Develop Super Skills and Build Confidence

Injuries affect all teams and coaches need to be prepared for this, unfortunately we aren't often blessed with the depth that Eddie Jones has with England. So how can you as a coach be prepared for dealing with injuries?

You lose your starting loosehead or your best 10 at grassroots levels and your looking to the 2s, or even the Vets far too often. Unfortunately you might have already dug your own hole - you continually select the best players in your squad week in week out, developing a style of play based on them, the others stay in the background having to change the way they play to accommodate the team direction.

So how can you get every one in your squad on the same hymn sheet? Playing to a shared, agreed and effective game plan...develop their skill base, or SUPER SKILLS as we shall discuss!

At London Irish Declan Danagher knows what he is looking for - "Super skills" - Coach players to be "Super skilled" at one or two things, it builds thier confidence and makes them the best operators in their specialist area.

Build Players Confidence By Improving What They Do Best

We select a player very often on what they are good at, and then spend very little time actually improving that aspect of the players ability. Very often players get demotivated because coaches fail to practice the things that players can do, they practice the skills they can't do. Let's be realistic, for effective motor skill development, a 20 minute block practice rucking drill, on a cold Tuesday night will not suddenly make them into All Blacks... be sensible. Coach what will make a difference, what will enhance not demotivate, coach Smart.

Eddie Jones Talks About Building Confidence

It's easy to coach when things are going right, when injuries are low, when selection is consistent. A real test of ANY coach from Eddie Jones to Level 1 Coach, is how we they cope and get the team to perform when things DON'T go right.

This is definitely a test for Eddie Jones.

Understanding your players is key to player development and team success, to date Eddie Jones has done a fantastic job in motivating the majority of his England squad.

Roles in leadership, standards and disciplines have been handed out to many of the "Less experienced" players and the results have justified those decisions. There are still concerns around selection but what can not be questioned is his ability to light a fire under England's elite players and create a robust & dynamic environment to operate from.

We hope you enjoy the clips we provide and please let us know if you would like to set up your club or school, it promotes consistent messages and coaching practises across your organisation.