60 Second Interview: The journey from player to coach
- October 21, 2014
- Paul Crompton
|
60 seconds with... |
|
Gareth grew up in King Williams Town, South Africa. He played rugby as a boy, starting at first as a prop but then moved to the back row. Unfortunately a career ending injury stopped him playing at 18-years-old. Professional life
|
Playing career
BSc in Human Movement Science
Why did you start playing Rugby?
I'd been playing since I was five-years-old. In South Africa growing up you either play Rugby or Hockey, so I chose Rugby. All my mates were playing, and I was at a really big Rugby school; everyone wanted to play it.
What inspired you to get into coaching?
It was the only way I could stay involved after I ruptured my anterior cruciate ligament for the third time.
I felt I'd been robbed of a Rugby playing career, robbed of playing when most people want to play as a 17-18-year-old. That was a big reason I got into coaching, so I could stay involved and to achieve something.
There's isn't any one person who inspires me, but I like Wayne Smith because he is inventive, shares everything and keeps coming up with new things. He keeps it simple and he's got a pretty good track record and comes across as pretty straight forward.
Drills or games?
I find playing appropriate games a lot better than practicing standing up drills. I find players respond better to anything which puts the players into in a game scenario, where you can add intensity.
Drill description: There are 4 cones in a rectangle , 2 red and 2 blue. The 2 defenders stand within the square, and on the coach's call, they must go and touch the called colour cone. As the coach calls it the attackers can go.The ball starts with the attacker in the middle
His aim is to attack the space in between the two players, and execute the first opportunity that presents itself. either one of the players will move in on him, therefore opening up space for the support runner on that side, or both will commit to him, or none in which case he is through!
>> Read the coaching points for this drill
What's been the biggest change in the grassroots game in the past 10 years?
I think it's got softer compared to a few years ago. It's not as brutal as it used to be. There's a lot more health and safety being thrown around these days, things like the physicality, you have to be more careful as a player. Higher up the levels the bigger players get, so at the top level it's still brutal and players are getting more injured, but the lower down the leagues you go it's not like that.
Also professionalism is rearing it's ugly head and league teams are successful based on how much money they have, rather than the quality of players or coaching. So the money coming in is not good for the game; teams are paying people in the higher levels, it's always been there I suppose but it's become more apparent in the last 3-4 years.
How would you 'sell' Rugby to someone who is new to the game?
Rugby is obviously good for staying healthy. But just being in a team is a big thing, if I'd not been involved in rugby I'm pretty sure I would not have had the mates, social skills, morals or beliefs I do.
What advice you would give people wanting to become a coach?
Coaching is tough but it's about getting the best out of your players. It's not about your ability to get the best drills.
That's the difference between your top level coaches and those who are trying to get there or are at a lower level: that's the key to being a good coach.
Keep up your coaching education. Get badges, research, keep learning, keep reading because you cannot afford to stay still, otherwise you will get left behind.
I use Sportplan to see if there's anything new coming out and always get good ideas from what people are doing. People who don't look for new ideas will have a short career.
What was your playing highlight?
When at school playing in front of 25,000 people was probably my most memorable. It was the 120th anniversary that year [at Dale College Boys high school]. I was nervous; the whole week was all about that one game. All the old boys came back for the week and we won, just.
What changes in the past 10 years do you believe have benefited coaching?
The internet is a big thing. Everything is more accessible, you can now record TV, you've got slow motion so you can pick things apart, there's coaching resources on-line, it's endless.
The impact of strength and conditioning in players, although it's still quite new, it's been a massive improvement in the game.
Lastly, what changes to coaching the sport would you like to see in the next 10 years?
Better funding from the RFU. There's a lot of clubs which are struggling financially and finding it difficult to cope with a variety of things. Not just paying players, it's the running of a club: providing food for players, providing proper medical supplies, equipment things like that which has left a lot of teams struggling.
If you would like to be featured please send your 60 Second Interview application to info@sportplan.com
Has your school or club tried Sportplan yet?
More than 12,000 drills and games across 12 sports
If you'd like to find out more about Sportplan access for your club or school visit our packages pages, or get in touch at info@sportplan.com.
Related Content
| 60 Second Interview: Peter Berman | Lesson planning for PE teachers | 8 Best Sport Infographics |
 |
 |
 |
| Sportplan sat down with school teacher Peter to discuss what he's learned during a coaching career spanning over 25 years Read more... |
Features for teachers - including time saving teaching resources to help you write lesson plans that keep pupils engaged... Read more... |
Easy to understand, eye catching sport posters you can print and share with your players Read more... |