A must Read!! Sir Clive and his details

I have just finished reading Clive Woodward's biography and cannot rave about it enough. Clive seems a seriously difficult person to work with, but there is just so much to learn from him in terms of leadership, coaching and running a serious sports side. He is a stickler for detail and his obsession with the "critical non-essentials" learnt from an Australian Dentist, make for fsciniating reading. Check it out, or watch this space for some more insight into what I found the most interesting from the book.

Tips for winning your big derbies

I personally have been lucky this year to be involved directly with 4 different rugby sides, all of which have managed to win their derby games. This obviously has been exceptionally rewarding, but there have been clear lessons that one can learn from these that every coach and player should think about when approaching their big one. It is always special playing in the big games but it’s important that we do not get too carried away with the sentiment and excitement and thus forget to focus on what is important and that is getting the win. I have included below a 7 step plan for preparation, one which I used with the winning Paarl Boys side last week, to give you some thoughts. Remember that motivating your team is probably not going to be difficult for a big game, yet it is the area we tend to focus all of our energies on. Often it’s the calmer, more clear-minded side that wins, and not the more motivated.
Stick to what works
It is very tempting to change things and add extra ‘special’ rituals into your own preparation for the big day, but often these do not help, as they take you out of your comfort zone, and thus enhance pressure. This applies to all things, including the way each individual, the team and the coaches prepare for the game. Keep the same routines, and make yourself comfortable and relaxed.
Visualise and prepare
By visualising and playing the game through in your mind you can help yourself cope with nerves. Preparing yourself for everything that could happen will allow you to feel more relaxed and ready for any occurrence in the game. You don’t only have to visualise, you can feel the feelings you will feel, hear the crowd etc. Go into a lot of detail, so that you are prepared for every thing that could happen. Do this on your own and as a team. Chat through the game with your mates on the field before hand, and during the game you will all know what each other is thinking. Also know, that there is a 50% chance you will be behind in the game at some stage. In fact many things could go wrong in the game. Know that, and prepare for them, knowing how you’ll react to them.
Process not goal
In everything you do, there is something you want to achieve, the goal. What is crucial though is that you focus ONLY on how you will achieve it, the process, and not what you need to achieve. Set clear goals and plans beforehand so that you know what you want to achieve but then put all your focus into the process of achieving it. Focus on the next backline move, or the next lineout, but not on the end result, as this has a negative effect on your concentration on the task at hand.

Be perfect and free
If you try to produce that ‘perfect game’ and allow yourself to be free in achieving it, you are more likely to win the game. If you are ‘winning-verskrik’, you will forget to play with freedom and enjoyment which will end up working against you. Why let over-hyping yourself and fearful thoughts mess up what is a great occasion. The more free you feel and more you just want to be perfect the less likely you are to let pressure affect you. As coaches you need to implement a feeling and culture of freedom to truly see results.
Believe, believe and believe more
There is a direct correlation between people who believe in themselves, teams who believe in themselves, and winning. There is no doubt that you can win this game, but you need to know that. You need to keep talking to each other positively until we all truly believe that winning is a definite. Back each other and back yourselves so much, that by the time the game comes, you have no doubt at all that you’ll achieve what you want to. Belief will enhance your performance!! It will also add to your motivation, and will give you those extra 5 minutes of energy you’ll need, or that extra tackle, or last kick over the posts. It is a fact!!
Prepare yourself for pressure
Accept that there will be pressure, and you will feel nervous, but create a plan for dealing with it. Whatever works for you must be used. Do not feel that you need to get caught up in the hype, you can stay relaxed. You must use physical actions to change your state of mind. Often an act like smiling, or laughing can change your state of mind. You always want the balance between confidence and anxiety in check. Remember too that thinking, can often be harmful to performance. The more you think ahead and behind the less you are focused on the present.
Dominate the field- Own it
This could be the difference between winning and losing! Both sides are motivated, both are prepared, but mentally on the day, whichever side dominates, whichever side can be calm at the right times, will be the winning side. From the time you run onto the field, that field becomes yours. The opposition are just trespassing on your land. You have the right to win on ‘your’ field, you take charge of everything that happens on the field, as you make the game completely about you. Face up to the opposition knowing that this is your day, and that they are going to be dominated in all aspects by you and your team. Put your shoulders back, hold your heads up high and calmly but aggressively ‘own’ the whole game.
Good luck with your preparation.