Basic Drill of the Week: Depth Square

No matter the level you coach, you have had to battle the issue of depth with your attacking team. Below is a simple fundamental drill that you will find useful called, the depth square.

Needs:
- 4 cones (possibly more if you want to build lanes)
- 1 ball per group

Set-up:
- The square grid should be 25m x 25m.
- Up to 6 attackers on the outside of one edge.

Action:
- First player, with ball in hand, starts by making a pass, at depth, to support.
- Support works to get the ball through all 6 set of hands before breaking the line of the square.
- Once at the other edge players move around the cone and realign in an attacking line.
- Repeat passing on remaining 3 sides of the square.

Key Factors:
- Realignment at depth
- Fast hands
- Travel off the ball: looking over your shoulder, communicating
- Running straight (don't chew up supporting attackers space)

Build-up:
- Add extra cones at square's edge to create running 'lanes' to ensure straight running.
- Put defenders in the middle and allow group to attack into the grid.
- Race by starting multiple grids at the same time.

Must Read Books For Any Coach

A few years ago on a far more unsuccessful blog I wrote up a list of books every coach and player should read. As I'm about to set out on a new challenge in my life I revisited that list a few days ago to take stock and refresh any old ideas it might give me. This started a series of events that pretty much lead to me taking a complete inventory of my leadership books, ideas, fundamental ideas and rehashing things I had learned in the past from some of my favorites. I tell you all of that to give you a new updated version of that list below. These are only ten but could have easily been twenty. But, like a good magician you never show the best tricks. Enjoy and please let me know what you think in the comment section!

'Eleven Rings' by Phil Jackson

This book came along at an interesting time in my coaching career, and exactly when I needed it. We had several big personalities that continually rocked the team boat and were draining for both me and the squad. Now, while this book can at times be like reading the memoirs of a successful hippie it does give you some nuggets of wisdom. For instance, reading about how he managed Kobe Bryant, Shaq, Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman will give you some great insight into some tactics you might have never thought of for dealing with unique players that often clash with others. He also brings a much different perspective to coaching than do most. Dare I call it balance between coaching and life that is not often found in our profession. This is worth a read especially if you grew up around the time the bulls were great so you can see how his impact was felt on the organization or if you sometimes feel like traditional coaching books aren't for you.

Tribal Leadership' by David Logan, John King, and Halee Fischer-Wright

In my 'real' job I've read or heard about this several times in one way or the other. While reading 'Eleven Rings' by Phil Jackson he referenced it several times through out his stories and how much it helped him organize his championship winning teams.
The book is based on research done on groups of people and how they develop into world class companies or organization. The authors break individuals inside of groups into tiers ranging from good to bad. Each tier has different cues and trends that they make the reader aware of. They also explain how to bring lower tier groups into the higher tiers.
It was interesting after reading it when I went onto the pitch with my team every evening. You could almost physically see these tiers and their lines through the entire squad, which let me know I had some work to do. If you're in the business of building teams give this book a read because it has my strong recommendations.

Legacy' by Jim Kerr

You ever wonder what makes the All Blacks the All Blacks? How a nation with the same surface area as Oregon can be such a powerhouse in a game like rugby compared to their bigger competition with a much larger selection pool? It comes down to team culture. Author Jim Kerr does an amazing job of pulling the curtain back and revealing the inner workings of a team that has become known for their winning ways. Kerr (and to a certain extent the team) allows the reader a chance to see it wasn't always this way for the team and how management, retired players and current squad members turned it around.

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Think Rugby' by Jim Greenwood

Everyone knows (at least you should) the book Total Rugby, 'Think Rugby' is the sequel (if you can call it that) to it. In 'Total Rugby' you get all the pieces to a great rugby machine; in 'Think Rugby' you are given the directions to assemble all those pieces. In true Greenwood fashion things are explained with great detail. He gives you step by step instructions in how to build a playing system and make it work for your team. This isn’t just a book for coaches it should be read by players as well to help give them a deeper understanding of the game.

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Total Rugby' by Jim Greenwood

This is the Bible of rugby. Jim Greenwood is responsible for creating the game we play today. He has inspired coaches like Clive Woodward and Eddie Jones with his expansive style and patterns. This book is all about the fundamentals of rugby. It is written with such detail to make sure that all of your questions are answered and nothing is left to chance. Do you want to know why you are missing kicks? This book will help you identify the reason by breaking everything down from what your feet are doing to where your eyes should be looking. This is a must own for all coaches.

'Winning' by Clive Woodward

Written by Clive Woodward the 2003 world cup winning England coach this is a guide to how he built England into a rugby powerhouse that concluded with them hoisting the cup in 03. His approach was unique in the way that he applied his experience in business management to coaching a rugby team. While you won’t agree with everything he says and does in this book, you will appreciate his forward thinking and organizational skills. If you are serious about the business of coaching rugby I can’t urge you enough to read this.

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Wooden' John Wooden with Steve Jamison

If you’re a bookstore nerd like this guy you probably would have to take off your shoes to count how many John Wooden books you could find in the sports section. But, this one is different. Written near the end of his life, by him and a friend, this book explores his life and coaching philosophies. Wooden wasn’t just a great coach but a great teacher and person, and that is highlighted throughout the chapters. The lessons he shares from his days coaching UCLA basketball (where he won 7 straight national championships) will make you look at how you coach your team. One of the standouts in the book is a poem titled “A Parent Talks to a Child before the First Game” which should be read to every high school and college rugby team.

'The Fighters Mind: Inside the Mental Game' by Sam Sheridan

Think you’re a bad ass? Wait until you read the story about the ultra marathoner who broke his leg, kept running and finished the race! No big deal you say? It was a race from LA to New York. This book goes and gets some of the top athletes and coaches in sports and burrows into their brain to find out what gives them the drive to train, compete, and reach the top of their sport. Don’t confuse this book as something written by a meat head, about meat heads. It packed full of insight into how to train your mind to do what you might not think physically possible. It’s gritty and honest and will force you to look at yourself and your mental make up.

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Mind Gym' by Gary Mack and David Casstevens

Written by Gary Mack a leading sports psychologist who has worked with some of the top athletes and teams in America. The book is made up of 40 lessons and packed with anecdotes of them being put to practice. We all know a friend or player who constantly struggles with the mental side of this sport and this book is written for them. It is a quick, easy read (I got thru it in a cross country plane ride) and enjoyable. Read it and enjoy building your mind gym for a mental edge on your opponent. 

'Food for Rugby: Eat Well Perform Better' by Jane Griffin

If you’re like me and consider a diet ordering a small Blizzard from Dairy Queen instead of the large this book is for you. If you are like my nutritionist who probably read that last sentenced and slammed her fist on the desk in rage over my dietary ignorance, don’t worry this book is for you too. Packed full of the science of why and how food fuels your rugby body it balances itself out with helpful, easy to read graphs and handy menus (the healthy bar menu is a personal favorite) that anyone can follow. It doesn’t matter if you are a teenager just getting into the game, a college student who plays socially or residing at the OTC this book can help you take care of your body with the fuel it needs.