1980

My first real-time hand notation

Introduction

In 1980, I was coaching St Mary's College (Strawberry Hill) rugby team and playing for Rosslyn Park.

I had been thinking about how systematic observation might help my coaching. I had qualified as a Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) coach in 1978 and had really enjoyed ongoing conversations with Ray Williams at the WRU.

On 16 February 1980, I had a day free of playing and coaching responsibilities. I decided to try my first real-time hand notation whilst watching the live broadcast of the England v Wales game at Twickenham.

As fortune would have it, this game included what one writer called "the most explosive 13 minutes in rugby history". The Welsh flanker, Paul Ringer, was sent off after 15 minutes of the game.

I managed one half of the game. England won the game 9v8 (three penalties to two tries). Wales were leading 4v3 (four points for a try) when I stopped my notation.

Method

I had a hand written template. I thought I would try a landscape format and attached the sheet to an art board. I sat very close to my television at my home in Teddington. At that point I had not contemplated using any time recordings and did not have a video cassette recorder to provide a lapsed-time check of my notations.

My first attempt at real-time notation recorded:

• Scrums
• Penalties at scrums
• Lineouts
• Penalties at lineouts
• Kicks by shirt number
• Attempts at goal
• Tries scored

My notation is shared below. It includes some questions about what to record.