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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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In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly Podcast, Dan Cottrell speaks with Lewis Hatchett—former professional cricketer, mindset coach, and creator of the MindStrong Sport app. They discuss perfectionism in sport, its benefits and drawbacks, and how it affects athletes and coaches.

Lewis shares his personal experiences with perfectionism, explaining how it can drive high performance but also lead to anxiety, self-doubt, and fear of failure. The conversation explores the impact of coaching environments, the role of perceived perfectionism, and how athletes can shift towards "excellencism"—striving for success without the pressure of unrealistic expectations.

Key topics include:

✅ How perfectionism impacts athletes and teams
✅ The psychological cost of chasing flawless performance
✅ Coaching strategies to build confidence, adaptability, and resilience
✅ How to help athletes embrace mistakes as part of growth
✅ Insights from Lewis’ research on coaching, perfectionism, and fear of failure

If you're a coach, athlete, or parent looking to understand the mindset behind elite performance, this episode offers practical advice and research-based insights. Lewis also shares how coaches can contribute to his ongoing research.

📩 Want to connect with Lewis? Find him at MindStrongSport.com or reach out via [email protected].

Link to our Live Free coaching the coaches events

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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Raising funds for grassroots rugby can feel like an uphill battle, but Ed Flynn has cracked the code. 

In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, host Dan Cottrell sits down with Ed, a coach and fundraising powerhouse, to uncover the strategies that have helped his clubs thrive. 

From securing local business sponsorships to running hugely successful raffles and race nights, Ed shares his tried-and-tested methods for generating support, engaging the community, and ensuring clubs have the resources they need to grow.

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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Join Dan Cottrell on the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast as he dives into a compelling conversation with Stuart Armstrong, renowned coach developer and host of The Talent Equation podcast. 

Together, they tackle the nuanced topic of ethical coaching—what it means, why it matters, and how it can transform both grassroots and elite coaching environments. With insights drawn from Stuart’s extensive experience in sports development and hands-on coaching experience, this episode explores the practical and philosophical dilemmas coaches face daily, from balancing inclusivity to navigating moral decision-making in competitive settings.

Some of the key points:

• Ethical coaching ensures positive experiences for all by addressing dilemmas like inclusion vs. performance. 
• Coaches need ongoing support, not just training, through mentorship and peer learning. 
• Inclusivity, transparent communication, and harm prevention are vital. 
• Governing bodies must shift focus to practical, in-situ development, valuing coaching as part of the care industry.

To listen more from Stuart on his podcast, go to: https://pod.link/1209549739

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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Join Rugby Coach Weekly's Dan Cottrell as he sits down with Marlo Boyd, Bath Rugby’s Development Officer, Bath University women's forward's coach and former Bristol Bears player. 

Marlo opens up about her unconventional journey into rugby, the lessons she's learned about managing emotions—both hers and her players’—and how emotional intelligence can foster trust and growth in a team. Together, they explore actionable strategies for coaches to incorporate empathy, manage emotional highs and lows, and build a safe yet driven environment for players to thrive.

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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Dan Cottrell welcomes Craig Wilson, director of rugby at Yale University and founder of The Contact Coach. Together, they explore practical, accessible approaches to video analysis for grassroots coaches. 

Craig shares personal experiences of using simple tools—smartphones, clipboards, and a bit of creativity—to make analysis both effective and manageable, even without high-end tech.

The conversation covers:

• Using footage to boost players’ confidence, 
• Balancing critical and positive feedback, 
• And how to avoid overwhelming players (or yourself!) with too much information. 

Find lots of takeaway ideas you can use immediately without the need for expensive equipment or complex software.

You can find Craig's amazing video insights on his website
https://www.thecontactcoach.com
And on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/@ContactCoach

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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In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell welcomes Dr. Mark Carroll, a sports coach and lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland, and a host of Labours of Sports Coaching. Together, they delve into the myths and realities of motivation in sports coaching.

This conversation challenges traditional approaches and offers fresh insights. From breaking down misconceptions about the coach's role as the ultimate motivator to exploring how self-determination theory and other frameworks can shape coaching practice, Dr. Carroll discusses the delicate balance between external motivators and fostering intrinsic drive, the nuances of psychological safety, and why context is king in every coaching decision.

Whether you're a grassroots coach or working with elite athletes, this episode is packed with thought-provoking ideas and practical advice to help you create environments that truly inspire performance.

📩 Connect with Dr. Mark Carroll on LinkedIn or explore his podcast, Labours of Sports Coaching, for even more insights.

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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In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell discusses tackling in women’s rugby with Kathryn Dane, an international rugby player, sports scientist, and coach. 

Kathryn, who has 23 caps for Ireland and is the coach for Ulster Women's Rugby and Old Belvedere, shares insights from her groundbreaking research into safety, skill acquisition, and performance in tackling. She discusses:

• The differences in how women develop tackling skills compared to men.
• Challenges unique to women’s rugby, such as late entry into the sport, limited resources, and coaching disparities.
• Findings from her research, including the effectiveness of techniques like the "wrap and clamp" for successful tackles.
• The psychological and tactical preparation required to overcome fear and build confidence in contact.
• Strategies for introducing and developing tackle skills progressively, ensuring safety and skill retention.
• The critical role of intentional coaching, creating supportive environments, and leveraging leadership within teams.

The findings are essential for anyone who is involved in the women’s game or keen on improving tackle coaching across all levels of rugby. Kathryn also shares practical tips for balancing safety, performance, and progression in training.

Find out more about Kathryn’s work on LinkedIn, ResearchGate, or Instagram. Dive deeper into the science of tackling with Sharief Hendrik’s rugby research roundup. Links are available on Rugby Coach Weekly.

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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In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly Podcast, Dan Cottrell is joined by Adam Izzard, Head of Rugby and Head of Boarding at Stonar School. Adam shares his inspiring journey of building a rugby program from scratch at a small, co-educational school better known for its equestrian facilities than its rugby teams.

From turning a horse paddock into a full-size rugby pitch to coaching a first XV squad made up of players with little to no rugby experience, Adam’s approach to developing the sport is packed with lessons for coaches, teachers, and school leaders alike. He discusses the power of resilience, the importance of mass participation, and how structure and simplicity can help new players fall in love with the game.

Whether you’re looking for ideas to grow rugby at your school or inspiration for coaching players of mixed experience, this episode is a must-listen. Adam’s passion for the sport is infectious, and his story is proof that even the smallest schools can build a big rugby culture.

Listen now and discover:

• How to build a rugby program from scratch in a small school.
• Why structure and simplicity are essential for coaching beginners.
• Practical ways to increase participation and enthusiasm for rugby.
• The key life skills rugby teaches players beyond the pitch.

Tune in and be inspired to grow rugby at your school, no matter the challenges.

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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In this episode, Dan Cottrell sits down with renowned sports scientist and learning expert Mark Williams to explore some of the most controversial and misunderstood myths in sports coaching.

Mark is a visiting professor at the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University. A world-leading expert in skill acquisition, Mark has authored 20 books and nearly 300 research papers and advised top sports organisations like FIFA, UEFA, and the EPL.

His latest book is: The Best: How Elite Athletes Are Made with Tim Wigmore. Click the link to find out more.

Drawing from Mark's thought-provoking LinkedIn series, they delve into key topics like the "constraints-led approach," the limitations of "skill transfer," and the role of "visual superiority" in player development.

Should coaches be worried about myths in coaching, or do they offer a pathway to deeper insight? Mark addresses this head-on, revealing how scientific nuance often clashes with the simplicity coaches crave. Discover why coaching is more art than science, how to strike the right balance between "hands-on" and "hands-off" approaches, and why learning and performance aren't always as connected as we think.

This episode will challenge your assumptions, sharpen your coaching instincts, and offer practical guidance on how to create more effective learning environments — whether you’re working with novice players or elite athletes.

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!