How pre-season builds confidence, skills and consistency
Jun 15, 2025
At The RT Academy, we talk a lot about skill development, mindset and match-day preparation. But there’s one part of the rugby year that often gets overlooked, and it’s one of the most important for long-term progress: Pre-season.
Pre-season is where good habits are built, confidence is restored and the foundations are set for everything that comes next.
And in Ben’s experience, both as a former professional and now full-time coach, it’s often the players who approach pre-season with structure and intent who see the biggest improvements across the year.
Why pre-season makes a difference
In junior rugby, once the season starts, everything moves quickly. Sessions are shorter. Games take over. There’s less time to stop, reset or focus on individual areas for development.
That’s why pre-season is so valuable.
It gives players space to sharpen their core skills, reset after time off and build confidence before the pressure of match day returns.
It’s not about doing more.
It’s about preparing with purpose.
When players go into the season feeling ready - physically, technically and mentally - they’re more consistent, more resilient and more confident on the pitch.
What a focused pre-season looks like
Pre-season doesn’t have to mean long, intense sessions or heavy conditioning. In fact, the most effective pre-seasons are built around short, focused work, done consistently.
And importantly, this isn’t designed to replace team or club training. Most team pre-seasons focus on fitness, game plans and unit-based systems. That work is essential, but it often leaves little time for individual skills development.
That’s where The RTA Squad fits in. We encourage players to carve out just 10 minutes a day to:
- Build confidence with core skills
- Refine technique in passing, tackling, kicking, movement and contact
- Develop good routines around training and recovery
- Set a steady rhythm that fits alongside school, club and family life
These small steps create momentum. And when players add them alongside their team sessions, they arrive into the season sharper, more confident, and ready to perform.
What Head Coach Ben focuses on at The RT Academy
Ben’s coaching philosophy focuses on building confidence through structure.
That’s why every RTA session - especially during pre-season - is designed to be simple, repeatable and focused on progress.
Whether it’s working on game-specific movement, sharpening handling under fatigue or reinforcing decision-making, pre-season is where we can dig in without the weekly pressure of selection or performance.
And when we get that rhythm right early - players carry it with them all season long.
How parents can support
Helping your child get the most out of pre-season doesn’t mean pushing harder. It means creating an environment where small, steady progress can happen.
Here are a few ways to support:
- Help them set a weekly rhythm for training and recovery
- Reflect together on what feels good and what needs attention
- Encourage consistency in skills, movement and sleep routines
- Remind them that progress isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up and trying their best
And if they need support staying consistent, that’s exactly what The RTA Squad is here to help with.
Inside The Squad, every player gets weekly skills sessions, structured guidance and the kind of coaching that builds long-term confidence.
Because the players who build a strong pre-season don’t just start strong.
They stay consistent, week after week.