Rugby Coach Weekly Why better sessions don’t start with better drills
In this episode, Dan Cottrell is joined by Phil Kearney, Associate Professor at the University of Limerick and co-founder of an organisation focused on developing a positive community of practice in skill acquisition
Together, they challenge one of coaching’s most ingrained habits: starting session design with drills, outcomes, and end goals rather than with how players actually learn. Drawing on skill acquisition research, coach education, and applied examples from grassroots to performance sport, the conversation reframes what effective practice really looks like.
Key points covered:
- Why engaging sessions can still produce very little learning.
- How coaches often mistake activity, enjoyment, and busyness for improvement.
- What skill acquisition actually tells us about how players learn and retain skills.
- Why starting with outcomes can distort session design and decision making.
- Practical principles coaches can use to design practices that transfer to the game.
The best ways to engage with Phil are:
University of Limerick (professional email):
mailto: philip.kearney@ul.ie
LinkedIn:
Active in sharing work on skill acquisition, coaching practice, and applied research. Suitable for professional introductions, collaboration requests, and podcast or event invitations.
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