How does a coach help lift a player to the next level of their potential? Be they 6, 16 or 36?
I think the next level is all about the appreciation of space. If a coach can coax a full team into thinking about space on the pitch he has pushed them to the next level. Contact is no longer an eventuality but an option. A team where players are able to both give the ball and receive the ball in space is a team that is able to really enjoy their game, exploit the gaps in any defence and play exciting rugby.
Touch Rugby is perfect for introducing this SPACE NOT FACE philosophy.
Avoid contact, play into the space, stay clear of the face!
3 Comments
May 1, 2008 at 7:03 am
I came into playing rugby late in life-in my mid-forties- but my Metropolis club does a lot with playing touch. It’s a great warm up before regular practice, but as far as teaching running and spatial skills, it certainly seems to have merit…and it’s a helluva lot of fun!
May 2, 2008 at 12:18 am
Yeah Steve, touch is great craic! What variation do you play? Me and my mates play 6-down, a bit like rugby league, six tips and a roll boll through the legs. Its a game that must be played with panache, unlike rugby league!
May 7, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I’m a big fan of touch. Not only is it a fairly intense physical workout (as my aching lims will verify today) but it’s great for developing basic handling skills, an appreciation of space and the value of good communication in defence. Sadly it can also be a reality check for those of us who are deluded enough to think that we can keep up with the youngsters! :)