GDD Coaching

21/08/2026

I've been asking myself a difficult question recently:

What does GDD Coaching actually stand for?

Not what does it contain or how many posts, webinars, videos or resources are on there. But what do I actually believe about coaching?

It's taken me back through nearly 20 years of coaching. I've thought about being 14 years old and watching a coach speak to young players in a way that made me decide very early that people had to come first.

I've thought about a CPD day with Stuart Lancaster that showed me how incredibly powerful it can be when someone takes complex ideas from the elite game and makes them simple and accessible.

I've thought about an early session at Leicester Tigers when I was asked what I was trying to achieve.

"Catch and pass and decision making."

The response?

"What on earth does that mean?"

Fair question!

I've thought about learning to use winning metrics and data to better understand why teams actually win and lose.

I've thought about getting relegated and realising that despite working incredibly hard, I wasn't necessarily coaching the things that mattered most.

And I've thought about the last couple of years. About relationships, confidence and getting things wrong. Learning to coach like me, rather than the coach I thought other people wanted me to be. Through all of those experiences, one idea keeps coming back.

Clarity.

Coaches have never had access to more information. More drills, analysis, podcasts, opinions. More people telling us what we should be doing.

But I'm increasingly convinced that more information doesn't necessarily create better coaches. Sometimes it just creates more confusion.

Good coaching requires us to make decisions.

What matters?

What doesn't?

What do these players need?

What are we actually trying to improve?

How will we know whether it's working?

That's what I want GDD Coaching to stand for.

COACH WITH CLARITY.

And for me, that means four things:

☑️ KNOW YOUR PEOPLE.

Understand who's in front of you. Build relationships. Care about them. Meet them where they are.

☑️ KNOW WHAT MATTERS.

Understand performance. Identify the fundamentals. Use evidence, experience and judgement to decide where your attention should go.

☑️ KEEP IT SIMPLE.

Cut through the noise. Make your priorities, sessions and messages clear.

☑️ GET AFTER IT.

Don't just run practices. Coach them. Observe. Intervene. Challenge. Reinforce. Help people get better.

I'm not pretending I've got coaching worked out. Far from it. Some of my strongest beliefs have come from the occasions when I've got things badly wrong. But I do know what I want the next chapter of GDD Coaching to be about.

Helping coaches cut through the noise, develop their own judgement and become confident enough to coach like themselves.

Know your people.

Know what matters.

Keep it simple.

Get after it.

Coach With Clarity.

That's what GDD Coaching stands for.

22/03/2026

In the first of a new webinar series analysing the Men’s Six Nations 2026, I’ll be taking a detailed look at how teams are attacking and using the kick game to create and score tries.

The 2026 tournament offered a clear snapshot of where the modern game is heading, with teams showing greater clarity in how they connect their attack, territory strategy, and decision-making.

In this session, we’ll explore:
• How the kick game is being used as an attacking weapon
• The trends shaping attacking structures and decision-making
• What coaches can take from this and apply in their own environments

This is particularly relevant as we move towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup, where these trends are likely to become even more influential.

📅 Wednesday 25th March
⏰ 7–8pm (GMT)

If you’re a coach looking to stay current and develop your understanding of the modern game, this session will provide practical insight you can take straight into your environment.

Feel free to get in touch for more details or to secure your place.

hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag

22/03/2026

Really encouraged by the level of interest from clubs in hosting GDD Skills School.

The response so far has been hugely positive, and it’s exciting to see so many clubs interested in creating additional player development opportunities through 1:1 coaching, small-group work, and positional masterclasses.

The aim is simple: to work with clubs in a way that adds value to what is already happening, supports player development, and strengthens the overall coaching environment.

I’m now in conversation with a number of clubs and look forward to sharing more information soon about the first clubs to partner with GDD Coaching.

Exciting times ahead.

16/03/2026

Coaching can be lonely.

You’re making decisions every week.
You’re planning, reviewing, managing people and pressure.
And most of it happens behind the scenes.

Coach mentoring isn’t about giving answers, it’s about creating clarity.

Through GDD Coaching Mentoring, I support coaches with:
• Planning and reviewing sessions
• Game model and tactical clarity
• Confidence and decision-making
• Navigating challenges with players and staff

Whether you’re early in your coaching journey or leading a programme, having someone to talk things through can make a real difference.

If you’re interested in 1:1 or small-group mentoring, drop me a message and let’s have a conversation.

22/02/2026

🎥 Next GDD Coaching Webinar: Coaching the Breakdown

The breakdown is one of the most influential and most complex areas of the game.

In this upcoming webinar, I’ll share reflections from the last 12 months coaching the breakdown at Loughborough University, exploring how we can coach these moments with greater clarity and transfer to performance.

🧠 We’ll cover:

🔹 Pre-contact - preparation, decision-making, support roles
🔹 In contact - collision outcomes and technique
🔹 Post-contact - ball presentation, support arrival, ruck detail

For both:
🏉 Ball carriers
👥 Support players

This will be a practical session packed with coaching language, training ideas, and honest reflections from real environments.

🎟️ Free for GDD Coaching VIP Lounge members
📥 One-off access also available

👉 Join the community here: www.patreon.com/GDDCoaching

Let’s raise the standard. Let’s change the game.

22/02/2026

🚨 The Dugout – The GDD Coaching Newsletter 🛡️

Over the last few months, I’ve been speaking with a lot of coaches — and the conversations keep coming back to the same challenges:

➡️ How do we create a clear, consistent game model?
➡️ How do we simplify what we’re coaching without losing impact?
➡️ What are the top teams actually doing differently?
➡️ How do we properly connect analysis to what we train each week?

That’s exactly why I launched The Dugout.

It’s a short, practical monthly newsletter built for coaches who want clarity — not more noise.

Inside you’ll find:

🏉 Practical insights from the professional game
📊 Key performance trends (including Six Nations takeaways)
🧠 Game model thinking you can apply immediately
🔍 Updates from inside GDD Coaching
🎯 Straight-talking coaching reflections

Issue 3 includes:

What the first two rounds of the Six Nations are already revealing

Why transition moments are becoming decisive

How carry detail and discipline are shaping results

A look back at my recent half-term masterclasses in South Wales

The aim isn’t to overload you with information.
It’s to help you coach with greater clarity and confidence.

Access is available through a GDD Coaching Clubhouse or VIP Lounge Membership.

👉 https://www.patreon.com/posts/dugout-gdd-issue-151168975?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Onwards 🙌
Geraint

Get more from GDD Coaching on Patreon

05/02/2026

🧠 Why More Activity Rarely Solves the Problem
(New FREE post now live on GDD Coaching)

Ever finished a session thinking…
“We did loads today… but did we actually improve?”

It’s easy to fall into the trap of adding more:
More drills.
More running.
More contact.
More activity.

But in my experience, more isn’t usually the answer — clarity is.

In this latest free post, I share why simply increasing activity often masks the real issue, and how designing training with purpose and intention leads to far better outcomes for players.

If you’re a coach who wants:
✅ Better sessions
✅ Clearer learning
✅ Less ‘busy’, more impact

This one’s for you.

📥 Read it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/why-more-rarely-149920257?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Let me know what you think — have you ever caught yourself adding more when you actually needed better?

GDD

Get more from GDD Coaching on Patreon

03/02/2026

I’ve recently launched the GDD Coaching website — a space that brings together the wider work I do with players, coaches, clubs, and schools.

It reflects how I think about coaching, learning, and performance, shaped by experience across academy, school, and senior rugby environments.

If you’re a coach, player, or organisation interested in clarity-led development and performance support, you can explore it here:

👉

Supporting players, coaches, and organisations through elite coaching, professional mentoring, and insight.

01/02/2026

Hey

🎯 GDD Skills School – 1:1 & Small Group Rugby Coaching
📍 Available in Leicestershire & South Wales (travel available by arrangement)

Whether you're an ambitious young player looking to sharpen your game, or a parent wanting expert coaching support for your child, GDD Skills School is here to help.

Led by an experienced professional coach, we focus on:
✅ Core skills (passing, tackling, decision-making)
✅ Position-specific development
✅ Confidence and contact
✅ Game awareness & rugby IQ

🔹 1:1 or small group sessions
🔹 Bespoke to age, ability, and goals
🔹 Delivered in a positive, challenging environment

📩 Get in touch to find out more or book your slot.
Limited availability — especially during school holidays!

Let’s raise the standard. Let’s change the game.
GDD

27/01/2026

Coaching can be a lonely place.
You’re expected to lead, plan, make decisions under pressure, and keep improving — all while often having little space to reflect or talk things through.

That’s why I offer 1:1 Coach Mentoring through GDD Coaching.

This isn’t about being told what to do. It’s a space to think, challenge, reflect, and build clarity in your own coaching.

👥 Who is it for?
✔️ Community & performance coaches
✔️ Teachers & heads of sport
✔️ Academy & pathway staff
✔️ Coaches who want to grow, not just survive the season

✅ Support with:
• Session planning & reviews
• Game model clarity
• Solving challenges with players, staff & environments
• Confidence in leadership & coaching identity

📩 Interested? Message me directly or email [email protected]
to talk through what support would work for you.