Dad advice sharing thread.
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Interesting topic.
My lad who's 8 now was a bit stand offish in his first year of tackle. Seemed to run well with the ball in hand (possibly in fear of being tackled) but on defence would drop to fullback and then run along side the try scorer in a great position to tackle but not make the tackle. Worked out with him it was that he didnt want to commit to a tackle and miss and crash to ground at pace. Then one game he was a bit emotional after taking a knock and fired right up and started tackling kids out of the line by hitting them front on in ball and all tackles. After the game he said it was easier and hes now known for coming out of the line for spot tackles. Seems to have a knack of it. With that has come confidence too as he's now more incline to commit himself to tackles from all directions.
So in short, I think it could be a confidence thing that will come right in time.
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@jk funny how the kids that show the appetite for tackling early on can get a (good) rep for it. Kind of helps to reinforce the mana of being keen to make a tackle, and even moreso if you are actually good at it!!
Right through my (college and reserve grade) career there were always 2-3 guys in each team that just loved tackling, seemingly more than any other part of the game.. aside from drinking, hmmm for some reason the love of tackling and drinking was strong in those fullas. Nothing going on there of course!!
@mooshld I think Booboo is on the money, it's very early days for your young man. Absolutely praise and encourage that passing and assist game!
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I hated tackling as a young kid. And a lot of that was purely down to a lack of confidence. I was always worried about missing the tackle and the embarrassment that would follow.
It wasn't until I had a coach that spent time teaching me the different techniques and how to tackle safely that my confidence grew. I started to enjoy that aspect of the game and moved from the backs to the forwards.
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ah kids and rugby. And the very real struggle to not project your playing on to them.
Got two boys, both play over here (in the very short 2 month season at the end of the year). Eldest has now played 4 or 5 seasons, first 3 were no tackle. He's a complete soccer player, not helped that he is built like a rake. He's actually pretty good with the ball in hand, runs straight, and uses footwork to get between guys. Does have a habit of crying when he inevitably gets squashed because he doesn't ever submit in the tackle. Gets absolutely zero sympathy from his dad. But on defense he has zero desire. I've seen him wave kids through rather than make the effort. So i challenge him. Make tackles, for every run, i want to see a tackle. Praise the stuff i want him to improve more than anything else. "yep, that try was great mate, but i loved those two tackles you made on your line, that was great for your team".
Then i have to remember that he's 9, and if he doesn't want to tackle, who gives a fuck, as long as he is loving playing the game.
My youngest is a different kettle of fish all together. Older brother, so he has been toughened up. They played tackle at the start of last season for the little ones, and he loved it. Ripped in, and he has a great technique. He got the shits because he didn't get the ball enough. Older kids were passing to themselves, and like your little fulla mooshld, he would pass to a guy in space. He started to get the shits with that when he passed, and no one would reciprocate. Then some kid broke their leg, and they were forced to play touch. And he didn't like that so much. But i am fucked if i am letting him play league with the ferals up here.
Long post, but the kid is 5, let them play for fun. If he doesn't want to tackle, don't make him. If he is still having fun, let him do that. Let him develop skills and a love for the game, and let him develop the rest in his own time. It's not seniors, you are not a selector, let the kid play his way. If he wants to, he'll come around in his own time
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Also rightly or wrongly I set some rewards for him at 20cents a tackle or run and 50cents a try.
His first game this year was woeful and I thought I was probably only up for $5 for the season but then next game he fired right up and almost took me down to instant finance as he racked up 15 tackles in the first half!
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@jk said in Dad advice sharing thread.:
Also rightly or wrongly I set some rewards for him at 20cents a tackle or run and 50cents a try.
His first game this year was woeful and I thought I was probably only up for $5 for the season but then next game he fired right up and almost took me down to instant finance as he racked up 15 tackles in the first half!
Never too early to get them used to the professional environment!
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Ardie Savea tackles or Sam Cane tackles?
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Nek minute they all want to get maccas and go sit in some strangers lounge.
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when I was a young my dad got us to tackle him. He would show us that no matter the size correct technique would bring down the bigger target. This gave my bro and I lot's of confidence tackling. We also played a lot of Bull Rush (1970's) which helped a lot with technique and confidence
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Is a tough one really.
It takes some kids longer to get into it than others, some kids do only play cos that's what they think dad wants...my boy in rippa.
I have a tackle pad at home and I am yet to see him hit anyone as hard as he hits me when I hold it, so is all a confidence thing. I tell him after he knocks me back that he'd nail any 12 year old hitting them like that.
But last couple of years he is enjoying it more, starting to enjoy the physicality of it although anytime he catches a knee or elbow or something he comes off after the game complaining that it was deliberate.
He has also gotten fitter this year and that has made a noticeable difference to his game...he currently plays loosehead or hooker but wants to play flanker, told him he needs to up his work rate to play there, especially as our 2 best players are loosies.
Some kids just get it right away, and you see the ability while some may never get it.
I always tell my boy that I only care that he gives 100%...I'd rather he was the player who gave it everything every week than the best kid in the teAm who pisses about.
I am in my 7th year (under 13s) of coaching his team, frustrating as fuck at times but supremely awesome when you see them do stuff you taught them and it all comes together.
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@taniwharugby have you given all their plays cool code names? Like dirty Sanchez for skip pass to centre, or get to the chopper as the all-in!!? That'd get a few parents laughing I reckon. And a few complaints too no doubt 🤔
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@taniwharugby said in Dad advice sharing thread.:
Is a tough one really.
It takes some kids longer to get into it than others, some kids do only play cos that's what they think dad wants...my boy in rippa.
I have a tackle pad at home and I am yet to see him hit anyone as hard as he hits me when I hold it, so is all a confidence thing. I tell him after he knocks me back that he'd nail any 12 year old hitting them like that.
But last couple of years he is enjoying it more, starting to enjoy the physicality of it although anytime he catches a knee or elbow or something he comes off after the game complaining that it was deliberate.
He has also gotten fitter this year and that has made a noticeable difference to his game...he currently plays loosehead or hooker but wants to play flanker, told him he needs to up his work rate to play there, especially as our 2 best players are loosies.
Some kids just get it right away, and you see the ability while some may never get it.
I always tell my boy that I only care that he gives 100%...I'd rather he was the player who gave it everything every week than the best kid in the teAm who pisses about.
I am in my 7th year (under 13s) of coaching his team, frustrating as fuck at times but supremely awesome when you see them do stuff you taught them and it all comes together.
My boys play lunchtime rugby, neither actually play for a team as it would get in the way of saturday swimming but as you say, if they hit other kids half as hard as they hit their dear old man they would be devastating!
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Lots of great advice in here.
Had a wee chat over breakfast about the tournament where he kicked a kid. I talked about all the good things he did at that tournament. He bought up the kid he kicked. Went over how there is a difference between being told off and being taught something, and that no we know you can't do that. But you can still do tackles and not get told off.
We have another tournament this week. His home one. So we will do more work on skills this week and more tackling, which like you have all said is never a problem against the old man. But will stop pushing it at the matches and let him find his own way there.
Thanks for the advice.
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@dk said in Dad advice sharing thread.:
when I was a young my dad got us to tackle him. He would show us that no matter the size correct technique would bring down the bigger target. This gave my bro and I lot's of confidence tackling. We also played a lot of Bull Rush (1970's) which helped a lot with technique and confidence
Taught my son (now 24) how to tackle and get satisfaction from it in bringing the bigger guy down. Once he got this in his head and tried it a few times (with a few bruises too along the way), he got into it in a big way, sometimes too much. We went on a club tour to France where due to a mix up in age grades, the opposing Frogs were Shermans to our more modest offspring. Didn’t stop young fella who threw himself into the task with relish. Eventually, he got carried off in games with a dislocation a couple of times but got lots of respect.
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@jk said in Dad advice sharing thread.:
Im involved in taking training for my boys team and bullrush is a staple for us. At least 10mins worth every training session.
Good to hear that. It was banned at my school when I was a lad following a spate of broken limbs.
That was after they pulled down our flying fox for the same reason.
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@jk said in Dad advice sharing thread.:
Im involved in taking training for my boys team and bullrush is a staple for us. At least 10mins worth every training session.
yea, i coach my eldest's team, the last 10 minutes of every training is bullrush, always has been. best game ever
even though i was one of the smallest kids when we used to play, so i got hammered. Like a lot.
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I remember taking extra clothing to school to cover for the inevitable ripped shirt during lunchtime bull-rush. Good times!!
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@paekakboyz said in Dad advice sharing thread.:
I remember taking extra clothing to school to cover for the inevitable ripped shirt during lunchtime bull-rush. Good times!!
mum used to stich mine back together. lunch time league did for more than bullrush i think. Our lunchtime league games were brutal.
