Rugby League Coaching Manuals

 Question 2 - I have been asked to coach an Under 8 local side, I have not had any experience with coaching such a young team and need a few tips for training. I am lacking basic skill building drills.

Answer 2 (a)
When coaching an Under 8 side the important things are:
1) The basics;
2) Fun
I actually had to work with an U/8's coach at the start of this season, who wasn't sure why she was back coaching, no-one was having much fun and they weren't winning many games. She was looking for some secret success, some really technical NRL secrets that other U/8 coaches didn't know.

I watched the first training session, which consisted of set drills which looked very impressive, like any other Rugby League coaching session. The players went through their patterns however they didn't learn anything, they were bored and fighting.

My advice to her was - you have an U/8's birthday party and the caterer's van has broken down, you have to wait for 45 minutes before the cake, videos and food arrives. Your son has invited 12 of his mates over and they are all looking at you, what are you going to do?

Her answer (as I'm sure most parents would be): Play some games. There is your training session - pick some kids games that they like ...What's The Time Mr Wolf, Rob The Nest. Talk to the parents of your team and learn some games, modify them to add a football and/or tackling and you have your training session.

Give the kids a mini game at the end of the session with a basic structure to follow e.g. who runs 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc. And that's it.

By the way her team's results this year
Win,
Loss 18-19
Loss 12-19
Win 15-10
Win 39-5

Remember this is a team that wasn't doing too well last year and now they are playing games and still producing on the football field, learning skills and having fun ... they'll be back.

Answer 2 (b)
I have started this year coaching U7s. I Started with the basic plan;

Rule 1. To have fun

Rule 2. If kids this age are having fun you can teach them anything.

Rule 3. Have no pressure on them from winning or losing (thats a big persons' thing winning or losing)

Rule 4. After games I don't tell them if they won or lost its not my expectation, it's how they play thats my expectation of them.

Rule 5. At the beginning of the season I set out the rules that I require them to follow at training and to their team mates.

Rule 6. As the season goes on I have worked on each of the kids separately to improve the things that they lack because you are teaching individuals that play in a team.

Rule 7. If all of the above fail refer back to Rule 1.