The most exciting, brilliant Rugby coach I’ve ever seen is Brian Ashton – my hero at school (we are founder members of Lancaster Royal Grammar School’s elite Black Sheep Club), and former coach of Bath, Treviso, Ireland and England. A coach of coaches in soccer and rugby – and a progressive, imaginative, creative thinker.
Here’s his response to my note on my beliefs.
KR
Many thanks for sending this through. Total contrast to the corporate, safety first speak which I come across time and again.
I have attempted to relate it to my world of “Coaching“.
- Crazies are tough to find in the Rugby world (indeed they are shunned), although there is a great need for them. Any game played on 8400 sq. metres of space with only 31 occupied at any given time is a licence for “Crazies“ to run riot!
- I have long championed “Concepts of Play“ rather than systems / structures / game plans. Let the players FREE!!!
- Where has all the “Experimental Practice“ gone in the professional era? Fear breeds moderation.
- Rugby is just a version of “Playground Games”, in which imagination and creativity can run riot.
- Adopt “Ad Infinitum ut Altra” (thanks Tich Widdess) as a working policy. As you say failure is a certainty at some point but can lead to amazing success.
- Construct a collaborative, opportunistic environment which is a moving feast.
- Challenge; Watch; Listen; Advise – if you’re going crazy step in to show and tell.
- Change the way the game is played – or Go Home!
- Live, practise and play outside the box and over the edge. Practise the Impossible to discover the Possible.
- Be BTB every day – Better Than Before.
BA
