The rhythm of our interactions
How do we structure our conversations and verbal impacts?
I often think about the different types of interactions we can have within our sessions. Depending on what interaction is used the impact can differ. Each one is useful, but the situation it’s used in can define it’s purposefulness.
Think about a recent session or session plan. Try plotting it’s rhythm. Map out the sessions natural high and low points. This can be on paper or just including in you natural reflections (in voicenotes, in chats with other coaches etc).
You can make notes during a session, film the training, gather feedback from players and/or use a clicker. The session’s rhythm can be physical or mental activity, as well as pace of play.
Having both high and low moments in your session is natural and not a negative. You might plan your session to build in intensity or challenge. A session might also have various peaks and troughs. Depending on the purpose of the session either of these options might work.
Tracking your sessions’ rhythm can include the arrival, the departure, the activities, the rests and the interactions.
The interactions you have may differ each training session and might vary depending on it’s aims.
When reflecting and planning training, I think about the types of interactions I might have with the players. I often vary the interactions I have each session (as long as it fits with the aims of the session).
If I use the same forms of interactions each session, then the pattern and rhythm of the session and the types of communiction becomes predictable. Predictability can dampen impact, enjoyability, curiosity and therefore learning.
Here is a list (there’s probably some I have missed):
Whole group huddles - Coach led or player led
These are the often the most used type of interaction. Often used to bookmark training by being used at the start and finish.
However, coach-led doesn’t have to mean coach-dominated. Limiting how often you speak or how many points you say can help the huddles become more impactful
Challenge: If you didn’t end training by a huddle, how else would you end it. What would the impact be?
1-2-1 chats - In between activities or during activities, coach-player or player-player
Short and concise. 1-2-1 chats players have with each other and with coaches can be small sprinklings of gold. Using them in an activity is an opportunity to give a player a challenge, prompts some reflections from a player or check in with them. Ask if a player wants a challenge first, they may not (for whatever reason) be ready for the additional mental and physical load.
Players will have numerous 1-2-1 chats with each other during training. These might include passing information such as rule changes to other teammates. Provide opportunties for players to reflect on those with each other and their coaches.
Challenge: Count how many 1-2-1 chats you have with players in one session. What story does this tell about your training session?
Small group huddles - Coach led or player led
These could be team chats in a game-based activity. Depending how you co-coach, there might be a coach assigned to each team. They might observe or contribute to the team chats.
These team chats might be called after a try is conceeded (to replicate a match). You could also allow players 2 minutes to discuss a rule change that’s just been made. I also like to use them after I’ve swapped 1 player from each team. New teammates are invited to lead the huddle to share strategies from their old team.
Challenge: Vary when you give players the opportunity for small group huddles, what changes?
Tip from Coaching Care Creativity contributor Andy Stevens: I often use ‘cheat’. Players can call ‘cheat’ in a small group huddle. They then get a secret coaching tip from one of the coaches.
Time outs and freezes - Coach led or player led
These are often used within game-based activities. Calling a “freeze” gets players to stop where they are. This gives you a chance to ask a question or invites players to spot an opportunity. It can also be a good opportunity to praise a passage of play or attempt that didn’t quite work, as well as demonstrating something.
I either restart the game with a 5 second countdown or ask one team to change their positions or plans in 5 seconds before the game restarts.
Player-led time outs can give players chance to organise their own team and have small group huddles. You can also add in rewinds. Players use a time-out and after a quick discussion can call rewind. This allows them to rewind the play back to the previous breakdown (touch-tackle, ruck etc). Try giving teams a set amount rewinds each game.
Challenge: Give teams a set amount of time-outs in each activity/Try measuring how many time-outs or rewinds are used each week? How can you support them when they use them?
Reflections
When reflecting on the interactions you have at training and the rhythm of the session. Think about which interactions you use the most and why. What is the purpose of training, what are you wanting to achieve in it’s pacing and rhythm, and how does it achieve those aims?
For the record, I’m still playing with this…and enjoying the playfulness.
(Shout out to Rusty and Ed Hall for some provocations over the years about interactions)
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Some great ideas in here. Thanks for sharing