Strategies for Developing Weaker and Inexperienced Rugby Players
As a coach I think we can all agree that the easiest people to coach are the stronger players, but what about those coming to the game late or just haven’t found their feet yet? Here are five straightforward strategies to help inexperienced players find their footing on and off the pitch.
- Take them aside and focus on the Basics
To start off, mastering the basic skills of the game is key. Drills that emphasize core skills like passing, tackling, and ball handling are essential. Set aside time in each practice to run through these fundamentals. Break down each skill into simple steps and let the players practice repeatedly. It’s like learning to walk before you run – once they’ve got the basics down, everything else becomes easier. Spend a bit of one to one time with them and make sure they have the basics nailed down.
- Build Confidence
Something that many inexperienced players may often lack is confidence. Building confidence is key when a player is developing their skills and it’s important to create an environment where mistakes are seen as part of the learning process, give them game time and make sure you celebrate small victories and improvements. Give plenty of positive feedback, remember, encouragement goes a long way but don’t sugar coat things. In our experience honesty is
- Game Understanding
Unfortunately, you only get an understanding of the game by playing, so once they have the basic skills mastered let them get involved. It is important to help them to understand the game’s flow and strategies, so spend time coaching them through it on the training ground and of course we also can’t stress the benefits enough of using video sessions to show and explain different plays and positions. The better they understand the game, the smarter they’ll play.
- Conditioning and Fitness
Rugby is definitely a demanding sport, the fitter new and less experience players are the better they fare out. Encourage regular fitness routines focusing on strength, speed, and endurance. Initially they may lack in skills but they can show how they can be a big part of the team by showing their physical prowess, be that strength, speed, endurance or hopefully a combo of all three.
- Mentorship and Team Bonding
Pair weaker or inexperienced players with more seasoned teammates. One thing we like to do is everytime a newbie arrives on pitch we team them up with one of our leaders, their job is to mind them and bring them along. This has a double whammy of developing their leadership skills and making sure the newbie is taken care of.
There you go! Developing weaker and younger players isn’t just about improving their rugby skills; it’s about building their confidence, understanding, and fitness while fostering a supportive team environment. Stick with these strategies, and you’ll see your players grow in no time. Happy coaching! 🏉
