Why are there no coaching manuals anymore?

Could it be that nobody wants to stick their neck out and put something in print that says this is the way things are done? Or could it be that the game is constantly changing and last seasons methods don't work anymore? Maybe it is just too big a job?,Or perhaps we can just "google" it!

I think it could be a combination of all of the above and it might just fall into the too hard basket. Sure the game is constantly changing and I often refer to the game of rugby as a living thing and like all living things it must adapt to survive. However that does not mean we must completely change what we do, many parts of the game are still the same as they have been for years. I have been very lucky to be exposed to some of the best coaches from around the world and the differences are more in the "how" and not the "what". All teams must catch, pass run, kick, scrum etc. There are lots of "how to" videos online but which ones work for you? Below I have written a quick outline on the things required to catch and pass maybe some of this will help you find what is right for you out there.

The basic pass can be broken down to three main actions: 

• The catch 
• The transfer
• The release 

A change through any of these stages will produce a different result. 

Each of these actions are influenced by a number of variables: 

• The delivery prior to the catch
• Speed of the pass  
• The weather conditions
• The amount of pressure applied
• Depth 
• Alignment 
• Support  

Then we can bore down deeper and look at the: 

• Body shape i.e high or low
• Hand position 
• Core strength
• Communication
• Vision

To look further we can even start to prioritise. For example is catching the ball early and out in front a high priority for a player with lots of time and space? We might say "yes" if we believe those extra few seconds will allow him greater time to scan for opportunities or we could say "no" with the emphasis on making sure to catch it at all! How about a forward running wide and flat from a breakdown? We might say "yes" as he will be in a better position to quickly pass it on if the opportunity is there or we may say "no" if we put more emphasis on taking it in close to protect the ball. When asking ourselves these questions we can go even deeper by looking at our team strategy.

So here we are now all of a sudden at team strategy! Could strategy be described as using all of your combined skills to create or exploit a weakness in the opposition?If so then that brings us back to that word "skill" again! One of the most used skills is the catch and pass. Ok here we go again refer to top of page!!

In much of this the ability to control "Time and Space" in almost all skill areas of the game is the key. But which comes first? To allow a skill to develop we must give a player the time and space to perfect the skill. It is from this solid foundation that we systematically apply pressure by reducing the time and space available to the player. To me this will always give both the player and the coach somewhere to go back to when things don't go so well.

So why are the no coaching manuals out there? Well that little blurb above was simply refering to what to look for but with no technical tips at all! So could you imagine the time it would take to fill in the detail, add the variables, take into account the various strategic outcomes a coach may be looking for? So probably the time taken to complete such a manual would lapse just in time for the next stage of the games evolution.

Argentina: The Next Frontier

I'm back home in Palmerston North after a month in Argentina working with city and rural clubs in this new frontier of rugby development.  For years the coaches in Argentina have been highly regarded by those who work with them but it was the passion of the players and the people involved that made me think of how rugby used to be in New Zealand.

For this coaching tour Ellis Rugby recruited the services of Dennis Brown who was magnificent and added so much value for his insight into planning and management strategies in modern rugby.  Brownie has a wealth of experience having worked with NZ colts and age groups teams with great success over many years.  With Brownie churning away with the coaches in the classroom and me slugging it out on the field we were able to cater for all the requirements of the players and coaches involved.  The tour was made possible thanks to foresight and great planning by Mariano Salleras and Maurico Naranjo Sosa who co-ordinated with 4 clubs to share the cost of funding our visit.  The hospitality given to us by all these clubs was outstanding and has left us with many fond memories of our time in Argentina.

The strength of the club system in Argentina was reminiscent of days gone by in NZ; all the clubs are very family oriented and community based.  As Argentinean rugby looks to move forward into a professional environment I sincerely hope they don't lose the passion and enthusiasm at grass roots level.

In Buenos Aires our tour started at the Pucara Club which is one of the top clubs in Argentina.  This is where we first witnessed the enthusiasm and love for the game that the rugby people of Argentina have and I think this surprised both Brownie and myself.  The players are of really good quality and many were getting ready to embark on a tour of Europe - carrying a party of over 100 players and management - astounding.

Our stay at Monte Grande Club in Buenos Aires was one of our longest - we were working there for two weeks with only a four day break in the middle to go to Iguazu.  Monte Grande is a real club on the move, currently paying in the second division but with great vision looking to the future.  They have a strong junior programme and some fantastic coaches at their senior level.

The Taraguy Rugby Club in Corrientes formed 50 years ago and their admiration for NZ rugby was such that they modeled their club on the All Blacks.  To this day they still play in black, even though it is oppressively hot in Corrientes; and we were treated to a stirring rendition of the haka by the youngsters in the junior club.  (Aee my Facebook page for the video). Later, during some speeches the passion demonstrated by some of the founding members when talking about their club and New Zealand rugby made Brownie and I both very proud to be kiwis.

The smaller Cataratas Club in Iguazu, whilst not blessed with the numbers or talent of the bigger clubs in Buenos Aires still demonstrated that strong Argentinean passion for the game.  Here we also came into contact with players who travelled from as far as Brazil and Paraguay to participate in our coaching sessions.  We'll never forget the wonderful service from Pablo and his wife at their awesome La Rueda restaurant - a must visit place if you are ever in this part of the world.

Thanks to all those people who showed us such kindness - there is too many names to list here but the memories will last forever.

For those who might be looking to venture into this new frontier my advice would be to learn spanish and go with an open heart as the people are so warm and welcoming.  It may not be the land of opportunity in a financial sense, but I'm certain that your spiritual well-being will be uplifted by the experience.

Argentina dreaming

Wow I cannot believe the end is coming soon with my trip to Argentina. So far we have worked with the amazing people at the Pucara club, Cataratas in wonderful Iguazu and have just finished up here with Monte Grande who are really a club on the rise. Tomorrow we set it to Corrientes for our last week.
The people here have been so warm and friendly I feel as if we have been here for years. While I was first here over ten years ago I must admit a second look has me hooked.
With Graham Henry overseeing the rugby here I am sure he will be impressed by the people and the strength of the club system. We worked with some talented young men who would not be out of place in NZ rugby and the coaches are some of the best and most dedicated I have seen.
I predict good things ahead for the Rugby in Argentina as it is driven by such passionate and wonderful people.