(Unbiased )Team Selection

Some feedback received from the last edition required we write about team selection, and in particular, the skills required to play each coaching position.

Too often coaches “select” on their last impression of what a player did in a match. For example, a player who scored a try in the last few minutes by evading 2 or 3 defenders would normally get a mention very quickly in any selection meeting, regardless of what he actually did in the preceding 79 minutes. This is what I call ‘subjective’ selection. There is no data either quantitative or qualitative collected in what any player does on the field during  a game.

One way of overcoming this problem is to work out what skills are required to play each position, and to then give each player a list of those skills. If a selector is viewing any player in any given game they can make comments or count the number of 'impacts/involvements' the player has. Clearly, for a selector to state that any involvement was a positive or negative one, he would have to know the technique(s) required to execute the skill.

Coaches may also determine that there are some ‘optional skills’ required to play in particular positions. These can be determined either with other selectors or with the players. By determining these with the players they then have ownership and are more likely to attempt to master them through training.

I have included a table of what skills may be deemed to be important to play each of the positions on the field. This does not mean that there are not other skills that may be seen as important. It provides a framework from which coaches and players can discuss what is and what’s not important. The skills may change depending on the player’s age, sex, previous experience and competition in which they compete.

a) Change position from sideline to end-on. The selector may also wish to be in an elevated position. This may depend on what the selector is viewing.

b) Take notes or talk into a Dictaphone. The issue with writing notes is that the selector looks down to write and may miss something on the field.

c) View a video post-match. This will confirm thoughts from the actual game.

d) Don’t follow the ball! Follow the player(s) that are being assessed. In reality, the best method is to view one player over 20/40 minutes. This means that providing feedback to multiple players is difficult as the selector concentrates their energies on a small number. The issue here is having sufficient selectors to view all the team! Does not occur too much at the actual coal face

e) Organise some past players to provide feedback on individual players where the past player has the skill set. For example, have a respected No.9 providing feedback on the 9.

a) Is the team winning the ball from primary possession – scrums; lineouts and restarts ?
b) Is the team advancing the ball and attempting to penetrate the line at the agreed (pre-determined) position?
c) Is the team re-cycling the ball?
d) Is the team defending well? If not, why not?
e) Is the team following the general game plan? This might be to play field position; play in front of the forwards or through the backs on every opportunity.
f) What is the opposition team doing in the above categories?