Contemporary sports coaching studies have moved beyond simple biophysical approaches to more complex understandings of coaching as a set of social relationships and processes. This is the first book to examine what that means in the context of one major international sport, rugby union. Drawing on cutting-edge empirical research in the five most powerful rugby-playing nations, as well as developments in pedagogical and social theory, the book argues for an holistic approach to coaching, coach development and player and team performance, helping to close the gap between coaching theory and applied practice. With player-centered approaches to coaching, such as Game Sense and Teaching Games for Understanding, at the heart of the book, it covers key contemporary topics in coach education such as: Long term coach development Experience and culture in coaching practice Positive coaching for youth rugby Improving decision-making ability Collaborative action research in rugby coaching Informed by work with elite-level rugby coaches, and examining coaching practice in both the full and sevens versions of the game, this book encourages the reader to think critically about their own coaching practice and to consider innovative new approaches to player and coach development. It is essential reading for all students of sports coaching with an interest in rugby, and for any coach, manager or administrator looking to develop better programmes in coach education.

Previous edition: published as Coaching rugby 7s. London: A. & C. Black, 2006.

Improve technique, game sense and fitness levels with the aid of Rugby Games & Drills. Developed by one of the game’s top coaches and endorsed by the Rugby Football Union, Rugby Games & Drills contains over 115 games and drills designed to bring out the very best in players, regardless of age or ability or rugby code. This book is packed with the most effective games and drills for improving core skills such as handling, kicking and decision making while providing tough physical challenges. In addition, the detailed descriptions with accompanying illustrations will help you make the most of training sessions and ensure you are ready for game day. Rugby Games & Drills is the ideal companion for coaches and players of both rugby league and rugby union looking to maximize talent and harness their potential.

The Holcroft saga, a rugby story the like of which, may never have been equalled in the history of the game. It begins over a century ago, when Mr. George Holcroft, was given charge of Leigh St. Peters R.L.F.C. in 1889. He married and when his family grew up, Jack, Harry, William and Tom all played for local teams. They married and George's grandsons Bert and Bill also played. Bert Holcroft has been a distinguished servant for the game of Rugby all his life. He holds coaching certificates from BOTH the Australian and British governing bodies - one of only a handful of men to achieve such an honour in the game's history. For 20-odd years Bert Holcroft has had one of the unlikeliest jobs in sport - teaching Australian Rugby Coaches how to coach! Considering the Australian dominance of World Rugby in recent years, that might seem a par with taking coal to Newcastle. But make no mistake, Bert Holcroft has done as much as anyone to ensure Australia's re-emergence as a major Rugby power. On the face of it, Australia wouldn't seem to need any outside help, let alone from a Pom. Their record of only one Test defeat since 1978 speaks for itself. But Bert's reputation is nation-wide "down under" - quite simply he's one of the best in the business. Bert, who played for Leigh between 1950-60, has spent much of his latter years Down Under lecturing to top-grade coaches in New South Wales. Born and bred in Cameron Street, Leigh, Bert has few peers when it comes to teaching the basics of the 13 a side game. Since emigrating in the late 60's, Bert has dedicated his life to coaching and fitness techniques. Teams in Queensland, New South Wales and Sydney have all come under his influence - often with spectacular results. Bert's credentials are impeccable. Last summer, he achieved the highest accolade in Australia - his Grade Three certificate personally signed by the then Australian league chairman Kevin Humphreys and the Director of Coaching, Peter Corcoran. Three years earlier, Bert has sailed through his Grade One and Two with flying colours. In 1953, he was awarded his senior coaching certificate in England. Bert, who held a number of posts at Hilton Park before emigrating to Australia, has spent a lot of his time heavily involved with Rugby in the universities there. He became director of coaching for the University of New South Wales and later coach of the Combined Universities side. Coaching Accreditation awarded by the Australian Institute of Sport, Department of Sport and Recreation NSW and the NSW Rugby League for administration, as well as being awarded National Coaching Certificates in both Britain and Australia - one of only a handful of people to do so. Eventually the offer of a job in Sydney came - to coach Premiership glamorous club, Eastern Suburbs.

The Holcroft saga is a rugby story the like of which may never have been equaled in the history of the game. It begins over a century ago, when Mr. George Holcroft took charge of Leigh St. Peters RLFC in 1889. He married; and when his family grew, Jack, Harry, William, and Tom all played for local teams. They married, and George’s grandsons Bert and Bill also played. Bert Holcroft has been a distinguished servant for the game of rugby all his life. He holds coaching certificates from both the Australian and British governing bodies—one of only a handful of men to achieve such an honor in the game’s history. For twenty odd years, Bert Holcroft has had one of the unlikeliest jobs in sport—teaching Australian rugby coaches how to coach! Considering the Australian dominance in the World Rugby in recent years, that might seem par with taking coal to Newcastle. But make no mistake, Bert Holcroft has done as much as anyone to ensure Australia’s reemergence as a major rugby power. On the face of it, Australia wouldn’t seem to need any outside help, let alone from a Pom. Their record of only one test defeat since 1978 speaks for itself. But Bert’s reputation is nationwide “down under”—quite simply, he’s one of the best in the business. Bert, who played for Leigh between 1950–60, has spent much of his latter years Down Under, lecturing to top-grade coaches in New South Wales. Born and bred in Cameron Street, Leigh, Bert has few peers when it comes to teaching the basics of the 13, a side game. Since migrating in the late ’60s, Bert has dedicated his life to coaching and fitness techniques. Teams in Queensland, New South Wales, and Sydney have all come under his influence—often with spectacular results. Bert’s credentials are impeccable. Last summer, he achieved the highest accolade in Australia—his grade 3 certificate personally signed by the then Australian league chairman Kevin Humphreys and the director of coaching, Peter Corcoran. Three years earlier, Bert has sailed through his grade 1 and 2 with flying colors. In 1953, he was awarded his senior coaching certificate in England. Bert, who held a number of posts at Hilton Park before immigrating to Australia, has spent a lot of his time heavily involved with rugby in the universities there. He became director of coaching for the University of New South Wales and later coach of the Combined Universities side. He was awarded coaching accreditation by the Australian Institute of Sport, Department of Sport and Recreation, New South Wales, and the NSW Rugby League for administration, as well as national coaching certificates in both Britain and Australia—being one of only a handful of people to do so. Eventually, the offer of a job in Sydney came—to coach Premiership glamorous club, Eastern Suburbs.

This short-read is the recipe book for coaching 7's rugby. It provides a concise and contemporary 7's specific coaching resource for new coaches starting out at all levels.Establishes a methodical set of priorities new 7's coaches must follow in order to assist long term fundamental 7's player development. Provides a straight-forward foundation from which a coach can build upon their own 7's coaching philosophy.

This book is the ultimate resource for players and coaches of Touch Rugby at all levels and stages of the game as well as rugby union and league players and coaches wishing to incorporate Touch principles into their training and approach. Touch Rugby is a rapidly growing game and an attractive sport to rugby coaches and players because of the core skills it develops and the high levels of fitness it encourages. The absence of contact, the high value placed on developing foundational Rugby skills, and the game's capacity to be played by men's, women's and mixed teams makes it the ideal sport for pre-season training and also to the Fitness community more generally. The book outlines player pathways from beginner to intermediate to elite. The core fitness requirements of the sport (speed, dynamism and agility) are clearly described alongside advice on programmes that encourage the development of these abilities. An essential buy for every Touch Rugby coach or player!

Praise for Eddie Jones ‘A genuine super-coach’ – The Sunday Times ‘His gifts of leadership and organisation are remarkable’ – The Daily Mail Eddie Jones is one of the most successful sports coaches of all time. From coaching three different nations to Rugby World Cup finals and enjoying a winning record with England of nearly 80 per cent, he knows what’s needed to lead and manage high performance teams. For the first time, Eddie reveals what it takes to operate in high pressure environments, the successes and setbacks, and how these lessons can be applied to every walk of life, from coaching a children’s sports team to leading a multinational organization to simply doing your job better. Forthright and unflinchingly honest, Eddie Jones reveals what he has learnt from Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger and Pep Guardiola, as well as from the founder of Uniqlo and Ron Adams of the NBA. Drawing on stories from nearly thirty years of coaching, Eddie explains how you need humour, humility and relentless curiosity to lead an eclectic mix of superstars – from Maro Itoje to James Haskell, George Smith to Kyle Sinckler – and create teams that are relentlessly hungry to win. Leadership is the ultimate rugby book about what it takes to be the best. Written with Donald McRae, two-time winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award, Leadership is the book for anyone who wants to learn how to build and lead a team to success.

Now updated–a practical guide to understanding rugby, North American—style Filled with illustrations and photographs of drills and shape-up exercises, Rugby For Dummies tackles North American rugby rules, levels of play, and how to coach junior players as well as adults. This revised edition includes the scoop on the fall 2007 rugby World Cup in France, expanded coverage of women’s rugby, and updated information on North America's best players and teams.

Try to recall the best coach you’ve ever had. Consider what differentiated them from other coaches; what made them so effective? Was it their knowledge and programming, or did it come down to the way they communicated with you and the way they made you feel? While the former are critical, it is a coach’s words that set them apart from the rest. The Language of Coaching focuses on the impact that communication has on an individual’s ability to learn and perform a movement. Written by performance coach Nick Winkelman, the book examines how instruction, feedback, and cueing can significantly affect training outcomes. Grounded in motor learning and the science of attentional focus, Winkelman takes you on a journey, guiding you through practical coaching frameworks that will help you adapt your language to the learning needs of those you support. Packed with stunning visuals, the book provides over 25 movement sequences that outline different types of coaching cues, including a visual depiction of unique analogies, such as a sprinter taking off like a jet or an athlete loading into a jump like a spring. The book is filled with a comprehensive collection of cueing frameworks that guide you through the process of creating your own cues for any movement you want to teach. You will also learn how to engage in more productive conversation with your athletes through sample dialogue that uses the book’s cueing philosophy. Whether you are new to coaching or a seasoned veteran, The Language of Coaching will help you grow as a communicator and learn how to coach the person with the same precision as you do the program. Earn continuing education credits/units! A continuing education exam that uses this book is also available. It may be purchased separately or as part of a package that includes both the book and exam.