The Challenge to coaches and coaching: Kevin Bowring

“The modern player adopts a ‘pick and mix’ loyalty rather than a long-term allegiance.”

He is becoming increasingly preoccupied with self and is more independent and less submissive to authority.  He finds difficulty in accepting criticism and is more liable to conflict.   

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11 questions every aspiring athlete should ask themselves

“If you ask me how I want to be remembered, it is as a winner.

walter payton trainingYou know what a winner is? A winner is somebody who has given his best effort, who has tried the hardest they possibly can, who has utilized every ounce of energy and strength within them to accomplish something.

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Ockham’s Razor- A Coaching principle?

William of Ockham lectured at Oxford in the 14th Century. He is most famous for his theory that when you have two competing theories which make exactly the same predictions, the one that is simpler is the better.

I use this principle in Coaching; if there are two ways of getting the job done, the simpler is the better. There are two reasons for this:

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The Talent ID Bun Fight

pre-season training

“I feel pressurised as a parent to choose between sports for my daughters”.

talent id netball hockeySaid a concerned Mum at a recent workshop.

She is far from alone. Well meaning, but concerned, parents are being asked to ferry their children from “selection camp” to “regional centre” to “talent pathway nuclei” (O.K. I made that last one up).

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Strength and Power in Rugby: Part 3

rugby power trainingThe Rugby World Cup is in it’s knockout stages. National Fitness adviser Simon Worsnop looks at current strength and power measurements.

Strength and Power Levels

Since the onset of full time professionalism in both sports strength levels have increased so that today’s players possess higher strength levels than similar aged recreational players

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Strength and Power in Rugby: part 2

What about the Ruck and Maul?

rugby maul strengthThe ruck is specific to rugby union and is where the tackled player is off his feet and tackled to ground. The average ruck lasts in the region of 4 or 5 seconds and therefore the primary physical determinant for success is power.

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10 Fitness Tips and Myths for Rugby: Simon Worsnop

Top level rugby is a complex multi faceted sport.

Rugby union has more individual position specific requirements than rugby league.

At top level training will need to reflect this e.g. static strength and neck strength requirements in scrimmaging forwards that are not required to such an extent in rugby league. 

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