the emphasis on playing games instead of practicing, and winning at the expense of teaching the game the right way
Read this outstanding article on the website ChangingtheGameProject.com:
http://changingthegameproject.com/the-enemy-of-excellence-in-youth-sports/
I coach club rugby in rural kzn so every year in the beginning of the season I get a few first timers. My senior’s know by now that the first few weeks of practice is skill drills combined with fitness. The local school started to send their senior rugby players to practice with my team. It is awesome to see those boys apply in games what they learn practicing with the men. An added bonus is that I recruit some players for the future. My humble opinion is that without basic skill your game can not grow
@BOG: That is the recipe for sustainable excellence. That is also why you would find the whole GCB coaching team at Jake’s Winning Ways. And why you would see the slow ball management that they were taught being implemented in all the teams.
I am trying to teach the kids the “punch” pass, if I see them 10 years from now being able to execute it I would be content….
I see some are getting wiser. I believe that the most intensive coaching at GCB, takes place at “D” and “E” and lower levels. Brendon Venter het reeds 12-15 jaar gelede gese dat die gebrek aan vaardighede by skoolspelers in SA, die grootste struikelblok is. Daar was twee uitsonderings- GCB was een en n Kaapse skool, die ander. Murray Mexted (as opbouende kritiek) het dit beaam.
@GarsieOuer: Dis my punt. Op /16 vlak moet die basiese vaardighede al op ‘n redelike standaard wees. Oor die commitment kan ek nie kommentaar lewer nie, miskien speel die seuns te min saam om vir mekaar te begin bloei.
@akw: Is jy by onder 15’s by Garsfontein? Ek was gister by my seun se o/16 game by Midstream. Regtig teleurgesteld met basic skills en commitment.
Al speel jy C span, moet jy darem probeer speel.
@akw: This is unfortunately a very common occurrence at schools.
We managed to build a very competitive team at a small school by developing skills, fitness and implementing a game plan around the strengths of the boys
. We went from a “forwards may not touch the ball” to a team that gave a few big schools a surprise by letting the forwards carry often.
Even today I see players being forced into positions with which they are not comfortable and eventually causing these guys to quit and be lost to rugby forever.
Not to mention teams being picked around the braai fire at many smaller schools.
I am in full agreement with the article.
I started coaching at school level this year after some years being involved with club rugby. We always lamented how players come through many years at school level, join us as /19s and cannot do basic skill executions. Now I understand why.
The players I coach is in Gr 9 and at present do not stand a snowball’s chance in hell to play for the A team. They are smaller and weaker than the A team players, but what is most worrying is their poor basic skill levels. So I just coach skills, and hopefully after their growth spurt they will be able to do their position specific skills well.
My sister’s son played prop at primary school, and was told in no uncertain terms that he is not allowed to be a ball carrier as it was not the pattern they were supposed to play. Never heard anything so ridiculous in my life.
And often I see game plans and patterns being run and practiced, while the passing and catching is woeful. I cannot see this being of any benefit to the players, as they are only reinforcing poor execution.