Is it just me or does it seem like every coach involved in rugby league and rugby union has the same game plan?

With all the money spent on coaching, analysis, technology, video, training programs, performance enhancement, player development, facilities, equipment, ball technology, strength training, conditioning, wrestling, leadership development, boots, nutrition, psychology, protein supplements etc etc you would think that rugby league and rugby union would be havens for innovation, creativity and genius.

So why does it seem like every team, every coach and every player is reading from the same play book when it comes to game plans?

Memoirs of a great coach…..Biography of a great coach….Lessons on coaching from one of the greats….seems like greatness and coaching are often talked about in the same breath. But what is great coaching? Can any coach become great? And if so, how can a coach go from just coaching to great coaching? This article discuss the key aspects of greatness in coaching and challenges readers to look at and overcome the barriers and limitations they are facing in their own personal quests for coaching greatness.

By Wayne Goldsmith |

You read right – improve your coaching by NOT coaching.

Coaching improves performance.

But too much coaching – over coaching – can have a negative influence on performance.

Who OVER coaches?

Typically five types of coaches OVER coach:

1. Young, inexperienced coaches who are trying too hard;
2. Coaches who lack real belief in themselves and who try to make up for it by giving too much information. These coaches will often want to be liked – and feel the more coaching they do, the more the athletes will like them;
3. Coaches who lack belief in their athletes and feel the need to control every element of preparation and performance;
4. Coaches who are being evaluated or assessed and aim to impress by being SEEN to control every element of the training session, i.e. they believe that great coaching is talking more;
5. EGO driven coaches who see athletes / players as a vehicle to promote themselves and their reputations.

There are coaching courses, coaching workshops, coaching programs, coaching presentations and coaching seminars.

There are mentoring programs for coaches, professional development programs for coaches, training programs for coaches and a million and one degrees, certificates and accreditation programs for coaches.

But what is coaching and what does it take to get really good at it?

What is great coaching?

And would you even recognise it even if you met it over a nice red wine and dinner?

Ever wanted to know what’s holding you back as a coach? Ever wanted to know why you are not realising your potential?
This post, “The Top Ten Reasons Why Coaches Fail” outlines the ten biggest mistakes coaches make, discusses how you can avoid them and in doing so ensure your coaching becomes everything it could and should be.