Rugby League Coaching Manuals

From the RLCM Coachtalk Yearbook published in the year 2000....Fulton, Lewis, Langer, Johns, all these players have at one stage of their career been heralded as the best the game of Rugby League has to offer. Fulton was an undoubtedly talented centre, gifted in both ingenuity and an uncanny ability to breach defences. Lewis was a born leader, an inspirer of men.

Langer possessed an unrivalled short-kicking game and the courage of a giant, while Johns has taken over the mantle with his seemingly effortless precision in attack and defence.

But for all their differing styles and diverse approaches to the game, the one thing that all four have in spades is the ultimately important quality of impulse - the ability to seize an opportunity with a quick, decisive action.

Impulse is a characteristic that is often referred to as a born talent, but this is not entirely true. It is true that being born into certain family environments may alter the degree of impulse and willingness to act upon it, however, generally it is there to be nurtured by coaches and is simply ignored.

So how can this most precious of quantities be harvested in a manner
that is advantageous to all parties concerned?

There is no coincidence in the fact that Premiership coaches Chris
Anderson and Wayne Bennett have reached the pinnacle of success in
back-to-back seasons, both at the club level and on the International
arena.

The duo are two of the most respected coaches currently in the
NRL and significantly, they control teams that heavily accentuate all
facets of competitive impulse play.

At the Melbourne Storm, Anderson presides over one of the most 'naturally instinctive' halves combinations in the world - Brett Kimmorley and Scott Hill - innate communicators with the ability to turn a game on its head in just a matter of seconds.

Yet, the eight-Test veteran does not consign his thoughts on impulse towards only his most skilful ballplayers, he believes every member of his squad has the ability to contribute significantly and should have the confidence to do so.

"If you sit down and watch all the videos of your team’s games
throughout the year, generally you will find - particularly at the elite level - that only 20 per cent of your tries come from set moves or structured play," advises Anderson.

"Therefore it is absolutely vital that you develop the players’ impulse component to a higher level. A lot of players have had their careers stunted or not develop at all because coaches have imposed too much structure at an early age and, in effect, trained the skill out of them.

"At Melbourne we try to reverse that by teaching the players to work for their teammates and capitalise on opportunities for the advantage of the team.

"The psychology behind this is that players who were previously restricted won’t usually feel guilty or stupid or whatever if they use their impulses to help somebody else out, rather than solely for the benefit of themself.......... from Coachtalk Yearbook published 2000, click here to order your eBook copy, your will be reading it today