Coaching The Basic Skills
Where have all the skills gone?
Many moons ago there was always an easily observed element of skill - practised and practised until it became second nature. Even props were known to perform the humble switch, loop, or miss pass.
Often the most basic skills are now overlooked for the benefits that GameSense or Teaching games for understanding (TGfU) gives us. Here's Conor O'shea highlighting the importance of repetition and practising the key skills to develop great players!
In the last few weeks I've re-watched two great games, one from this year and one from last year. Here's what I found when specifically looking at these three simple skills; the loop, switch and miss pass.
England vs Wales - 6 Nations 2018: 1 loop, 0 switches and 3 miss options.
New Zealand vs Ireland - 2017: 0 loops, 0 switches and only a handful of miss options.
I find it bizarre as to how little these are being used, especially as they are such a great way of evading contact in the wide channels.
Coaching the basics - Switch & Loop
As coaches we often find ourselves jumping straight into a game, we must remember that repetition of skills develops behaviour and this soon becomes habit. Here's Paul Gustard on the importance of developing drills into gameplay! We should not be afraid to go backwards to go forwards - use this simple progression for any skill set:
- Key factors
- Closed Practice
- Unopposed
- Semi-opposed
- Full opposition
- Conditioned games
- The game
If you do not see improvement in the technical delivery of the skill - go back a step, until you have success.
There is always context to why there are fewer examples of skills such as the loop switch and miss pass in action - there are more collisions, the game has sped up, and errors as punished - so have we created an environment where skills are not rewarded, not expected so NOT coached?
Final Word
How can we measure success (whatever it is) and change behaviours; if we use OUTCOMES , traditionally it is who wins, pandering to the EGO based participants . What we need is to develop a passion for MASTERY - this where the learner favours the ability to be successful at performing the skill not the OUTCOME of that skill.
Create a points system for the skill or technique you wish to see:
- 5 points for execution of a switch
- 10 points for a loop
- 20 points for an offload that leads to a successful outcome
Remember to practice properly - there is nothing wrong with a closed practice drill, so long as you remember to coach it properly and develop it into a game or the game.
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with RCD then please get in touch with info@rugbycoachingdrills.com
