Kris Stafford, a Rugby Development Officer and U.K Coaching award winner, joins the discussion about effective coaching strategies. He emphasizes the importance of valuing players and engaging with them personally. The conversation dives into creating supportive environments, using the STEP model for practice design, and balancing player guidance with autonomy. Kris shares insights on enhancing player huddles and leveraging all coaches in sessions, making game-based coaching an essential part of player development.

Gary Townsend, head of rugby at Switch Rugby and former RFU National Player Development Manager, shares his insights on nurturing young talent in rugby. He emphasizes the importance of skill development over immediate team success for U12 players. Gary discusses effective coaching strategies, including fostering confidence, acknowledging off-the-ball efforts, and implementing peer feedback in practice. He also highlights the significance of patience and verbal reinforcement in teaching essential skills like tackling and the catch-pass technique. A must-listen for aspiring coaches!

Send us a textWelcome to the coaching knife when we cut to the root of the matter. In this episode, we speak to Callum Adam, Currie RFC Senior Mens Assistant Coach and Edinburgh University Women’s 2nd XV Head Coach.Focusing on defence we are going to cut to the root on what comes first, tackling or defenceAs well as coaching with Currie Mens and the Edinburgh Uni women, Callum has coached with the Scottish Rugby Union with their age grade development teams, plus a stint at Dundee RFC.His philosophy: To make a difference in people's lives on/off the pitch.You can contact him on: LinkedIn Callum Adam To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach WeeklyAlso, 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!

Send us a textDan welcomes Dr Kimberly Berens, founder of Fit Learning  and CEO of Fit Learning Online and author of Blind Spots: Why Students Fail and the Science That Can Save Them.Fit Learning is a powerful system of instruction based in behavioural science and the Technology of Teaching, and it aims to transform the learning abilities of children, which it does in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia.To find out more about Fit Learning, go to: http://fitlearningonline.com/In the podcast, they discuss:How Kimberly found watching her son's experience of being coached filled her with horrorHow there's too much talk and not enough practiceWhy measuring progress is vitalThe key to learning through reinforcementThe huge variability in the learning processSimple methods of counting to help check individual progress and what you need to do next when you know the resultsWhat you need to master and whyHow to differentiate across a larger groupHelping parents help their children to "work harder" without becoming too bossy To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach WeeklyAlso, 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!

Send us a textDan quizzes the Myths of Sports Coaching editors around how we deal with some of the muddling thinking coaches believe is true.Dr Amy Whitehead is an Associate Professor at Liverpool John Moores University, and Jenny Coe is the Performance Well-Being Lead for the Women's Professional Game at the FA.Their first edition was so good that they’ve been persuaded to do a second edition, which will be out in the autumn. In the book, they invited experts to delve into myths about learning styles, deliberate practice, coaching women differently, and fundamental movement.Here's a link to the first edition on Amazon.In this episode, we talk about:What are the most pervasive myths in sports coaching?Is coaching girls any different to coaching boys?How do you approach a coach who is hung up on something you know is a myth?At what stage do you stop discussing, check and challenging as a group, and start making hard and fast decisions?How much evidence does there need to be until a “finding” becomes a myth?Should we use SMART goals?How do we discern the research validity from authors who have a vested interest in continually proving they are right?How evidence from verbal answers needs to be looked at carefully, because interpretation can easily not be what the respondent first meant. To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach WeeklyAlso, 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!

Send us a textDan chats to Telegraph sports journalist Fi Tomas about where women’s rugby needs to go next. Fi has worked on the paper since 2019, was number 11 on 2023 BBC Women's Hour Power List and recently nominated for the 2023 British Sports Journalism women’s category. She is a keen advocate for a stronger voice in female sports.In the podcast, they look at:Why women want to play rugbyThe hurdles facing women in sportHow the media portrays women in sportWhat needs to be addressed in terms of language and attracting a broader audienceThe issues that rugby faces, from male-dominated spaces to the role of governing bodiesHow sports should appeal to a new generation, and why commentators need to ensure they help grow the game To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach WeeklyAlso, 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!

Send us a textRalph Knibbs, Head of Human Resources at UK Athletics and a Bristol rugby legend, chats with Samba Ceesay, Broad Plain RFC’s captain.In an extraordinary podcast, Ralph first describes his journey as a black player from a non-traditional rugby background, why he turned down playing for England twice and how his children made him more self-aware about being a role model.He then asks Samba about his journey. Coming to rugby late, Samba talks about how Broad Plain stood up for him, allowed him to become a better player, and what led him to lead the club.As the podcast unfolds, you will hear how Ralph helps Samba acknowledge his crucial role in giving others the confidence to follow their ambitions.They reflect on the challenges faced by black players, both professional and amateur, but also the development of leadership skills, camaraderie, and a sense of family and belonging.Listen to find out how two humble sportsmen, who love their sport, want to make rugby a more inclusive and diverse environment.Click here to find out more about the Star SchemeClick here to find out more about the Rugby Black List To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach WeeklyAlso, 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!

Send us a textThis podcast is dedicated to the memory of one of the guest's daughter, who passed away suddenly a few weeks after the recording. The Peel family have set up a donation page for Katie in support of FarmAbility. Here's a link.https://www.justgiving.com/page/katiepeelfarmabilityPlease listen to this inspiring journey of three coaches providing something amazing. It needs us all to reflect on setting up a SEND rugby programme.Dan Cottrell speaks to Darren Rea, John Peel and Gareth Lewis of Gosford All Blacks, Wallingford and Whitney rugby clubs.There are plenty of lessons for all of us, but specifically, we focus on:How to set up the programmeHow to make it a realistic and inclusive environmentEasy ways to involve everyoneMaking everyone confidentThe pathways beyond trainingThe joy of making rugby a meaningful place to express yourselfIf you want to get involved, please reach out:Gosford All BlacksWebsite https://gabrfc.rfu.club/Email youth@gosfordrugby.comContact- Darren Rea 07531118213Session times: Sunday 10 am to 11 amWitney WolvesWebsite https://witneyrfc.rfu.club/teams/witney-rfc-wolves-sen/470302/profileEmail theresaclark1234@aol.comSession times: Sunday 11 am to 12 noonWallingford WolvesWebsite https://wallingfordrfc.rfu.club/teams/wallingford-rfc-wolves/467870/profileEmail the_peels@me.comSession times: Sunday 11 am to 12 noon  To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach WeeklyAlso, 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!

Send us a textDan chats with Dr Rachael Jefferson about fundamental movement skills and how to introduce them effectively into our coaching sessions.Rachael is a lecturer in human movement studies and creative arts, and author of Fundamental fun: 132 activities to develop fundamental movement skills.You can get a copy of her book here.In the podcast, we explore:What is meant by fundamental movement skills (FMS)What do the terms body management, locomotor, and object control skills meanWhy we need to coach FMSHow to make it part of our training sessionsWays to help less skilful young people become better moversHow we can use balloons and scarves to help catchingThe importance of choosing appropriate objects based on skill levels.Rachael's own journey on throwing the javelinHow we need to know the biomechanics of movement to help players progressMore bio:Rachael is a physical education, dance, inclusion and wellbeing specialist, who is fascinated by the moving and creative body. Her PhD focused on the governance of the body in physical education in England from 1902 to 2016. Rachael has nurtured her own wellbeing and self-awareness to a high level by training in yoga and also Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).Rachael is particularly well known for her work in the area of fundamental movement skills (FMS). This began in earnest in 2006, when she trained in a Western Australian research-led FMS professional development course by STEPS PD. Following this, she became the UK FMS consultant and worked with sport coaches, teachers and lecturers across England and Ireland for several years. During that time she was regularly publishing FMS works, including her play-based pedagogy book for teachers.Rachael’s influence in FMS, PE and inclusion is global; she has worked on several long-term international projects in these domains for the University of Cambridge, UNICEF, UNESCO, and Montrose. Her curriculum design is especially valued for its creative, inclusive, and student-centred foundations. She has developed national PE curriculum (primary and secondary) and led teacher training for Kazakhstan, Egypt, Myanmar, and Mongolia.Rachael enjoys social media and the wonderful connections she makes there. She has written popular gender and sport articles for ‘The Age’ and ‘The Conversation’, as she believes in the power of telling stories to raise the general public’s awareness of athletes’ inclusion issues and rights.  To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach WeeklyAlso, 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!

Send us a textDan chats with Chris Dossett, chair of the Professional Association of the Directors in Sport, and very experienced DoS himself.In the podcast, they talk about:How a good director of sports supports their less-experienced staffConnecting with the playersMaking the less-able teams enjoy rugby as much as the top-flightWhat equality looks like in sports in a school environmentHow to make girls' sport part of the fabric of the school sports systemChris gives many examples of practical ways to operate, not just as a director of sport but also as an example of good coaching for others to follow. To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach WeeklyAlso, 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!