1) Enjoy it. We play rugby because we love the game. We enjoy it even more when we get our hands on the ball make a play or create space for the players around us. Encourage your players, 1 to 15, to get their hands on the ball and enjoy their rugby. It will take time but if you keep at it your players will adapt this philosophy of enjoyment and your brand of attacking rugby.
2) Look beyond the mistakes. With younger players I don’t think this point can be emphasised enough. If you make Attacking Rugby one of the key goals for your team expect there to be mistakes. Mistakes that will cost you games, mistakes that will question your sanity, mistakes that will test your patience to the limits of reason. The great thing about playing Attacking Rugby is you, as a coach, are forced to hand over responsibility to the players. You have to trust their skill level, their ability and their decision-making. In the short term results may not go your way, but its a steep learning curve and the empowered players are a formidable opponent for anyone.
3) Give them the skills. Learn the fundamentals of grubber kicks, cross field kicks, passing blind, one handed passing, the “italian” pass. Learn it yourself then pass it on to the players. If you don’t know something don’t be afraid to ask or pick up a book or browse youtube. The resources are out there and most players are capable of executing these skills once you let them practice!
4) Praise the assist. The players who create the opportunity for the scores must be lauded for their contribution to the team. Make this a big deal. Its a team game, who cares who gets the tries as long as we get them? The important thing is we have 15 players who are capable of seeing, creating and executing the opportunities to score!
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