The Constraints Collective #78 Tabai Matson
Jan 16, 2026
Tabai Matson, a seasoned rugby coach with experience across continents, shares insights from his diverse coaching journey. He dives into the paradox of balancing research-based coaching with professional expectations and discusses how to navigate parent and player demands. Highlighting innovative tactics like 'press zones' for shaping player behavior, he emphasizes fostering creativity through unstructured play. Tabai also explores the importance of relational skills in players and suggests methods for integrating constraints-led approaches within club cultures.
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Professional Coaches Paradox
- Tabai Matson highlights the "professional coaches paradox": scientific CLA findings clash with public expectations of what coaching looks like.
- Coaches must balance evidence-based practice with stakeholders' perceptions to implement CLA successfully.
Painted Press Zones
- Matson painted "press zones" on his training field to create clear affordances for kicking and counterattack.
- The implicit visual cue increased how often his team hit those zones in league games the following season.
Prime Movement, Don’t Overcoach Height
- Use movement primers (e.g., walking and touching the ground, forward rolls) to encourage tall players to bend at the knees and drop height late.
- Combine gym work (lunges, walking drills) with primers to develop tackle-specific movement patterns.