The Journey of a Grassroots Rugby Coach (More Tracksuits less Business Suits)

Duncan Chubb is the current Top Squad Forwards Coach with Southern Districts in the Shute Shield

Duncan recently transitioned into coaching after his playing career where he played 220 games for Southern Districts as well as playing for Melbourne Rising and New South Wales Country in the National Rugby Championship. As well as touring New Zealand with the 2015 Australian Barbarians.

We talked about managing egos and expectations of players when they have Waratahs and Wallabies ahead of them in the pecking order at club rugby

Transition from playing an entire career in the front frow to having to learn how to coach the other positions on the team

We also discussed how every human is different and they all learn differently and using failure to improve.

Duncan is also the owner of Wandering Bear Sports and has created highlights reels for players from all around the world at all levels including 100+ Capped International Players.

If you want to reach out to Duncan he is on the socials or visit his websites.

www.wanderingbearsportsmedia.com

www.caffeinegumaustralia.com/shop

In this episode I chat with Jack Rolfe.

Jack runs The Coaching Lab which is a coach education company working with coaches from all over the world.

We discussed game-based training to grow decision making and preparing players to play the game, use of modified rules and equipment to suit the environment.

Using the game as feedback, coaching players from chaos to clarity

Coach through cards and games (constraint-based training)

There is a slight glitch in the recording as a storm hit Perth as we were recording, and Jack dropped out for a while and then had a few little internet freezes as well.

If you want to reach out and chat to Jack about some coach development or purchase a set of his coaching cards here are his contact details

@The_CoachingLab

http://www.thecoachinglab.org/shop

In this episode I am speaking with the newly appointed Head Coach of Two Blues Premier Women’s Team Beth Whaanga.

**This conversion was recorded prior to Beth's appointment which is why it is not mentioned in the episode.**

Beth is a mother of four. She is a forensic criminologist, with a dual master’s in forensic Mental Health and another in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Beth is a level three coach who has worked across multiple demographics over the past two decades but has primarily worked in senior men’s rugby the past ten years.

Beth coaches forwards and has a particular passion for scrum and line out.

Beth was part of the AIS High Performance Coaching Talent Program and part of the Sport Australia women in leadership program.

She is an award-winning coach who is looking forward to contributing to the Sydney Rugby Community and building female participation over the coming years.

We talked about who training needs to be fun, half time talks, coaching Colts, Seeking Feedback and always learning.

In this episode I am chatting with Brett Gallagher.

I first met Brett when we both worked for RugbyWA. 

At the time of recording Brett was the General Manager for Shute Shield club Southern Districts. During his time at Southern Districts he was also the Head of their Colts (U20) program.

Brett has been involved with Grassroots Rugby for 25 years.

He has worked in Player and Game Development for both the Waratahs and the Western Force.

He has also been involved with the Lloyd McDermott Foundation for a number of years and we spoke about the joy he had coaching indigenous players as well as the national indigenous teams.

We spoke about chatting with other coaches, keeping a journal, having an opportunity to influence others and understanding what motivates your players.

Originally from London, Tom is now based in Berlin, 

He has been traveling the world to learn about the various codes of rugby in Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and parts of Europe and Asia. Having coached touch to beginners and worked with academy / youth internationals in league and union, he’s seen a variety of approaches at varying levels and is always happy to share successful solutions with other grassroots coaches. 

As well as being involved in coach education, he works as an S&C for anatomy gaps (tm) with a personal focus on speed development and injury prevention.

If you want to contact Anatomy Gap contact them on www.anatomygaps.com

This episode is with Ollie Reid

Ollie is the Current Player & Coach Development Director Ivanhoe Knights (Melbourne Australia)

He is also the Head Coach RMIT University Men’s Big V State League

He has previous coaching experience in England, USA & various senior and junior club roles in Australia.

If you want to reach out to Ollie contact him on [email protected]

Music produced by Dypack

This week's guest is James Wunsch

James coaches Daramalan College  Under 13's in Canberra.

We discussed people management skills, having a learning mindset and be open to different coaching options as there is no one size fits all approach to coaching.

This episode is with Dave Ellis.  He has Over 30 years’ experience in player skill development and coach education. He developed a partnership with Barry Honan in Australia - our software company called Digisport produced coaching resources for various sports. He then headed back to New Zealand to take up a coaching role for the International Rugby Academy (IRANZ) and produce coaching resources for NZRU. He has worked with  Blues Super Rugby, Assistant Coach/Skills Coach, (2016-2018) Connacht Rugby Pro12, Assistant Coach/Skills Coach, (2013-2016) International Rugby Academy Skills Coach and Course Facilitator, (2000-2020) Now back in Palmerston North, he is working with IRANZ and the Rugby Site to further the development of both players and coaches. 

If you are interested in any of Dave's work feel free to check out his website 

https://www.ellisrugby.co.nz/

**Intro and ending music is prodcued by Dypak** 

Check out his work at 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7uGuyDVNJ88z6Fy8whkRwf?si=B0i3ohpRTbqbguWWLWIwSw&dl_branch=1

Andrew is based in Melbourne but is originally from New Zealand.

He coaches both Junior Cricket and Rugby

He is the current rugby coach of the U16s at Brighton Grammar (Melbourne, Australia)

He also coach at Racing Rugby and helps out at the Moorabbin Rugby Clun, he has been the coach or assistant coach for teams from u10 to u18 across boys and girls in both sports.

Andrew has been coaching cricket for a long time, and has taken up coaching Rugby in the last 5 years.

In this episode I am speaking with Nick Combes. 

Nick is a Level 3 World Rugby Accredited Coach. 

In 2018 he established the Longhorns Rugby Academy where he is currently the Head Coach and Director.

The Longhorns Rugby Academy, provides rugby services to clubs, schools, representative programs supporting coaches and players for ongoing development across Australia.

Over the years he has also coached:

2016-2020 – Bowral Rugby Club Coach

2020 – Present u18s & u15s NSW GEN Blue Coach

2016-2019 – u18s NSW ISA Schoolboys

2009 – 2020 - Oxley College Bowral 1XV Head Coach

2013 – 2017 – Illawarra Girls 7s

2006 – Present – Bowral Rugby Junior Coach – Current Junior Club Coach Educator and Coordinator

If you wish to contact Nick and discuss the Longhorns Rugby Academy see details below

Facebook @LonghornsRugbyAcademy

Instagram @LonghornsRugbyAcademy

https://www.facebook.com/longhornsrugbyacademy