news

COACHING NEWSLETTER

Posted Sunday, July 20, 2008 by rlcm57

RLCM Extract from eBook 14 Off the Ball Play With Phil Gould, written By Ashley Bradnam - In a talk with RLCM, Phil Gould elaborated on an aspect of the game which is being given more and more attention in coaching: off-the-ball play. Research into Rugby League has shown that the average footballer has either possession of the ball or is tackling for around 6 – 8 minutes in the game. What the player does with the remaining time of the game is known as off-the-ball play. Read More

Posted Friday, July 18, 2008 by rlcm57

Extract from eBook 23 - Dissecting the player-coach dynamic With Brian Canavan - Sydney Roosters CEO - Written By David Haynes

The player-coach dynamic has altered significantly as the NRL continues towards full-time professionalism. Unlike yesteryear, when players would hastily leave work to make afternoon training, the players and coaches are spending almost threequarters of the year together.

Never before has a good player-coach relationship been so essential to the onfield performance of a club. So how do coaches maintain a man management relationship with their charges?

Are certain types of players destined to perform under coaches with compatible personalities?

And to what extent should a coach get involved in a player’s personal affairs?There have been countless examples over the years of player-coach conflict inhibiting a side’s on-field cohesion.

While a workable relationship is paramount, the player and coach have never had to be the closest of buddies, something Sydney Roosters’ CEO Brian Canavan agrees with.

He says the relationship between the two parties works best if there is mutual respect. “I think there needs to be a very good rapport (between player and coach),” he said.

“It doesn’t have to be a friendship but it often develops. That rapport is initially like a business rapport. Our game is a people game, so communication is one of the main methods of our business interaction.”

Canavan even suggests a difference in personality between a player and coach doesn’t impinge on the pair’s capacity to carry out team goals. He says there is no reason why a down-to-business type coach and prankster type player can’t gel - just look at the great relationship and success Wayne Bennett and Allan
Langer shared at the Broncos during the ’90s.

“We tend to put up with different personality types, as long as there is great desire in them and they comply,”

Canavan said. “You’ve got the whole range in any group situation, introverts, extraverts, great trainers and average trainers. As long as they’ve got plenty of desire and they’re there for the common good coaches accept all personality types.”

Being in such a close-knit environment for such a large portion of the year means many players now seek more than football guidance from their coach. Many look for personal advice on matters from financial concerns to family problems.

“I think any relationship that is built up over a period of time and in the pressure situation that coaches and players find themselves in, you necessarily grow together,” he said. “You get to know the players and their backgrounds simply because your spending so much time with them you can’t talk football all the time.”

As Canavan emphasises however, coaches usually try to keep the players’ football and private lives separate.

He believes coaches should only intervene in players’ personal lives if it is hampering their on-field capabilities.

“When personal problems are affecting performance or the mood state of the players, more personal issues need to be examined in private,” he said.

“Coaches have to address poor performance.” According to Canavan the same applies for a player............To be reading this Book today click here and order eBook 23 from the RLCM eBook Shop, you will be reading the Book today.

IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR COACHING YOU MUST HAVE THE RLCM DVDs, RLCM CD-ROMs and RLCM eBOOKS COLLECTION.

Click here for RLCMTV's videos.

Click Subscribe for Monthly RLCM COACHING DVD's.

Posted Wednesday, July 16, 2008 by rlcm57

Extract from eBook 11 - SKILL SCENE Playing the Ball - The importance of the play the ball movement in the game must be appreciated. Most of the plays involved in the game commence with the play the ball and itis the responsibility of coaches to include practices during training sessions which allow players to develop this skill.

The play the ball movement requires considerable practice and coaching because of its importance in ensuring that plays following it can be effective.

The laws of the game governing the play the ball must be understood as they assist coaching the correct movement patterns and actions.

Players first experiencing the play the ball through mini footy should be taught distinctive movements in a deliberate way to ensure there are minimum errors.

As players progress through the age groups they can advance to playing the ball by the least number of movements to reduce the time involved in the skill and to be as efficient as possible.

Any particular method should be practised as much as any other game skill.

Every player should aim to play the ball as evenly as possible to allow the acting half back every chance of passing effectively from the ground.

THE BASIC METHOD OF PLAYING THE BALL (Coaching Points)
• Player regains feet after being tackled
• Football held in both hands on ends, maintaining control with hands
• Football is placed or dropped on the ground, from a crouched position leaning slightly forward
• Football is controlled with foot placed on top
• The foot is then used to roll the ball back evenly to the acting half back.

These points should be observed by the coach when teaching this method with evaluation and correction being done during practices to develop the technique.

Players who are more advanced and proficient should develop the technique of playing the ball with the least number of movements.

This technique is required where it is necessary to have continuous pressured attack that needs to take advantage of slow forming defence.

PLAYING THE BALL WITH THE LEAST NUMBER OF MOVEMENTS
(Method and Coaching Points)
Assume the tackled player prefers to play the ball with the left foot.
• The tackled player rolls onto his left hip
• Bends the left leg and brings it up under his body
• Holds the football in his left arm
• Turns to a half sitting position, placing the right hand on the ground
• Rolling up onto his left knee, while at the same time swinging the right foot forward to be placed slightly in front of the left knee (kneeling position)
• Step up using the right leg
• Head forward for balance
• Place or roll the football on the ground in front of the left foot and push the football back with the foot to the acting half back.

N.B. Young players should be encouraged to use both hands when placing the football on the ground......To be reading this Book today click here and order eBook 11 from the RLCM eBook Shop, you will be reading the Book today.

IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR COACHING YOU MUST HAVE THE RLCM DVDs, RLCM CD-ROMs and RLCM eBOOKS COLLECTION.

Click here for RLCMTV's videos.

Click Subscribe for Monthly RLCM COACHING DVD's.

Stay up to date!
If you want to keep up to date with all the latest information just enter your Name and Email address below and we'll send you our regular E-zine newsletter with coaching information and Rugby League Internet News.