#309 Rusty Earnshaw & Danny Newcombe - Coaching Skills Toolbox
Dec 2, 2024
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Join Rusty Earnshaw, a former professional rugby player turned coach, and Danny Newcombe, a Senior Coach Development Manager at the Premier League, as they dive into the art of coaching. They discuss the powerful influence of psychology in sports, sharing insights on building emotional intelligence and effective communication. Rusty and Danny explore the importance of empowering players through independence and adaptability, and the significance of game intelligence in enhancing performance. Their engaging conversation offers valuable strategies for coaches at all levels.
Rusty Earnshaw and Danny Newcombe emphasize the significant role of sports psychology in coaching, particularly in understanding athletes' confidence and emotional needs.
They advocate for intentional session design that encourages problem-solving, enhancing players' decision-making skills and game intelligence through realistic challenges.
The coaches underline the importance of balancing communication, allowing players to lead their learning while fostering team dynamics and individual adaptability.
Deep dives
The Coaches' Backgrounds and Collaboration
Rusty Earnshaw and Danny Newcomb, both experienced coaches, share their backgrounds in sports and education, emphasizing their passion for coaching and player development. Rusty, a former rugby player and economics teacher, now focuses on coaching and coach development, whereas Danny, a hockey coach and recovering academic, is dedicated to helping players and coaches improve their skills. Their collaborative effort led to the creation of their book, 'Coaching Skills Toolbox,' which they use as a guide for their discussions about coaching. This partnership showcases their commitment to learning from each other and enhancing their coaching approaches through shared experiences.
The Role of Sports Psychology in Coaching
Sports psychology plays a crucial role in coaching, as both Rusty and Danny stress the importance of understanding the psychological aspects of athletes. Rusty highlights how confidence levels can influence player performance in high-pressure situations, while Danny adds that anticipating players' needs and emotions is vital for effective coaching. They discuss the significance of creating a supportive environment where athletes feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and emotions. By integrating psychological principles into their coaching practices, they aim to foster both individual and team growth.
Effective Session Design and Problem Solving
Both coaches emphasize the need for intentional session design that encourages problem-solving among players. They believe that effective coaching involves setting realistic problems for players to solve during training, which mirrors the challenges they will face in games. By allowing players to engage in decision-making processes, they enhance their game intelligence and ability to perform under pressure. This approach moves away from traditional methods where coaches often provide all the answers, fostering a culture of independent thinking and adaptability among athletes.
Interaction and Communication Among Players
The conversation delves into the importance of interactions and communication between players during practice, which is essential for developing team dynamics. Rusty and Danny argue that players should have opportunities to direct their own learning, such as peer feedback and collaborative problem solving. They also acknowledge that coaches must balance their interactions by knowing when to step back and allow players to take charge of the situation. This shift in focus from coach-centered to player-centered interaction enhances engagement and ownership of the learning process.
Individual Differences and Coach Adaptability
Recognizing individual differences in players is crucial for effective coaching, as each athlete may respond differently to various approaches. Rusty and Danny discuss the challenges coaches face when trying to meet the diverse needs of their players, highlighting the importance of being adaptable in their coaching methods. They emphasize the need for coaches to create an environment that supports both instruction and autonomy, allowing players to thrive regardless of their learning preferences. Ultimately, the ability to adjust coaching styles based on player responses leads to better communication, increased trust, and enhanced team performance.
I’m delighted to speak with Rusty Earnshaw and Danny Newcombe on this week’s episode.
Rusty is a coach and former professional rugby union player. Rusty has played Premiership rugby with West Hartlepool, Bath Rugby and Rotherham Titans, winning the European Cup whilst at Bath. In 2000 he was selected to play for the Barbarians. And he also represented England on the IRB Sevens circuit.
Since his playing days he has held various positions at the Rugby Football Union, including International Performance Coach. He is now Director at The Magic Academy, which works across sport and business supporting the development of individuals and teams.
Danny is a coach and coach developer. He is currently Senior Coach Development Manager at The Premier League. Until recently, he was a Senior Lecturer in Sport, Coaching and PE in the department of Sport, Health Sciences and Social Work at Oxford Brookes University, UK. He now holds a visiting research fellow post at Oxford Brookes.
Danny is also an international and domestic national league hockey coach. He is currently the head coach of the Men’s Welsh National Team and works extensively with a number of partners in the coach development space.
I speak with Rusty and Danny about their considerable coaching experiences and we break down some of the skills they use in their own coaching practices.
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