Lessons from coaching Penguins
What coaching an international touring team confirmed and taught me about coaching
In July 2023, I spent a weekend coaching the Penguins women’s team in Amsterdam. It was a great experience. I learnt a lot about how I coach and reconfirmed the joy and responsbility coaches have to empower players.
The Penguins are an international touring side. As well as playing men’s and women’s rugby, the Penguin International Coaching Academy goes to different countries and delivers rugby sessions.
Players can be selected from any team. When I coached the women’s team, the side included players from the PWR and Championship clubs.
The fixture in Amsterdam was 15s against the Mo-Sistas. I had a short time with the squad before we played: one social event, one training session, pre-match run throughs, a warm up.
I never met the players before, some knew each other, some were strangers. We had to meet, bond together and become a team.
It’s a test of anyone’s coaching practice to bring players together over such a short amount of time. It can be a great teacher. Here’s what the time with the Penguins both taught me and confirmed to me about coaching.
Everyone Brings Something Different
When I accepted the position of being Head Coach of Penguins women’s team, I was nervous. I felt unqualified and not ready for the role. I was firmly in the grips of imposter syndrome.
I often feel doubt creeping in when I’m in a new environment. However, when coaching Penguins, I realised something that helped me overcome it: everyone brings something different.
Every time I coach somewhere I offer something different to other coaches. Other coaches bring something different compared to me. Coaches need to be authentic. Our individual authenticity is what makes us unique.
Being authentic not only puts ourselves at ease but helps build trust but also means you can feel naturally at ease when you coach. You’re not coaching from behind a false persona.
Every coach has a unique selling point, something that sets them apart from other coaches. Part of mine was to aim to make the 2023 Penguins tour, the most period-friendly tour yet.
I discussed my intentions with the manager, and we agreed to bring period products for players to use. I also discussed it in the team meeting. I explained to the players that there were supplies should they need, and I would give them some adjustments during the training sessions if they required.
Another part of my USP was to give the players autonomy. With any playing experience, especially a short tour, player ownership can help everyone bond and enjoy it.
Let The Players Help Build It
To create buy in and to ensure I formed trust with the players, I gave them opportunities to decide what they wanted their team to look like. At the team meeting, I gave them two principles of play; one for attack and one for defence.
These principles wouldn’t constrain how they played but instead gave us a framework and a way to talk about the team.
I explained that they would vote for who they wanted to be captain and vice-captain. At the end of training, the players sat down and discussed the team sheet. They decided who would start and what positions everyone could cover.
Giving players autonomy and letting them lead on some of the decision-making meant that the players were invested in the process.
When coaching your players, give them opportunities to co-create with you and their teammates. This relieves some of your pressure, as you’re not solely responsible for everything within the team. It also helps players feel connected and a part of the team. They’re not just on the team, they’re an integral part of it.
Explain The Process And Why
To help sustain the sense of buy in, I kept explaining the process at different stages. At training I explained what games we would play and what the aims where.
My plan was to warm the players up and then play three games of touch rugby with different progressions in each game.
I explained that it this was to help develop the two principles and to get the players used to playing alongside each other.
I told the players that there would be no set piece practice at this session. However, it would be a focus of the captains run.
My reasoning was that we needed to build up the layers of the team:
Layer one: ensuring players got used to playing alongside each other.
Layer two: adding the two principles into how we play.
Layer three: set piece plus any moves the players wanted to add.
After training, I spoke to the captain to go through the match day warm up plans. I always aim to give teams a lot of time before a match kicks off.
Some players might need to have a longer preparation time to do visulisation, others might need to have their hair plaited. Giving all players more time means those that need it don’t feel rushed on match day.
Create A Support System For Yourself
Coaching can be lonely. Having a support system for yourself can be helpful to talk through any issues but to also feel less alone.
Heading over to Amsterdam, I had only met the staff on a video call. I had never met any of the players before. I soon got to know the managers and physios. They became my support network for the tour.
I chatted to them, we sat together at mealtimes and bonded well. Having support when you’re coaching out of your comfort zone is vital.
It’s also beneficial throughout the season. Having a support system can give you a confidence boost and helpful if you encounter any problems. The network you create can include family, other club coaches, managers or coaches from other clubs.
In my everyday practice, I have a support network of coaches I regularly chat to, alongside family. I also speak to my players. We have a support network that I aim to make mutual. I discuss openly with the team and leadership group in the hope that it makes it easier to share anything with me.
5. Manage Matchday Don’t Coach
I aim to do minimal coaching during matches. As a coach, my job is to prepare them so that I become almost redundant on when they step onto the pitch.
I try to manage the matchday instead. This means organising the warm-up, talking with the team, giving players the space to talk, managing half time and replacements.
This step cannot be done without the players having ownership and the team understanding the process. It’s also not a task that can be done instantly. With some teams, you need to slowly integrate the plan. Take small steps and build it up each fixture.
The first step is to be silent or use only positive communication on the touchline. Shouting on the sidelines can do harm or adds to the white noise the players hear. Instead, try to give encouraging words.
I use my words minimality when the match is taking place, so that I can have a greater impact when I do.
Five Tips To Use In Your Coaching:
1. Find your USP: be authentic and find what makes you unique.
2. Involve the players: create buy in by getting the players to make decisions.
3. Explain why: help players feel engaged by discussing the reasons behind the processes
4. Find a network: create a support system you can lean on.
5. Watch the matches: coach them well at training and you can manage the match.