Hackney Bulls Newsletter - March 2017

 

So when we arrived the U15 effortlessly teamed up with either Hampstead or the opposition whilst keeping a watchful eye on their teammates  ability and technique. Throughout the game there was a prevailing high standard and enthusiasm that The Belles have been cultivating steadily as the season has progresses. They displayed teamwork and discipline as individual players – each playing with their full potential and demonstrating a maturing and understanding in the way they were engage in the sport.  

The match gave a good opportunity to encourage and support the girls development. As well as the great learning experience of playing amongst an unfamiliar team – it was a rewarding exercise and most importantly, thoroughly enjoyable. 

One of new players to rugby, who has proved to be a star in such a short amount of time, plunged into a try saving tackle! Despite the heroic moment, Chiara, unfortunately clashed heads with her opponent and consequently suffered a mild form of concussion. 

A slight let down for the U18 as there wasn’t of a match, yet they happily socialized while having a kick around with various other team members - working on and learning new skills. 

There was not a huge of a high turnout but we were very impressed with the level of enthusiasm the girls displayed. So well done to the Hackney Bells again.  

It is important to start by saying, there are a million and one players who will need a million and one types of coaching! But there are some similarities that can be drawn when approaching sessions. I’d like to talk about the Whole Part Whole process in coaching.
 
Whole Part Whole, is used by a variety of sports coaches, arts facilitators and teachers. The philosophy allows participants to experience a game in which they make discoveries about skills deficits. This skills deficit is then isolated in a more traditional “drill” context and worked upon to improve (mostly by repetition).  As skills improved and participants grow more confident, the isolated skill is then returned back into the context of the main game.
 
All very well and good as a philosophy, but how does this work in my sessions - I hear you cry? I first started playing rugby on a concrete playground in inner city London. Sessions involved standing still, for what felt like hours, in the freezing cold – wearing only 5 items of clothing! Not fun times. In those days, it was all about drills and practices till it was perfect. We did the same isolated skill again and again without really know why, nor how it related to the wider context of rugby. It’s to this archaic method that Whole Part Whole is an alternative.
 
When I deliver sessions, once the warm up is done or as part of the warm up process, I will ask my players to play a game in a large space – where I will set very loose conditions. Using open ended questions and peer to peer feedback, I will eek out from the players an area or skill they would like to work on, using their discoveries made in that game. Normally this will also reflect my observations from the pervious match and their requests of areas to focus on.  This is the first Whole in the Whole, Part Whole structure.
 
Next up is the Part. As an example, let’s say the players discover they’re unsure of their role at a ruck. As the coach I now have a two options: I can take out a small groups of players at a time, to work on a particular set of skills in a break out or skills box  – while the remaining players continue playing in the larger game.  Or, I can stop everyone in the group, split them up in to smaller groups to again work on a particular skill – here the whole playing space becomes the skills or breakout box. Both of these methods have their pros and cons and can be applied to different situations, for example, with large group numbers, additional coaches, players who can referee and manage a game and availability of equipment and   space.
 
Once the players become visibly more confident and can answer questions and identify specific skills, then you know they are ready to return to the last section:  the final Whole. This section is a mirror image of the first. This is a large-scale game where you should see players performing specific actions to get particular outcomes.  Your original conditions may need to be adapted to fit the needs of the group and to challenge or support where necessary.
 
So there you have it, my coach’s tip of the month. These are things that have worked for me in my ever-evolving coaching practice that can be adapted to fit the needs of any team, from the under 8’s to the over 18’s.

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T'was the last match before Christmas, when all on the pitch
Not a Gladie was hurting, not even a stitch
The kits had been washed by Slaw with care
And there were hopes that Cuffley's strength wouldn't be there.

The warm-up was focussed and back line widespread
Visions of tries and big tackles danced in their heads.
The ref blew his whistle and Cuffley kicked off,
The fans settled in for a scoreless first half.

Well into the second the backs got the ball
Out wide to Niketa, faster than she is tall
Away down the pitch she flew in a flash
Kicking the ball for a 80 meter dash.

The Gladies took the lead and got a second wind
But the Cuffley fifteen wouldn't be dimmed
They fought hard to the line with the egg ball
A Cuffley try was scored, not converted, 5-all.

Even with Gen at scrum half, so lively and quick,
The Gladies readied for the moment they must use the 10's kick
Lineout after lineout the Gladies lift to the sky
Whether it's missiles or guns they were ready to fly!

"Now, Lamees, now, Lang, Balgees and Grabecki.
On, Annettte, on Ella, Kat K and Emma!
To the top of the pitch! To the top of the pitch!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

The plan didn't work and the ball was turned over
But the Hackney Gladies kept their composure
The defence was strong, but a penalty given
Cuffley awarded a try, converted, add seven.

A new Gladie on the field, one substitute,
Up the pitch towards the line Hackney did shoot
Unsuccessful down the back line
Knock on, match at full time.

Although not a win, the Gladies were pleased
A full round of pints thought the captain Lamees
In the end Miriam and Emily Lang awarded players of the game
And onwards and upwards, went the Gladies aim.