Aim to help players learn and explore

Steve Hill puts the questions to Jack Gadd, below, head coach at Hornets RFC in National 2 South

Why did you get into coaching and how did you arrive at your current position?

Initially injury got me into coaching. After retiring from playing, my old PE teacher asked me to support him with a local college rugby team and it built from there.

What is your profession outside of coaching rugby?

I work at Weston College in the student engagement department. I oversee sport, enrichment and other areas that contribute to student experience while they are doing their qualifications.

How would you describe your style of coaching?

I seek to create an atmosphere where players can learn and explore. I like to focus on the areas of the game that people most enjoy and want to create those big ticket highlight moments for players that they love to be part of.

What do you find most challenging about coaching?

Biggest challenge is is coaching friends. Some players are quicker to speak up and sometimes forget the boundary that is there between coach and player and I have found it difficult to not let rugby affect some of my friendships sometimes which is tough to take.

How do you foster a positive team culture?

For me it’s about finding out what makes that club unique and using that to build all of what we do on. Make it personal to the player you are working with and find the emotional avenue that allows players to feel like they are part of something bigger then just the 10 years they will represent it. Also ensuring you have a good leadership group.

Has anyone been an adviser on your coaching journey and how has that helped?

I have had quite a few. Matt Sherratt in the early years of coaching, Danny Wilson has come from the same club as me and I have picked his brains many times. In more recent times my DoR at Hornets JR (Jon Richardson) has been a huge help as well as Dan Cox who I worked with at Old Reds.

So far what would you count as your most significant coaching achievement?

Being head coach of my rugby club in their first ever season at level 4 and staying up. We only found out we were getting promoted five weeks after the last season finished. The biggest reason is when I started coaching and playing at Hornets, nearly a decade ago now, a group of us who came through the system together used to talk about how we could get this club to the nation leagues – we were at level 8. To be able to achieve that with so many local players and friends was a great moment.

Hornets is based near Westonsuper-Mare. What challenges exist running a club at level 4 in a seaside town?

Recruitment! Being smack bang in the middle of Bristol and Taunton has its challenges for recruitment and sometimes we always feel we may be a bit short in squad depth as we enter each season. However we get around that by having a real focus on growing our own at Hornets. Our national league squad this season will be made up of 70 per cent Hornets lads.

Last season Hornets finished 12th in the league. What changes to your coaching, if any, are you making to improve on that?

This year we have had less focus on the fitness and conditioning and spent more time on rugby and the details of our game which can shift us from a one performance in four games team to a much more consistent team striving towards where we want to be in this league.

What is your process for evaluating and providing feedback to your players?

We use video analysis. I make sure all coaches are available to players. We have almost banned messaging and use of WhatsApp for player/coaching feedback as face to face dialogue is better.

What two laws would you change to make it a better experience for your players?

I would look at the jackal and how that situation can be safer and less disruptive to ball quality. Also, at scrums, if the ball reaches the No.8’s feet then let’s get the ball in play – not just secondary pushing to gain a penalty.

Name a player who you have really enjoyed coaching?

Adam Francis and Danny Bailey have been boys who I coached and worked with as juniors and colts, played with a little at the end of my playing days and have worked with now for the best part of 10 years. To see the players they have become and the impact they have on all games is a very proud thing for me.

How would your players describe you as a coach?

Passionate and always thinking.

What advice would you give to anyone considering or just starting coaching rugby?

Do it for a start! But be patient and make sure you are ready to adapt to each new challenge and environment you find yourself in. Ultimately remember you are there for the players not yourself and the investment in them and a good enjoyable learning environment is what will see you all improve and progress.