Inside a training session with Fi Hayes, one of Ireland's top women's rugby coaches
Oct 25, 2024
auto_awesome
Fi Hayes, a former Ireland international rugby player and current head coach of Munster Women's team, shares her insights on coaching at elite levels. She discusses the importance of pressure in skill development and emphasizes the need for clear communication among players during training. Hayes explains how to assist struggling athletes without disrupting flow and the significance of integrating diverse skill levels during drills. She also highlights her coaching philosophy focused on enjoyment, collaboration, and continuous improvement within teams.
Fiona Hayes incorporates pressure and fatigue in training sessions to enhance player performance through realistic game-like scenarios and skill practice.
Effective communication on the field is prioritized, with players encouraged to vocalize actions to improve decision-making and team dynamics during play.
Deep dives
Fiona Hayes' Coaching Philosophy
Fiona Hayes emphasizes the importance of incorporating pressure and fatigue into training sessions, asserting that realistic game scenarios enhance player performance. To simulate game-like conditions, she designs drills that blend fitness with skill practice, such as a down-up drill requiring players to get up quickly and sprint over a distance, then return to a handling drill. This method not only improves fitness but also aids in developing mental resilience, as players learn to maintain focus and communication under physical strain. Hayes believes that this approach prepares athletes for the kind of scenarios they will face in actual matches.
Enhancing Communication in Training
Effective communication on the field is a key area of focus for Hayes, who encourages her players to vocalize their actions to improve overall team performance. She stresses that early and clear communication allows players to make better decisions, as they inform each other of their positioning, which can influence tactical approaches during a game. Hayes employs drills that require players to not only execute skills but also to express specific information about their movements and situations, reinforcing a culture of dialogue among teammates. By prioritizing communication, she helps players understand that talking under pressure can alleviate stress and enhance their execution of plays.
Balancing Individual and Team Development
In Hayes' coaching sessions, she strikes a balance between developing individual skills and fostering team dynamics within her diverse group of players. Recognizing the varying experience levels among team members, she believes in integrating players of different abilities during drills to cultivate inclusivity and camaraderie. When specific players struggle with their skills, she steps in with personalized feedback while allowing others to progress with the group, ensuring that the flow of training is maintained. This method not only aids in individual improvement but also builds trust and cooperation within the team as they work together towards common goals.
Innovative Session Structure and Planning
Fiona Hayes advocates for structured and well-planned training sessions, ensuring that every minute spent in practice is purposeful and beneficial. Her sessions typically begin with a warm-up, brief debriefs, and high-intensity skills drills, followed by tactical decision-making exercises and conditioned games that replicate game scenarios. By carefully segmenting training into focused activities, Hayes maximizes players' engagement, encourages learning through repetition, and minimizes downtime during drills. This targeted approach not only aligns with her players' competitive spirit but also keeps training enjoyable, fostering a motivating environment for skill enhancement.
Fi Hayes is a former Ireland international, winning two Six Nations and representing her country in the 2014 World Cup.
More recently, she has coached UL Bohemians to cup and league titles, been head coach of Munster U18 girls, and is now Munster Women's head coach. She has also been the Energia Women's AIL coach of the year twice.
In the podcast, I ask:
What does a Fiona Hayes training session look like?
How do you deal with players who struggle with passing or break the flow of exercises?.
What kind of information should players be communicating to each other during training?
How do you handle situations when the players are not hitting technical targets during conditioned games?
How do you keep co-coaches aligned, ensuring consistency in language and objectives across the coaching team?
To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach Weekly
Also, tap into the library of 4,000 pages of activities, advice, tactics and tips to help you become the best rugby coach you can be!
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode