COACHES OF RUGBY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19315, 4 May 1937, Page 7

COACHES OF RUGBY

VALUE SELDOM NOTED EXPRESSION 01' VIEWS FITNESS AND CONFIDENCE Fitness and confidence are (he essence of Rugby perfection, according to advice given hist evening at a representative meeting of coaches convened by the Poverty Ray Rugby l*nion for (he pur pose of discussing their tactics. Explaining the reason lor calling the meeting, the chairman of the Union, Mr. O. 11. Sceats. said (he value of the 1 work of the coaches was often overlooked, a* was I hat of the trainers <>f horses, all (lie glory being given the jockeys and horses. The facilities for training on I lie Oval had been improved in the last i.wo seasons and seemed lo he appreciated by the clubs. Attractive football was what the union was aiming at. and that stood apart.from the win ning aspect of. the club games. He considered that there was still room for improvement and experiment in the play and asked eoaelies to get away from orthodox play. Players should not be bound to the tactics of 30, 40. or 50 years ago and (here was always an opportunity for experiment. The coach of (he U. 5.0.1!. team. Mr W. Thomas, said that in his opinion the main thing was fitness, and the facilities lor training now were good, buff he "matter rested entirely with " the." players themselves. Confidence in Ihe coach was another big factor in the success of a team. Men could not get fit by playing football alone and to do that they had to train in handling and passing. They hail lo be -nt and well.

Another experienced coach, Mr. V. G. Edmondson. the coach of tlio High School junior team, reilerntod the statements made by Mr. Thomas in regard to fitness iiml confidence. At the beginning of the season the men should take lon; I ,' runs, :iinl do hill work, but :is .the season advanced short sprints of 50vds. and 10f)yds. were sufficient. The desire was for open play and if (hat was to ho carried onl the forwards had to be eoncenl rated on. The backs would work in with positional piny. Forwards Should Be Fit' •Forwards should be fit. continued Mr. Edmondson. s.o that they eould follow the play closely and pack with the hope that they would find the opposition out of position. All thai remained then was for ilie hack division-. In handle' the ball properly lo register scores. in line-out play the .forwards should pack ori'.the ball and he was of tire opinion that the most cffcHivo way was for the position ■'of. the , half lo goyeVn the mark for '.wh'icti the ball shetihl be thrown when the half's side was I In-owing in. The lialf-l act; also should vary his positions close in and far out. If-the forwards watched his movements they would know instantly where to pack as soon as the hall was thrown and that should give them an initial advantage. Jn the lineout the forwards should 1 o strung out and not, close in. 'the half-back should bo able lo slop a rush and flick the hall out lo bis other backs. The other backs should be moving at top-speed when they received I lie, ball, fie always had a forward throwing in the ball, jm order to keep his wing-three-quarter in position and keep the defence intact and strong.

In tackling it all boiled down to confidence. Too much was seen of three players going to tackle one man, caused hv one man nut having confidence in

his other men. Often that, led to another man being unguarded and getting away with a try.

Reminiscences and other points were discussed before the mooting concluded and all were invited to attend a meeting next .Monday evening with the Rugby referees.