By now everyone knows that the USA 7s coach Mike Friday and his assistant Chris Brown were going to lay down the standards when they took over the team, and even a cursory glance at the squad - the pictures of how hard they were working, the video - and you know that’s true.

 

The team, said Friday, needed to improve technically, tactically, physically, and mentally, and he and Brown  - and guest coach Phil Greening - were going to make sure they do.

 

“Everyone always needs reminders,” Friday told Goff Rugby Report. “Our job as the coaching team is to help them maintain those standards, be that through carrot or through stick. Sometimes we have a stern word with someone, and sometimes we put and arm around him. We get our massage across in difference ways.”

 

Friday likes a discussion. He isn’t a coach who says that you have to do one thing one way and everyone be quiet and get on with it.

 

“Everyone is treated as a man,” Friday said. “The coach is not always right. I want players to challenge me and speak up, because that’s how ideas materialize. We can come up with answers together.”

 

This is a new experience for the players - as they take a break from the intense workouts to debate ideas. 

 

“A player needs to understand why you’re asking him to do that,” said Friday. “We got a few interesting facial expressions as we incorporated that approach.”

 

And maybe that’s because young American players are used to thinking that they do whatever they’re told to make the team, be in the show. But it can also be because the law has been laid down.

 

“We are non-negotiable about certain things,” said Friday. “Fitness standards and attitude toward work. Mistakes are important to the game and you’ve got to get it wrong to get it right. None of the boys will ever be frowned upon for making a mistake or trying something. But what you can’t do is make the same mistake continuously. Tactical learning has been a big part of that last camp. And for us, it was definitely a case of having to get it wrong to get it right - Wednesday was a tough day at the office for the boys, but we started to see the penny dropping.”

 

And where has the penny dropped? Friday’s imagery is slightly different from other coaches but draws a similar balance between coach’s instruction and player’s decision-making. In this case, it’s a puzzle. Using film and analysis, Friday shows the payers the images of a situation, and shows them their options.

 

In the end, that’s what it’s about, see the image, recognize it, and make your move.

 

That’s what the work has been about in camp.

 

“Rugby is an option game,” said Friday. “There are so many variables, you need to be creative in the way you attack, but it’s about reacting to that picture quicker than they do - that’s where human error comes in.”

 

And that is where wins come.