Defensive skills often overlooked

Good defensive skills are another often overlooked quality in younger players. Too often a coach will heap praise on the try scorer who can run the length of the pitch with ball in hand.

While this is certainly a good talent to have, especially if it is based on intelligence rather than brute strength or speed, such players can be encouraged at the expense of the player who can stop tries one on one.  After all, we should remember that defence is 50% of the game and just as important to winning as scoring tries is not letting them in.
Having an eye for clever defence, with an innate knowledge of positioning and tackling is something that is difficult to teach and will stand to a player throughout his rugby league career at all levels. You should encourage players with these skills and who can make the kind of tackles that are required from the higher levels of the game.

As you can see, then, it is more important for you to identify and build on good mental characteristics than physical ones, or even natural ability. The character of a player will last through from underage right up to senior level.

On the other hand, his strength, speed or relative ball handling skills may well not. Sending these kind of tough and willing players further up the line is to do a service to rugby league as a whole and to improve the game for further generations.

Character, mental toughness, determination and a winning attitude are rare qualities within youth players... when they do come along, it is important to promote this!