Review Your Coaching image
Posted on April 30th 2020 by Richard Hicks

Review Your Coaching

It's important for every coach to review and reflect on their coaching over the course of a season. However, now that the season is over for many it is crucial to review your game/coaching style, so that you can start building towards the next season! Here's some questions to get you started.

  1. What went well?
  2. What did not go well/did not go too plan?
  3. What changes will you make?/ What will you do differently next time?/ What learning can you take away?
Video: Why Review?


Along with reviewing and reflecting on your own team's performance and the players' individual performances, you must do the same with your own performance as the coach. An excellent method is to buddy up with a coach you have worked consistently with and mentor each other. Nothing in depth, more of snapshot of you as a coach...

Here are some examples of questions to ask yourself or other coaches with some excellent video clips for you to view and assist your thinking:

  • What was I good at? Did I favour a certain approach to coaching?
  • Was my coaching style relevant for what I was coaching i.e was I too autocratic in a trying to be player centered?
  • Did I rely on playing games without technical input, fault correction or specific feedback?
  • Was I too reliant on drills and closed practice and OVER Technical rather than having a balanced game focused session with technical input?
  • Were my sessions delivered using an APES (Active, Purposeful, Enjoyable and Safe) focus?
  • Did I plan sufficiently?
  • Did the players learn anything or improve over the season? (might not be your fault)
  • Am I ready for the coming season changes in Age Grade Rugby or do I need further CPD and development?
  • Were my sessions enjoyable for the players?
  • Did I enjoy the experience of Coaching?
Video: Satisfaction As A Coach!


The value you will get from some or all of these types of questions is invaluable. You are most probably a volunteer, a parent with a child in an age group or even an ex-player coaching as a role to stay in the game. Whatever role you have try and not make the same mistakes, listen to others and take on board positive feedback - stay current, that does not mean the latest rucking drills by an international player, but instead what learning and coaching methods are out there that your players will engage with. We will discuss more of these approaches in the run up to next season!