Coaching Culture with Ben Herring

Ben Herring
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Rugby
  • Updated Weekly

Coaching Culture with Ben Herring is your weekly deep-dive into the often-overlooked “softer skills” of coaching—cultural innovation, communication, empathy, leadership, dealing with stress, and motivation. Each episode features candid conversations with the world’s top international rugby coaches, who share the personal stories and intangible insights behind their winning cultures, and too their biggest failures and learnings from them. This is where X’s and O’s meet heart and soul, empowering coaches at every level to foster authentic connections, inspire their teams, and elevate their own coaching craft. If you believe that the real gold in rugby lies beyond the scoreboard, Coaching Culture is the podcast for you.

  1. The Power of In-Person Conversations

    1d ago

    The Power of In-Person Conversations

    Getting selection wrong isn’t only about who you pick. It’s about how you tell people. We dig into one of the most uncomfortable parts of coaching: delivering news that changes an athlete’s week, their confidence, and sometimes their future. Whether you coach school teams, club sports, or high-performance environments, we make the case that face-to-face communication still beats texts, calls, and “finding out in the meeting” because humans are wired for connection, tone, and intent. We break down the moments that matter most, especially when a player is moving down the lineup. Our simple rule: talk to them every time and do it before the team is announced. We unpack why public blindsiding is so damaging, how psychological safety shows up in a two-minute chat, and how small, respectful conversations create long-term trust. We also share a framing tool that keeps the conversation grounded: explain selection as your opinion and your responsibility, not as a so-called objective truth that invites debate. We also zoom out to stakeholder communication. Promoted players deserve in-person praise because those are relationship-building moments that stick for years, and parents often need context too. If your rationale is sound, transparent conversations tend to go better than the stories people invent in the silence. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a coach, and leave a review. What’s the best way you’ve ever received tough feedback? Send us Fan Mail For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    11 min
  2. The Real Job of a Coach Isn't What You Think...John Dams

    4d ago

    The Real Job of a Coach Isn't What You Think...John Dams

    Ever wonder why some teams click faster, learn quicker, and bounce back stronger? We unpack the real levers behind high performance—where data sharpens intuition, language creates buy-in, and framing turns meetings into movement. With performance strategist and developmental coach John Dams, we trace his path from early rugby roles to shaping elite environments, pulling out lessons any coach or leader can use tomorrow. We dig into the mindset side first: emotional intelligence as a practical coaching skill. John breaks down the four controllables—what you say, think, do, and feel—and shows how they anchor tough moments. We explore empathy as an action, not a slogan, and why journaling shifts you from first-person emotion to third-person objectivity. That shift lets you see patterns, drop unhelpful reactions, and coach the person in front of you rather than the story in your head. Then we get hands-on. We show how to build rapport by matching language and values, and why framing is the hidden superpower. Use POWER—Purpose, Agenda, Outcome—to set clear contracts for reviews, one-to-ones, and training blocks. Pair that with sticky phrasing and simple, specific language that holds under pressure. We connect the dots between meaning and action to find flow, and share how to review against stated goals instead of mood. And yes, we tackle the “spray”: when it serves the team, when it’s just venting, and how intention changes impact. Finally, we return to the engine room: the marriage of data and intuition. Treat gut feel as hypothesis, use data to validate or iterate fast, and build cycles where insight compounds over weeks, not seasons. Culture, identity, and belonging are universal; execution is local. Your job is to read the room, adapt the frame, and own the culture work instead of outsourcing it. Subscribe, share with a coach who needs it, and leave a review with your best sticky phrase—we’ll read favorites on a future show. Send us Fan Mail For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    1h 10m
  3. The Hardest Transition Of My Life Nemani Nandolo

    Jun 14

    The Hardest Transition Of My Life Nemani Nandolo

    What happens when a record-setting, globe-trotting winger trades the try line for a whiteboard? We sit down with Nems to explore how he’s building the Fijian Drua development pathway with a people-first approach that still demands edge. From Leicester’s cold logic of the kicking game to the Crusaders’ obsession with nailing roles, he unpacks the methods that actually travel—and the ones that don’t. We get honest about what it takes to coach in Fiji, where players often support entire families and arrive with extraordinary talent but limited exposure to weights, nutrition, or film study. Nems shares how he teaches with video for visual learners, sets simple tactical rules that hold under pressure, and creates real-world structure by sending players to work one day a week and pushing for vocational certificates. This is development beyond drills: life skills, identity, and resilience built alongside game plans. On the field, he shows why purposeful kicking wins territory and how to coach bravery without breaking bodies. Off the field, he proves that care is a competitive advantage—knowing a player’s family, giving grace when life hits hard, and earning the right to demand more. He explains why doubling down on strengths beats chasing every weakness, and how one-on-one clarity turns raw potential into reliable performance. We also dive into retirement’s invisible toll, the value of taking time to reflect, and the simple habits—consistency and effort—that move careers forward. If you care about rugby culture, player development, and coaching that respects context, this conversation will sharpen your toolkit. Subscribe, share with a coach who needs it, and leave a review with your favorite insight so we can keep raising the game together. Send us Fan Mail For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    1h 2m
  4. Coaching Your Own Kid

    Jun 10

    Coaching Your Own Kid

    Coaching kids is one thing. Coaching your own child can feel like stepping onto a field where every word carries twice the weight. I’ve been thinking about why so many coaches avoid coaching their son or daughter, even when they love the sport, and I’ve come to a simple reframe: the real question isn’t “why is my kid hard to coach?” It’s “what changes in me when the athlete is someone I love?” I walk through three shifts that quietly sabotage parent coaching. First, we stop seeing the child and start seeing the future, which turns development into pressure and makes kids feel the distance between who they are and who we wish they’d become. Second, our parent identity collides with our coach persona, and kids are incredibly sensitive to that mask. If they sense we’re performing a role instead of showing up as ourselves, resistance is often a response to inconsistency, not stubbornness. Third, love creates attachment to outcomes. When your child’s success feels personal, it’s easy to react to what a moment means instead of responding to what’s actually happening. Using a Stoic approach, I separate what we can control (effort, habits, behaviors) from what we can’t (results), and I offer a better way to measure success: enjoyment, learning, and the strength of the relationship over time. If you’ve ever felt torn between being a great coach and being the parent your child trusts, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share it with a coach-parent you know, and leave a review with the biggest lesson you’re taking into your next practice. Send us Fan Mail For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    10 min
  5. Dark Moments Build Great Players. Joe Rokocoko

    Jun 7

    Dark Moments Build Great Players. Joe Rokocoko

    Ever been told to start at zero? Joe Rokocoko has—and he calls it the sentence that rebuilt his standards, his respect, and his career. From a Fijian village to Parisian match nights, Joe opens up about the unseen work behind greatness: how culture lives like a village, why tone matters more than volume, and what it takes to make the dark zone feel like home. We go deep on the soul of French rugby—why stadiums are packed, how small towns treat game day as a family event, and what Racing 92 is doing to turn a reputation for flair into a ruthless defensive identity. Joe shares how he coaches across cultures with precision and care, adapting delivery while keeping standards high. He explains why a GPS can’t measure team spirit, and how knowing when to push two more minutes can hardwire timing, trust, and belief that last into the 81st minute. This is a masterclass in modern coaching and leadership: blending data with feel, using simple rituals to lower resistance (shoes by the bed, plans that remove friction), and anchoring everything in service. Joe’s father taught him that leadership means sharing hunger and thirst with your people. That lens shapes his approach to feedback, role clarity, and identity—ask what opponents feel when they face you, then build habits that change that perception from the inside out. If you’re a coach, leader, or player who believes sport should shape people, not just results, you’ll find tools you can use tomorrow: questions that build buy‑in, language that respects culture, and themes that light a fire on fatigue’s edge. Press play, then tell us: what’s your team’s real identity under pressure? If this resonated, follow the show, share with a friend, and leave a quick review—your feedback helps more curious coaches find us. Send us Fan Mail For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    1h 2m
  6. The Power Of Little Hooks

    Jun 3

    The Power Of Little Hooks

    A small moment can change an athlete more than a big speech ever will. We’re digging into the idea of “little hooks” the tiny wins, cues, and shared moments that get players latched onto learning and pulling themselves forward. We start with a simple family story: an alphabet game where an eight-year-old learns a country for every letter. The real magic isn’t the trivia. It’s what happens after he feels competent. He starts lighting up when he hears new country names, asking questions, looking at maps, and chasing more knowledge on his own. That’s the coaching lesson: when someone knows one small thing well, their world quietly expands and curiosity does the heavy lifting. From there, we translate it into sports coaching and coaching culture. We talk about why coaches often jump straight to systems and outcomes, and why confidence and enjoyment sit underneath everything. We share three takeaways you can use right away: create small wins early, create hooks that people remember and repeat, and coach enjoyment deliberately as a skill. Fun doesn’t lower standards. It fuels effort, belonging, and the courage to try. If you want more athlete confidence, better engagement, and a stronger team environment, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a coach who needs it, leave a review, and tell us: what “little hook” can you create at your next session? Send us Fan Mail For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    11 min
  7. Alex Laybourne: Swedens rise to Top 30 on a shoestring

    May 31

    Alex Laybourne: Swedens rise to Top 30 on a shoestring

    What does it take for a fully amateur national team to punch above its weight and chase top-30 ambitions? We unpack Sweden’s rise with head coach Alex Laybourne, tracing a bold shift from “show up and play” to a no-excuses culture where standards, clarity, and innovation fuel results. From the outside, it looks improbable: limited budget, a shallow depth chart, and COVID-era hurdles. Inside, it’s a masterclass in identity, ownership, and doing more with less. We start with culture as lived behavior—how players welcome, challenge, and hold each other to account—and why psychological safety is the launchpad for honest feedback. Alex explains the five-year plan that anchored belief, the coach-led but player-driven model that gave leaders real input, and the clarity-first approach that made Sweden play faster and more confidently. When a player flipped a kickoff plan mid-meeting based on a rival’s left foot, the room didn’t wobble; it improved. That trust turned structure into a springboard for creativity. Constraints became advantages. Rather than copying tier-one rugby, Sweden chose to be the best version of Sweden, turning weaknesses into weapons with innovations like three-man lineouts. Storytelling amplified identity: drawing on the Carolinians—organized, disciplined, aggressive, innovative—transformed tactics and mindset. When their kit vanished in Luxembourg, a tale about soldiers wearing two left boots reframed a crisis into adaptation and action. Every friction point became a chance to strengthen cohesion. Alex also shares what he’s taken from conversations with Eddie Jones—build a finishing unit, cut the noise, and keep the main thing the main thing. As results improved, new tests emerged: handling the favorite tag with humility, expanding depth without politics overpowering performance, and integrating overseas players into a tight culture. Through parenting, board roles, and nonprofit leadership, Alex sharpened the questions that uncover truth and the judgment to trust his coaching eye over data he can’t access. If more money came, he’d spend it on people and shared experiences, not gadgets. Subscribe, rate, and share if this conversation gave you a fresh playbook for building culture that actually wins. What constraint will you turn into your team’s next advantage? Send us Fan Mail For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    1h 2m
  8. How to Make and Break Confidence

    May 27

    How to Make and Break Confidence

    If you’ve ever walked into a team review wondering which clip will make you look stupid, you already know how confidence gets crushed. We talk about coaching confidence through the most common tool coaches use and misuse: feedback. When reviews become a public list of everything that went wrong, players don’t just feel corrected, they feel exposed. And once fear shows up, learning slows down, decision-making tightens, and team culture quietly deteriorates. We unpack why so many coaches default to negative film sessions and how it often acts like a safety blanket: “I’ve told them.” But telling isn’t coaching. We dig into what repeated sideline commands like “get organized” actually reveal about your training environment, and why nitpicking random details you never coached can erode trust fast. Then we flip the approach and focus on positive reinforcement, exemplars, and psychological safety as performance tools, not soft options. You’ll leave with a clear, usable framework for better performance reviews: only review what you previewed, start by showing athletes doing it well, and avoid dragging players for one-off mistakes unless they’re part of a recurring problem. If you coach, teach, lead a team, or parent an athlete, these small shifts can change how people respond to pressure. If this helped, subscribe, share it with a coach you respect, and leave a quick review. What’s one thing you’ll change in your next review session? Send us Fan Mail For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    12 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Coaching Culture with Ben Herring is your weekly deep-dive into the often-overlooked “softer skills” of coaching—cultural innovation, communication, empathy, leadership, dealing with stress, and motivation. Each episode features candid conversations with the world’s top international rugby coaches, who share the personal stories and intangible insights behind their winning cultures, and too their biggest failures and learnings from them. This is where X’s and O’s meet heart and soul, empowering coaches at every level to foster authentic connections, inspire their teams, and elevate their own coaching craft. If you believe that the real gold in rugby lies beyond the scoreboard, Coaching Culture is the podcast for you.

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