Why is it that you can make a career out of rugby if you are good enough except in the field of coaching?
It is a question I have been struggling with for about a week now after a New Zealand rugby fan asked me firstly if I think we have world class coaches to which I replied that I can arguably count them on one hand. His follow-up question was predictable but no-less important; “Why?”
Indeed ‘why’?
With a country so rich in rugby resources and tradition why is it that we cannot turn out world class coaches, or leaders in the coaching environment at will?
It really comes down to a combination of things, but two things for me stand out – one is more of a global problem but the second I believe is one we can easily address.
It seems that in professional sport there is a trend globally that past players usually end up as coaches once they hang up their boots. This in itself on the surface is not a bad thing necessarily, some guys become great coaches and their experience of playing at international level in many ways prepares them for the pressures of coaching there.
But then you also have the old thing that not all players become good coaches (there are many examples of this) and you also run the risk of falling into the trap of not being innovative enough or changing as the game changes – a case of doing what worked when you played when the rest of the world has moved on.
Innovation is a big thing in coaching and that is arguably the biggest challenge for ex-player coaches. The Springboks have just recently been accused of showing no innovation and being overtaken by teams they dominated last year. You obviously also run the risk of not modernizing yourself as a coach by including necessary elements or expertise in modern sport such as specialised conditioning/fitness experts, bio-mechanics experts and of course the psychological or mental experts to name a few as you did not ‘need them when you were a player’.
Coaches often limit themselves more than structures or the environment they operate in do, and this is the most obvious failing from ex-player coaches.
Some even believe that guys who have/had a massive passion and love for the game at a young or junior/amateur level, but knew and understood their limitations as players and always had to innovate themselves to keep up with the more talented guys are the ones who will apply the same type of innovation as coaches…
The second problem is one that can be managed however.
Rugby is a professional sport, meaning that you can make a career out of the game like many do at the moment. Aspects or certain areas of the game compliment or help you to achieve this through the structures in place like player and referee structures, but some progression structures specifically in coaching is non-existent.
If a rugby player is good enough to make it to the highest level, or even a level where he can make a decent living out of the game, there is a set structure to support him.
From schoolboy level you have systems like Craven Week in place, this progress to club level where local and national competitions allow you to progress through the ranks. Naturally and if you are good enough, you end up in union structures with stepping stone platforms like the Vodacom Cup through to Currie Cup, Super 14 and eventually Springbok rugby.
Throughout this process the demands get more on the individual, but they also improve and learn additional skills and with experience become better players. The best make it to the top but some might just hit the ceiling at Currie Cup level but even then, a system backed them up and helped them make a career out of the game of union.
No such thing exists for coaching or individuals interested in becoming coaches.
In recent years academies have sprung up in South Africa and although a few are closely linked to unions, even they do not provide you with a platform to progress as a coach.
In fact, those who end up in coaching, like what happened to me in the past, became involved completely by chance and being in the right place at the right time.
Of course no system will guarantee vast numbers of successful coaches being delivered but modern day coaching is more than just carrying a whistle on a training pitch directing players. Like any career there are areas of specialization that opens up for individuals or which suits their specific strengths, like psychology, mechanics, analysis and planning, skills, fitness, defense, attack, kicking, contact, running and many other specific areas of specialization in which they can move into which all forms part of the environment or challenges of coaching.
Like all players are not destined to become Springboks, not all coaches will be destined to become head or senior coaches but at least through a proper system or structure, we can ensure that we produce specialists or coaches who are innovators and leaders.
Currently two of our top 5 unions in South Africa are coached by foreign coaches and all of them are coached by ex-players, some hanging up their playing boots as recently as 2005!
This is not to question their quality as coaches, but it is a clear indication to the pattern which is followed and perhaps answers the Kiwi-rugby supporter’s question as to why we struggle in South Africa to produce quality coaches in which I would have to use at least both hands to do a roll call!
September 10th, 2010 at 11:20 am
Good article Morne.
Arsene Wenger is the best example of a coach who never really played at any competitive level yet this objectivity is his advantage.
I have seen the system of coaching qualification in SA via my dad, who often attends workshops and writes exams etc.
The literature and the methodology is not bad but it lacks creativity no doubt.
Also the difference between the quality you see at primary and secondary schools is too wide. Primary schools just want to win. Coaches tailor an entire game strategy around the fat kid.
In high school players are taught to look for space instead of contact.
I believe if primary school coaching is better, coaches at high school level and beyond will have more freedom to be creative as opposed to constantly have to drum in basics
September 10th, 2010 at 11:30 am
then at pro level our coaches need to be exposed to other codes where coaching has been professional for a longer time.
You look at Stoney Steenkamp from Pumas, Chaka Willemse etc. These coaches have no idea how to interact with the media.
Same with peter, who is perhaps the best example of a ‘good’ coach who totally lack any exposure to a professional coaching setup. My dad is the same. Very good coach but cannot use any professional tools to get his message across.
Harry Viljoen understood this, but was not a good coach between the 4 lines. White understood that the better your support staff the better you will be.
But SA rugby stes no benchmark. After White is plain stupid that Peter had the powers to dismantle what White set up support wise.
But its the same at school and clubs. Every coach comes in to re-invent the wheel.
September 10th, 2010 at 11:32 am
we have so much to learn from soccer and american football. our coaches funnily enough seem more willing to do so than the boys at SARU.
The other question you have to ask his why there is a need for Winning Ways type concept when its SARU who is supposed to host these events on a monthly basis countrywide?
September 10th, 2010 at 11:33 am
Reply to Brendon Shields @ 11:30 am:
Stonehouse was the coach of my school at Ermelo.
September 10th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
“Indeed ‘why’?”
I refer you to one of your favourite quotes about opinions and arseholes.
There, answered your question, what next?
September 10th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
stonehouse yes.
he apparently took the wife of the headmaster of waterkloof who’ son is one of the dodgy 4.
seems to be a good coach but has an aura of amateurism about him
September 10th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Reply to Deon @ 1:34 pm:
Yip that is indEEd a given
the opinion quote
What are doing up so early on a Saturday Morning ButibriZZ?
reading up on KaTTer’s biography?
September 10th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Reply to WiLLem @ 2:05 pm:
Still Friday night mate.
Going to bed soon.
Reply to Brendon Shields @ 11:20 am:
Every coach has his own ideas.
I had a giggle last week. As U6 coaches we are on the field here to help the ref organise the kids and it is still a struggle. So during the game last week I heard the opposing coach tell his players that ons is the wing, the other is the centre, etc. Now this is 7 a side with double hand tag as defense. Why I giggled is that you can setup the kids as much as you like, but the moment the play continues they ALL just go in one direction and that is to where the ball is. But yet he has his way of doing things and I had another philosophy. For me it was just to build the hunger for the ball and looking for space to run to.
Very simple goals, but they were achieved and in the background I managed to get them to focus on basic skills of passing, catching and running at space.
This year I heard of defensive patterns and structures from other coaches. I guess that is their approach, mine was simple let them have fun and actually come back next year. And of course get them fit.
September 10th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Reply to WiLLem @ 2:05 pm:
Hehehehe
Don;t know the guy, but at least he stayed true to electorate. Unlike Oakeshott, or Jokeshott as he has affectionately become to be known over the past 4 days.
What i do not understand is that the counting is not even finished yet. Shit how can it take them 3 weeks to count 14 million votes. I mean in SA they count 30 million in less than 2 weeks.
And then of course the last of the “3 stooges” only supported Labor for their broadband plan, but doesn’t know how to use a computer. That said however, the conservatives really made some silly errors. They should have walked this thing. What I fear the most is that it is now confirmed that every person I bump into on the street, I have to realise their is a 50% chance he/she is a communist supporter.
September 10th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Reply to Deon @ 2:24 pm:
yip- the whole election down there did make some interesting reading- much more that the tri-nations rugby- to my opinion- aDD to that an over eager olympic swiMMer and there is a lot to find amusing.
Whether every second Bruce & Sheila is a “coMMie” or not( maybe the so caLLed “behoudendes” is worldwide aLLergetic to social responsibility)
one thing is clear
neither GiLLard nor aBBoTT has cemented their leadership spots.
GueSS KruDD, and the previous Libs bo$$ is having a gOOde chuckle over a Bundaberg.
Saw on one of the threads your lAAitie played weLL this year
Congrats
September 10th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Reply to WiLLem @ 2:33 pm:
Actually I found the election a joke. Everybody asking for policies, blah, blah, blah. Geeah there is just so much policies one can have before it becomes too much and most are already complaining about the nanny state. Like I said to one guy, Why don’t you just ask for a government that can manage responsibly?
The problem for the previous Libs boss is that he at one stage wanted to be a Lab member. That was his undoing.
Thanks, Ja he played well and I actually felt for him in the last 2 games. He was really doing everything(one of the opposing teams’ parents dubbed him “The Machine” in the last game). Inherited one of my bad traits in that he throws all caution to the wind when he gets frustrated. But shit he is a pleasure to watch then, although I won’t want him to do that when the real shit starts in 18 months time.
September 10th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
What haPPens in 18 months?
Puberty?
September 10th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Reply to WiLLem @ 2:41 pm:
Nah full contact. And believe me they can’t wait. They just want to tackle.
September 10th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Reply to Deon @ 2:48 pm: Ah
OK
Forgot it is a naNNy state!
September 10th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Reply to WiLLem @ 2:54 pm:
Ja ja
Luckily the parents are not nannies. They actually prefer the kids getting bit ruffed up.
I had this one kid that was really very tentative and 3 weeks ago I just got fedup with his “softness”( his mom threatens him with ballet classes if he doesn’t want to shape up). So I just told him to toughen up, it is rugby not tiddlywinks. Should have done that the beginning of the season. He made some great progress after our little talk, or rather me talking and him listening.
September 10th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
September 10th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Reply to Deon @ 3:00 pm:
Yip
CaLL of Duty is a leKKe PSP game – no real eFFort required
Rugby – no that is something else!
Reply to Deon @ 3:11 pm:
HowZit DawieEs
September 10th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Reply to Deon @ 3:00 pm:
you coaching young kids. try this trick.
if their hands are shaky, let the kid who must catch the ball sit on a ledge or on a high part of the stands etc.
Then ensure he who throws the ball is lower the catcher.
Now chuck him the ball ‘upwards’, with th catcher simply having to make the basket to catch the ball.
It really works to get the confidence up of kids who worry that they cannot catch.
Ballsense I have found is largely a mental thing. If you fear you might miss you likely will.
But the more success you have the better you become.
try it and let me know.
September 10th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Reply to Brendon Shields @ 3:25 pm:
I must say I don’t have a problem in that area with them. The only problem at this stage is with 2 boys who is tentative to put their bodies on the line for the ball.
But I will still try it, just for the sake of it.
September 10th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Reply to Deon @ 3:11 pm:
Gaan slaap
Given what you did to that girl you lot are all
September 10th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Reply to Brendon Shields @ 3:25 pm:
I had them line up one night passing the ball to each other down the line and back. I told them that we will not stop unless they could complete 15 passes without dropping the ball.
It took us 20 minutes to achieve and they were lekka pissed off.
Following week I did the same thing. 2 minutes and we were finished. From there started them moving while passing and catching and even that was accomplished much quicker than I anticipated.
Only problem is to get them to get in position behind the ball carrier. Never thought that concept could be so difficult.
Any ideas on that?
September 10th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Reply to DavidS @ 3:30 pm:
What girl? I never said anything about you. Promise.
September 10th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Reply to Deon @ 3:27 pm:
yes do. the main thing is when a ball is passed ‘up’, the receivers hands are naturally ‘soft’.
this is a good way to teach the concept of ‘soft hands’ to small kids.
The also associate ‘soft’ hands with catching well, as its almost impossible to knock a ball when its passed upwards.
I also would not worry too much about the scared kids at that age. Their fear will help them seek space instead of contact!
September 10th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Reply to Brendon Shields @ 3:34 pm:
You are right they do seek the space. The space right at the back on OUR tryline.
September 10th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Reply to Deon @ 3:31 pm:
Put a hosepipe across the field.
9 stands on the pipe and the rest spread out. every player passes ‘back’ once he gets close to pipe. Final player must have ball before crossing pipe.
We did this with half a brick in a sock.
Lets kids look very carefully at the object being passed to them! Eyes improve
Plus pipe thing lets them pass backward, run straight and sommer achieve ‘whiplash’.
You do this 10 times and then replace brick with ball and tell them to speed it up.
The whole thing revolves around their fear of the brick. Makes them really concentrate. Then the small matter of running straight and passing back is secondary to their own safety.
You wont ever see 7 year olds focus this hard. No-one mucks about.
September 10th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Reply to Deon @ 3:37 pm:
hehehehehehe!
my cricket coach taught me good thing for the kids who blink the whole time out of fear. You know in rugby the kids also blink when they are scared of contact.
He lets them smack their own cheeks and the side of the head and back and front of head etc with their eyes open. He makes them do this over and over and over.
Again the trick is to divert their little minds from the fact that theu are scared by letting them focus on something totally different, like keeping your eyes open.
Never ever though tell them they are scared. Just tell them to keep their eyes open.
I have not tried this in rugby but it worked with cricket.
September 10th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Reply to Brendon Shields @ 3:44 pm:
What was funny is that everybody warned me that you have to keep them interested and change the “games” in training as quickly as possible otherwise they get bored. Very true, but then on the udder hand Darren, you need to build the memory. I tried that and wasn;t very impressed.
The other new age is that “punishment” gets you nowhere. Bull shit. After the mastered the art of this passing, I realised they slow down the passes to make sure they get it right. So what is the solution? Speed up the pass or yourun around the posts. Drop the ball and you run around the posts. Throw a shit pass and you run around the post. In short if you do not concentrate, you atleast will get fit. It worked like a dream. Everything after that, was simple. Concentrate or you get to visit the posts. Muck around and you get visit the posts. Funny thing is that it worked. I guess there is no substitute for discipline after all.
September 10th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Reply to Deon @ 3:54 pm:
new age methodology does not work in sport.
Its discipline, courage, never-say-die – ell the old values that get kids excited.
You can do one complicated thing for an entire day and threaten them with all kinds of things to get them to get it right. If they do get it right, it sinks in. They feel satisfied. They have achieved something.
At my old school they now teach under 14 backline players only 5 things for an entire season:
head position in tackle
skip one
double skip
hands through in tackle
‘pull’ you man to create space for dude next to you.
5 things! A whole year! No other tricks.
But do you know how happy these kids are in game 7 when not one player makes a single mistake? Those 5 things stick for the rest of their lives. Under 15, they get 5 more!
September 10th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Reply to Deon @ 3:54 pm:
Jassas! Wil jy my sê jy het
in OZ met sulke Boeresielkunde
en oudag metodes weggekom sonder
dat jy vir mishandeling aangekla
is?
September 10th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 4:06 pm:
is snaaks dat Oz vir Vickerman terugbring vir ‘grunt’. Tog sou Daniel nie in SA rerig as `n rowwe ou bestempel word nie.
Fokkit gepraat van slotte, daardie Hargreaves doen baie goed maar die seun is dun jong.
September 10th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
talking of “grunt”
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blog/blazin-saddles/article/1162/
I know you guys believe that RugbyUnion is/are the only sport in the world- but this arti is gOOde enough for a Friday night
PS would have bEEn gOOde enough for BraNNasnacht in the heydeys as weLL!!
September 11th, 2010 at 6:25 am
Reply to Boertjie @ 4:06 pm:
Nee hierso is die meeste mense nog normaal. Die tree hugging do-gooders is in die suide, spesifiek Victoria en Tasmania.
Hoekom dink het die meeste van die Aussie rugby spelers iewers in hulle verlede ‘n link met Queensland? NSW en Queensland voorsien die res en as jy die verkiesing hier gevolg het, sou jy ook gesien dit is hier waar die kommunististe die kiesers moet “koop” anders sou hulle noit ‘n kans gehad het nie.
Net soos die Rebels altyd spelers sal moet koop. Die beste league span in die suide is dan hierdie jaar uitgevang dat hulle die salary cap reels verbreek het om spelers te moet kry. Die ouens daar onder is almal ‘n klomp sissies. Om dit nog beter te verduidelik: hulle grootste 2 sporte is Aussie rules en sokker. Die twee lafhartigste bal sporte in die wereld verseker.