England players encouraged to pay attention to what is happening

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/10670327/Six-Nations-2014-England-turn-to-disco-lights-to-improve-visual-awareness.html

Now another innovation designed to help England’s rugby players gain a crucial edge can be revealed: flashing disco lights.

The unusual training method stemmed from a rash of missed try-scoring opportunities – which coaches put down to a lack of visual awareness – and the increased noise levels at Twickenham, which was at its most raucous in last week’s 13-10 victory over Ireland.

Attack coach Mike Catt asked for a system of coloured lights to be installed in the team’s gym at their Pennyhill Park base in Surrey, to which the players must react, forcing them to rely more on visual stimuli than vocal commands.

I recall Clive Woodward bringing in visual awareness specialists to assist his squad. This arrangement with the lights seems a lot more basic, though. I can't help feeling it's a bit of an indictment of the coaching and/or our players' natural instincts that they have to be told to look around to assess the options on the field.

I'm still optimistic we'll kick on and keep getting wins under our belt. However, if the wheels do fall off at any stage, I suspect we'll look back at this article for clues as to why we weren't good enough.

Maybe its just a question of trying to improve important skills. You never know

Seems like the kind of skill that should be inherent if you throw the ball around as a natural part of the game. Seems a bit contrived but good luck.

yeah i mean this is really important…..last thing you want is to get smacked in the chops by a dwarf you didn't see coming.

Or run into a smoke machine

just jive talk