Designing and implementing a pedagogical framework to coach rugby sevens athletes who transition from 15-a-side : a collaborative action research approach

To date, there is no published research that considers the pedagogical challenges in coaching rugby union players to transition between the 15-a-side and 7-a-side game. For an emerging country like Hong Kong, where participant numbers in rugby are limited, it is a necessity for players to transition between 15-a-side and rugby sevens. Over a period of 12 weeks, the aim of this study was to investigate how a group of four rugby union coaches (including myself) could utilise collaborative action research (CAR) to develop and implement a pedagogical framework to assist players' transition from 15-a-side to 7-a-side rugby. The pedagogical framework developed, consisted of six constructs that included clarity of rugby sevens strategies and structures; specific micro-skill development; high-speed running games; replication of match scenarios; rugby contact activities; and the use of technology. As a group of coaches, we collaboratively designed, implemented, and developed the pedagogical framework over three action research cycles. The data sources used to evolve the coaches' learning in the AR cycles included focus groups, observations, reflective diaries, and multimedia technology in the form of WhatsApp. Three areas where coaches displayed enhanced pedagogy were the utilisation of individual and collective feedback, becoming more deliberate in their planning of and reflecting on practice, and successfully employing creative pedagogies to engage the athletes. The key challenges encountered by the coaches were doubting their own decisions, feeling redundant in coaching sessions and concerns about overcoaching. At the end of the 12-week period, an overall reflective evaluation was conducted to discuss the utility of the coaches' CAR and, how it developed their knowledge and pedagogical practice. This study provides a unique pedagogical framework to coach players who transition between 15-a-side and rugby sevens and in doing so, addresses the dearth of pedagogically focused research in rugby sevens. Further, the study is the first to utilise CAR amongst a group of coaches in a rugby sevens environment to practically apply the pedagogical framework to enhance the transitional issues of players from 15-a-side to rugby sevens.