From Recruitment to Retention: Lessons in Coaching Girls' Rugby, with Sam Halliday
Feb 21, 2025
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Sam Halliday, a dedicated PE teacher and rugby coach for youth teams, shares his passion for fostering inclusivity in girls' rugby. He discusses innovative recruitment techniques, including social media's role in engaging players. Sam emphasizes the importance of peer-led learning and empowerment in developing skills and confidence. He also highlights the significance of creating a welcoming atmosphere for newcomers and the impact of team identity on player belonging. Packed with practical advice, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone involved in coaching.
Creating a supportive coaching culture that emphasizes player ownership and peer-led learning boosts confidence and retention in girls' rugby.
Engaging with the community through effective communication strategies, like social media, can significantly enhance player recruitment and team visibility.
Deep dives
Free Coaching Development Evenings
Coaches have the opportunity to enhance their skills through two free coaching development evenings hosted in February and March at specific venues. These events promise hands-on drills that can be implemented immediately, easy-to-apply attack and defense tactics, and game-based coaching tips. Participants are encouraged to register early, as spots are limited. The informal setting will also allow coaches to engage in discussions and share ideas with their peers.
Creating Amazing Opportunities in Coaching
The coaching community emphasizes creating extraordinary opportunities through collaboration and support among coaches. A notable example of this is a coach sharing effective warm-up routines with others, enhancing the overall coaching experience for players. Dynamic warm-ups encourage player engagement and develop crucial skills while fostering a sense of teamwork. There is a recognition that openness among coaches leads to improved coaching practices and success for their teams.
Empowering Players through Ownership
Coaching emphasizes the importance of giving players ownership of their roles on the team. This approach helps young athletes grow in confidence and motivation, as they learn to take responsibility for their performance and decision-making. By spotlighting individual progress within the team, coaches create a supportive environment, encouraging players to develop communication and leadership skills. Players are guided to identify and fix issues during gameplay, fostering a sense of responsibility and collective improvement.
Effective Player Recruitment and Community Engagement
Building a solid player base is achieved through community engagement and effective communication strategies, including the use of social media. An Instagram page was established to highlight team activities, enhancing visibility and excitement within the local community. Capturing and sharing players' experiences fosters a sense of belonging and encourages new players to join. Moreover, creating a welcoming environment for new players and providing support from experienced teammates contributes to successful recruitment and retention.
In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly Podcast, Dan Cottrell sits down with Sam Halliday, a PE teacher and rugby coach working with the Oxfordshire U16 PDG squad and Brackley U14 girls.
Sam shares his insights on building a thriving coaching environment, fostering player ownership, and creating opportunities for girls in rugby.
He discusses the importance of peer-led learning, developing confidence in new players, and how structured yet flexible coaching can lead to lasting engagement. Whether you're coaching grassroots rugby or looking to refine your approach to player development, this episode is packed with practical takeaways.
📢 Listen now and discover:
How to create an inclusive coaching culture that supports learning and growth
The role of leadership and peer mentoring in player development
Practical ways to recruit and retain players in girls' rugby
The power of ownership in skill progression and confidence building
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!
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