Rugby: Free coaching clinic by legend John Leslie at Mount Maunganui

John Leslie, right, at a volunteer coach workshop he held this month. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Former-Highlanders player and Scotland international John Leslie has ramped up his goal to boost the number of junior rugby coaches by rebooting his acclaimed training programme.

He says there is no shortage of mums and dads willing to get involved in coaching — but they often lack good resources to make it happen.

The Dunedin-based rugby guru is visiting Tauranga to pass on tips in a new series of free workshops for volunteer rugby coaches throughout New Zealand. He is holding a free coaching event at Mount Maunganui Sports club at Blake Park on Tuesday.

Commercial cleaning firm CrestClean is backing Leslie's programme by supporting the 50 training events. The sponsorship has enabled the skills clinics to be offered free of charge to participants.

Leslie, who set up Leslie Rugby in 2006 to foster the game at grassroots level, has totally reworked his training ideology.

He says it's never been easier for people to gain the skills to be involved in junior rugby.

At the workshops, course participants will learn the latest coaching techniques. They will also be able to get a copy of Leslie's new free 39-page Junior Coaching book.

Leslie says he's determined to put the fun back in coaching.

"All too often those coaching youngsters lack a good plan and the confidence to successfully deliver it. People can get stuck at practice, especially if they haven't got their planning right.

"These workshops are all about giving volunteer rugby coaches a plan so they'll never feel stuck or frustrated at rugby practice again. I've coached more than 20 rugby teams in my 13 years of volunteering at rugby coaching. I've boiled down my knowledge into three core principals and a two-step plan."

Leslie has worked on the new coaching programme with his close friend Tony Brown, a former Highlanders Super Rugby-winning coach who now coaches Japan's national rugby team.

"I've teamed up with Tony to get the professional angle and blend it in to work at a grass roots level," Leslie says.

"Each coach walks away with a solid understanding of how to run an hour-long coaching session. The downloadable coaching book means coaches have all the information in the palms of their hands, viewable on their phone or mobile device."

The programme is a way to help strengthen junior rugby teams from the ground up and enhance the quality of the experience for everyone who's involved, Leslie said.

Grant McLauchlan, CrestClean's managing director, says junior rugby suffers from a lack of trained coaches but no shortage of keen parents who want to give it a go.

"What they need is a training plan to bring out the best in their kids' teams. That's why Leslie Rugby and CrestClean have teamed up to develop an easy-to-follow programme of core skills," he says.

"It means that any coach can use it to successfully keep the kids under control and have fun while they get fit and rugby skilled."
Mount Maunganui Coaching Workshop
When: Tuesday, June 5, 6pm-7pm
Where: Mount Maunganui Sports Club, 51 Miro St, Mount Maunganui
Free entry