Level 1
20 - 22 April 2010 HMS Neptune
03 - 05 May 2010 CTCRM Lympstone
08 - 10 June 2010 HMS Temeraire
27 - 29 July 2010 West Country (venue tbc)
Level 2
22 - 23 June 2010 HMS Temeraire (Part 1)
20 - 21 July 2010 HMS Temeraire (Part 2)
Anyone interested in applying for any of the above should contact CPOPT Cherrington, RN Rugby Development Officer, HMS Temeraire. 9380 24426
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The development of coaches is seen as a key strategic aim of Navy Rugby to ensure the future health and vitality of the Union in both terms of quality and quantity of players. There is a wealth of coaching resources available to coaches some of which can be directly accessed through the RNRU Links page.
However what should we look for in a coach?
Below are reproduced the twelve key lessons for a coach as observed by Pat Summitt at her presentation to UK top coaches. You can find out more about Pat Summitt at: http://www.coachsummitt.com/
The 12 Key Lessons
1. Players play and managers manage
2. See in others more than they see in themselves
3. Understand individuals in your team - profile them
4. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care
5. Responsibility = accountability = ownership
6. Surround yourself with people who are better than you
7. Learn to handle success - always look up !
8. Evaluate yourself before you evaluate others
9. Teaching and inspiration is a gift - use it
10. Convey practical information clearly and concisely
11. Motivate players to make the effort to achieve
12. Get in their face and look after them
Coaching in America by WO Ian Smith
I was told last year that I would be spending six months working with the US military in Tampa, Florida. After telling the wife and kids the news of my six-month absence my thoughts then turned to the fact that I would be away for most of the rugby season. I knew from ship visits to Florida that there were rugby teams in the state. Could I hope that there would be one in Tampa?……a quick google led me to the “Tampa Bay Krewe RFC” website.
I contacted them by email and phone and offered to help out as a coach (and if really struggling, a player!). They were really friendly and said I would be very welcome. On arrival in November I got the work turnover out of the way and quickly made arrangements to meet the guys from the club socially. What I found was that “ruggers” (local term!) are the same the world over – hospitable, friendly and above all passionate about the game. The guys here are from all walks of life and the majority are Americans, liberally sprinkled with New Zealanders, South Africans with the odd Italian and French guy. They were all really receptive to the ideas I had and were looking forward to the first session.
I was nervous about the first “practice” (they don’t use the term "training") session. Would they turn up? How good will they be? All the stuff you have to take into consideration preparing a session. The training facilities are a floodlit American Football pitch located at a Boys & Girls Club in the northern part of Tampa. Training was as per the UK norm – Tuesdays and Thursdays 7-9pm but the big difference was the fact that I did not need thermals and wet weather gear – the temperature was ideal! For the first session I stood back for a bit to have a look at what the guys did to ascertain the standard of play. Normal routine was to play touch for half an hour followed by a few drills and then a “scrimmage” – a game with various limitations placed on it but mostly just a full contact game.
The ability of the players varies hugely. Some have been playing for years and are excellent players with great ability. Some have just started the game. However all are committed. My role is mainly with the forwards. The Head Coach is Steve Ryan (an expat South African) who is a back and he is also assisted by Brad Davis who has lived and breathed rugby his whole life, although the rumours that he was around during the American Civil war could be exaggerated! Getting the proper kit and equipment is a problem for Krewe. Rugby kit is not something you find on the shelves in the sports shops; boots and balls are at a premium. Despite these limitations the commitment from these guys to support their club is huge – they have obtained training equipment like shields, bags and a second hand scrum sled against the odds. There is no problem with motivation!
Back in the UK I have been involved in youth rugby for years, and currently I am the Development Squad (Colts in old money!) coach for my local club, a side with a few County and Divisional players. Here in Tampa I have had to take a step back from this level of coaching. This has been good for my own development as a Coach. Having to focus on core skills, decision making, basic technical application and game organisation has made me appreciate that the primary role of the coach is to improve ability. Sometimes coaching at a higher level can merely be “organising” a team of good players who already know how to pass, tackle, kick, ruck, maul etc, to play a certain way.
The numbers have been great at training and the enthusiasm to learn has been refreshing. I still let them play touch – only as long as it takes me to set up though! These guys are like sponges, wanting to soak up as much rugby knowledge as they can and when training is over I am often waylaid by individual players wanting to know specific things they can do to improve their game. Most of the guys are pretty fit but (as in the UK) the introduction of pure fitness training into a rugby session can be a turn off with the resultant drop in numbers. Accordingly I have had to devise a few drills (mainly handling and defence) that have hidden the fitness and put technique under fatigue – something that I will bring back to the UK.
The recent purchase of a scrum sled has allowed them to develop their scrummagin and I have introduced the Total Impact Method of scrummaging to them which they have really taken on board. I have also tried to ensure that the forwards play a quick, dynamic game, always going forward. They have responded really well and in the process the forwards have improved their skills and fitness levels, increasing their effectiveness as a unit.
I am only here for six months but I hope that I can improve the overall ability of the team. I only wish that they had more support from the rugby authorities – domestically and internationally. Socially they are probably one of the best teams I have been involved with and they have introduced me to the delights of the local nightlife and the brilliant game “beer-pong” (it does involve beer and a table tennis ball!). I have been impressed with Krewe’s determination to make their rugby team succeed in a country where the sport is very much a minority one. Their team spirit is second to none. We often bemoan the state of the game at junior level in the UK but in comparison we are really, really lucky. My time here has been hugely rewarding personally and from a rugby coaching perspective. They have renewed my faith in the game at grass roots level.
