Coaching

SEASON Start

2008-09-14T10:47:00.003+01:00

Although we lost our first game of the season and on the way collected 2 more injuries (Tom - broken shoulder - out for the rest of the season and Bops - knee - out for maybe a few weeks), we have got to remain positive in our thoughts and actions. It means that we as a club have got pull together and every player has to be ready and willing to play 1st XV rugby.

If you definitely do NOT want to be considered for 1st XV rugby, then please let me know ASAP.

We've got Redditch away next week and they also lost their first game of the season and so we are the bottom 2 clubs (after the 1st week), so lets get every one out training on Tuesday and Thursday and work hard to earn our results!

ELVs Explained

2008-07-07T07:45:00.002+01:00

To all members of Coventrians!

An explanation session about the ELVs to be used during this next season will be given on Saturday 26 July at the Club House starting at 2pm. This is for players, officials and supporters and it is expected that ALL players should attend (1st XV and 2nd XV)!

Pre Season Training

2008-06-07T09:58:00.003+01:00

Pre Season training starts, in earnest, on Tuesday 15 July 2008. If you don't want these sessions to hurt, too much, then make sure you get some fitness in before this date.

Remember training this season will be on Tuesdays AND Thursdays!

Touch on Tuesdays, fun sessions on Saturdays!

ALL PLAYERS

2008-04-20T07:33:00.002+01:00

Whether you have been asked to play on Saturday or not, will all players get to the club house for 12 (noon) on Saturday 26 April 2008.

Player Develoment Plans

2008-03-30T13:20:00.002+01:00

I'm planning to do some player developmet plans for each of you. This will entail each of you completing a questionnaire about your awareness of what and how you use techniques on the field of play and training, usually by a number out of 10. The coaches sit together and mark each player, then one by one we compare the results. Before doing this, I would like to know if you think that it'sa good idea, worthwhile doing and that you want to do this. Let me know what you think over the next couple of weeks please. If no one says anything then I will take it that YOU DO want to do this!!!

Regards
Mitch

My Key Principles

2008-02-28T11:07:00.005Z

These are my five key principles of the game. In RED. I hope you can see how what we've been doing in training supports my principles!!!???

Firstly we have to have the ball (gain & maintain possession) to be able to do something with it – this involves winning the ball from set phases - making sure that our lineout and scrum are working effectively, that we are winning the ball from kick-offs and that we are
competing for the ball in contestable phases. These contestable phases include scrums
(to a lesser extent) and lineouts, but more particularly, rucks and mauls and at the
tackle. It also involves keeping the ball when we have it, through effective ball retention methods. Going forward is simply moving towards the opposition’s goal-line, bearing in mind that the objective of the game is winning by scoring points. So the thing to bear in mind here is how well we are doing in terms of moving towards the target zone.
It’s not that effective if we are doing all sorts of fancy stuff behind the advantage line, the question is how well are we doing in terms of taking the ball forward. It’s OK to go backwards or sideways, if the end result is going forward. Do we have players running straight? Are they moving towards the opponent’s goal-line, whether quickly, or more slowly?

Supporting the ball carrier is crucial if we wish to go forward. When a player’s progress is halted, supporting players are needed to be able to take the pass and continue the attack. Some questions to ask here are:

are our players supporting the ball carrier quickly enough;

are they supporting with depth;

are they communicating:
are they making themselves available through effective positioning?

Continuity is about maintaining the attack. Clearly, effective support play is important to continuity, but so are running effective lines; recognising and using space; and efficient ball recycling when a tackle, ruck or maul takes place (which necessitates sound body position into contact and good ball presentation). So ask yourself if I'm performing these functions effectively are my team mates? What are you going to do about it if they're not? (But you MUST Stay positive!!!!!!).

Maintaining pressure is important both on attack and defence.

On of offence, this is about attacking clear weaknesses, or attacking in such a way that we create weaknesses whether through mismatches (e.g. backs running at tight forwards) or through creating space through your attack by committing defenders elsewhere.

On defence, pressure is created by having an effective and efficient defensive system which we all understand and adhere to. It’s about making first up tackles and continuing to make them. It’s about cutting down our opponent’s time and space by sound, pressurising defence. So again, ask yourself how well are we adhering to these principles of pressure, both on attack and on defence.

Very Tight End to the Season

2008-02-18T10:53:00.004Z

Midlands 6 West (SE)
Show:

Midlands 6 West (SE)
Short FormatLong Format
Team P W D L F A Diff Pts Adjust
Coventry Technical 12 10 0 2 411 117 294 20 0
Stoke Old Boys 13 9 0 4 357 176 181 18 0
Old Wheatleyans 12 10 0 2 304 178 126 18 -2
Coventrians 12 8 0 4 294 148 146 16 0
Atherstone 12 8 0 4 207 124 83 16 0
Coventry Saracens 13 4 0 9 138 301 -163 8 0
Warwickian 13 3 1 9 104 365 -261 7 0
Trinity Guild 12 2 1 9 147 328 -181 5 0
Rugby Welsh 11 0 0 11 99 324 -225 0 0
Last Updated: Feb 16 2008 5:10PM

Midlands 6 West (SE)
Show:
All Outstanding Fixtures

Saturday, 01 March 2008
Coventry Saracens Vs. Atherstone
Coventry Technical Vs. Coventrians
Rugby Welsh Vs. Warwickian
Trinity Guild Vs. Stoke Old Boys

Saturday, 08 March 2008
Atherstone Vs. Coventrians
Coventry Saracens Vs. Trinity Guild
Old Wheatleyans Vs. Coventry Technical
Stoke Old Boys Vs. Rugby Welsh

Saturday, 29 March 2008
Atherstone Vs. Trinity Guild
Coventrians Vs. Old Wheatleyans
Coventry Technical Vs. Warwickian
Rugby Welsh Vs. Coventry Saracens

Saturday, 12 April 2008
Old Wheatleyans Vs. Atherstone
Stoke Old Boys Vs. Coventry Technical
Trinity Guild Vs. Rugby Welsh
Warwickian Vs. Coventrians

Analysis
Coventry Tech (assumes win all games less ours) have 26 pts (max if we win)
Stoke Old Boys assumes win all games except V Cov Tech) have 22pts
Old Wheatleyans (assume win all games except us and Cov Tech) have 20 pts
Coventrians (assumes win all games) have 24 pts
Atherston (assumes win except us and Old Wheats) have 20 pts

To do this we need Everyone training, switched on, disciplined ..... DO YOU WANT IT?

Prepare mentally, get it right you earn promotion!!!

Rugby is a Game of Evasion

2008-02-12T11:48:00.000Z

During the last couple of weeks during training sessions, I’ve been trying to get you all to think about rugby as a game of evasion NOT one of contact! Sorry props – welcome to the modern game!!

We have done a couple of routines to make us think about our lines of running, but what is the purpose of these sessions. Well, the first thought is footwork (think about the amazing try in the Barbarians v the All Blacks game in 1973 at Cardiff), the second is that players must carry the ball in TWO HANDS and the third is to try and catch the defender off balance!

Have a look at these two diagrams. What do you think it’s trying to show? We’ve got some brilliant runners in our club, with everybody else more than capable of doing what is being shown in the diagram. Have a think, do you do this in a game? How about practicing it as you walk down the street against other people, lamp posts, signs etc? Think about your weight over your feet allowing you to move to your other foot with acceleration?

Through the development of the sidestep and use of footwork, you will develop a better understanding of weight transference, flexibility of the ankle, the use of this technique to maintain movement of the defender and, ultimately, you will develop the ability to change direction quickly whilst maintaining forward movement. This can be achieved within two or three foot placements.

The technique discussed will also provide you with the ability to manage the contact area to your advantage by using a number of the options as above.

These options and the roles of support players to maintain continuity will be developed in future articles, but the key to effective attacking is simple –

MAINTAIN CONTINUITY – DON’T DIE WITH THE BALL!

Training Nights

2008-01-28T10:21:00.000Z

The Coventry University Rugby League players use our facilities for training on a Monday night. We've been considering the possibility of doing some joint training session with them. Could you please let Stuart or myself know whether doing some training on Monday is OK for you!!

Training this week is STILL on TUESDAY!!!!!!

Coaching Courses

2008-01-28T10:12:00.000Z

As most people know, Stuart Barr has come back to us in a playing capacity but he has also agreed to take on a coaching role and is taking responsibility for the forwards.

Coventrians have some agressive plans and as part of it we are looking at starting up a colts side with a possible feeder to them. That means that we are looking for coaches to look after these age groups and we need at least 2 RFU qualified coaches per team with at least one in each team as a level 2.

We will also need to have some more qualified referees as we will not be able to rely on WRFU to supply all our needs for Sunday games!

If you are interested in becoming a coach or a referee, will you let me know a soon as possible, either in person on Tuesday evening or Saturday or call me on 0116 233 4388.

Conventrians New Selection Policy?

2008-01-02T16:13:00.000Z

A Happy and Prosperous New Year to ALL !

As part of the selection criteria the following exam will be administered to all potential players. Please take time to complete the questions associated with your position. If you are unsure what your position is, ask a fellow player.

Forwards:

1. My favorite position is:
q q a. Touch Judge
q q b. Anywhere
q q c .Missionary
q q d .CEO
2. 2. Before a match I should always:
q q a. Eat
q q b. Bathe
q q c. Be sure to have a BM
q q d. All of the above
3. 3. If my opponent is laying on the ground I should:
q q a. Offer a hand up
q q b. Ask what he’s doing down there
q q c. Step on him
q q d. Check his pulse
4. 4. Whenever I have the ball I should:
q q a. Pass it to one of those little guys
q q b. Eat it
q q c. Kick it real far
q q d. Score
5. 5. The most important thing to have on the pitch is:
q q a. A surly attitude
q q b. My shorts
q q c. Food
q q d. Tiny opposing forwards
6. 6. When the Referee says I am ‘fringing” I:
q q a. Need to hem my shorts
q q b. Hit him
q q c. Run back 10 meters
q q d. Have no idea what he is talking about
7. 7. In rugby a “try” is:
q q a. A touchdown
q q b. Worth 5 points
q q c. Something the backs never do
q q d. I have no idea
8. 8. The thing I most enjoy about rugby is:
q q a. Laughing at the backs
q q b. It’s so easy to cheat
q q c. The after match socials
q q d. All of the above

Backs:

1. 1. My favorite position is:
q q a. Missionary
q q b. Anywhere
q q c. Way back
q q d. Hairdresser
2. 2. Before a match I should always:
q q a. Cry
q q b. Iron my shorts
q q c. Lay out my evening dress
q q d. All of the above
3. 3. If my opponent is laying on the ground I should:
q q a. Cry
q q b. Call for a doctor
q q c. Skip away from him
q q d. Hold his head in my lap until help arrives
4. 4. Whenever I have the ball I should:
q q a. Cry
q q b. Throw it way high in the air
q q c. Hand it to my opponent so he won’t hit me
q q d. At least take a stab at moving it forward
5. 5. The most important thing to have on the pitch is:
q q a. My comb
q q b. A handkerchief
q q c. Starched Jersey
q q d. Clean panties
6. 6. When the Referee says I am “fringing” I:
q q a. Cry
q q b. Throw my nose up and skip back into position
q q c. Do all three
q q d. Have no idea what he is talking about
7. 7. In Rugby a “try” is:
q q a. Something the forwards never do
q q b. Something my opponent did several times
q q c. I have no idea
q q d. A touchdown
8. 8. The thing I most enjoy about rugby is:
q q a. Meeting a lot of nice young men
q q b. Dressing up for the socials
q q c. The pre-match huddle
q q d. All of the above

Answers: NO CHEATING: (b,d,c,d,a,c,b,d)

The Laws of the Game of Rugby

2007-12-21T11:34:00.000Z

If you get a quiet moment over Xmas, it might be an interesting exercise to have a look at the Laws of the Game of Rugby! If I were a GREAT coach and could get all our players to run with the ball, pass brilliantly off both hands, get all players perfectly positioned to support the play and get every one to make perfect decisions in attacking and preserving space, we would play some absolutely entertaining rugby. But what's missing? The only laws in the book that would be concerned with this style of play would be whether the pass was forward and was there obstruction (crossing)!

I pose the question then, how many tackles, rucks, mauls, scrums, line-outs, etc does the law book say that there must be in a game of rugby?

Well ... ... ... Eeerrrrrrrrr ... ... ... Uuuummmmmm ... ... ... There's actually no trick here, the laws doesn't demand any! So if we could play as prescribed above, we have actually minimised the affect of a referee and played entertaining rugby. But this can only happen when we have possession of the ball!

So something like 70% of the laws of the game of Rugby are concerned with the competition for the possession of the ball!!!

Last Tuesday, at training, the backs and Mikey were introduced to a new defensive aproach to our game, which I'm hoping will get us far more turn over!

I'm going to try and do something new every fortnight for this page, so next article will be in the New Year. Merry Xmas and a happy New Year to all.