Send us a textHow much talking is too much? In this episode, Dan Cottrell and Stuart James explore how coaches can make every word count. From the power of the short, purposeful chat to the art of explaining the how, what, and why in under a minute, they share practical ways to sharpen communication and boost player engagement.Discover why the best sessions often start with fewer words, clearer intent, and more playing time — and how taking the “temperature” of your group can help you adapt what you say (and when you say it).To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach Weekly To find out more about our Partner Club offer CLICK HEREAlso, 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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50:22 Stop Chasing Skill: Build Game Sense That Sticks
Send us a textIn this episode of The 50:22 Podcast, Dan Cottrell and Stu James explore why focusing on perfect technique can hold players back. Instead of trying to tick off isolated skills, they discuss how layering, context, and repetition help players understand what to do and when to do it. The aim is to move from drills to decisions, from repetition to recognition. Learn how to guide players toward real game sense and long-term progress in every session.To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach Weekly To find out more about our Partner Club offer CLICK HEREAlso, 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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50:22 The Right Kind of Pressure
Send us a textIn this episode of the 50:22 Podcast, Dan Cottrell and Stuart James explore how to use stress as a coaching tool, not through shouting but through smart, purposeful challenge. Discover how the right kind of pressure helps players build resilience, sharpen decision-making, and raise their own standards. Learn simple ways to add competition, intensity, and mindset training into your sessions without losing calm, connection, or control.To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach Weekly To find out more about our Partner Club offer CLICK HEREAlso, 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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High Care, Not High Performance – Ben Herring Returns
Send us a textBen Herring returns to the Rugby Coach Weekly Podcast to dive deeper into what he’s learned from speaking to some of the world’s top coaches. Drawing on his global coaching journey and his Coaching Culture podcast, Ben shares why grassroots rugby should focus on high care rather than high performance, why the 80% basics matter more than the 1% details, and how resilience and leadership can be actively coached.This episode blends big lessons from names like Joe Schmidt, Steve Hansen and Mike Cron with practical takeaways you can use at club and school level.✅ Key takeawaysHigh care over high performance: Build environments that reflect what you, as a coach, truly care about.Focus on the 80%: Grassroots players need core skills done well, not the 1% “gold taps” of elite rugby.Delivery is everything: The best coaches make even the simplest drills engaging through presence, tone and standards.Coach resilience deliberately: Use structures, reviews and simple tools (like huddle blueprints) to build grit.Pressure as privilege: High-performance coaches often find joy in pressure – grassroots coaches can too, by reframing challenges as opportunities.Listen to Ben's podcast here, and discover his books as well. To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach Weekly To find out more about our Partner Club offer CLICK HEREAlso, 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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Receptive, Resilient, Ready: A New Way to Spot Talent
Send us a textIn this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly Podcast, Dan Cottrell speaks with Neil Davies – Yorkshire Chair of Coach Development, Director of Rugby at Doncaster Demons, and Lead for the South Yorkshire Girls PDG. Neil shares their unique approach to talent identification, explaining how Yorkshire’s "Roses" model builds on the STAR framework to assess skills, resilience, and receptiveness in young players. He discusses self-nomination, taster days, individual development plans, and the balance between rugby basics and movement skills. Some key takeaways:Talent ID works best when it’s holistic, not a box-ticking exerciseSelf-nomination builds ownership and confidence in young playersTaster days reduce nerves and showcase potential in real game settingsCatch-pass, tackle, and movement remain the non-negotiable foundationsPlayer journals and feedback in action drive real long-term growth To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach Weekly To find out more about our Partner Club offer CLICK HEREAlso, 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!
South Africa