How should coaches introduce Activate to their players?

When is the best time to introduce Activate during the playing season?

The best time to introduce Activate is at the start of pre-season training. This period can be very useful for introducing Activate because this time is typically used to introduce other training practices that will be maintained during the playing season, and to prepare players physically, technically, and tactically. Players may also have also had limited conditioning between playing seasons and so using Activate can help with physically preparing players for the playing season too.

It is also possible to introduce Activate later during the playing season but remember to start at level 1 and continue to progress through the levels normally even if this means not reaching the end of the programme by the end of the playing season.

How should coaches go about introducing Activate?

When starting out with the programme, or moving to a different level of exercises, here are some useful tips:

• Take some time before starting a new level to become familiar with the new exercises. This could include watching video clips of the exercises to understand how to complete the exercise, or downloading and reviewing the programme cue cards to use when coaching the exercises.
• Dedicate a little more time than usual in the first couple of sessions using a new level. This will allow coaches to communicate and reinforce specific coaching points to players and to check understanding without rushing through.
• Explain the purpose and relevance to rugby of each part of the programme, and the benefits of of completing the exercises to the players.
• Demonstrate the correct technique for each exercise to the whole playing squad. Using a player to demonstrate allows the coach to talk through the key coaching points for performing the exercise for the whole group to see.
• Allow the players to have a go at the exercise in pairs or small groups to get a feel for how the exercise should be completed.