Chaos Coordinator: Being a Rugby Coach with ADHD While Planning the Season Ahead



The new rugby season is looming, and I’m armed with a notebook, a dozen colour-coded pens, and the unwavering belief that this year I’ll finally get organised. (Spoiler: I won’t.) 

Being a rugby coach with ADHD means that “season planning” is a unique cocktail of ambition, chaos, and creativity. And some stress for equal measure. 


I start with the best intentions. I make spreadsheets. I schedule training themes. I map out fixture lists. I even attempt various calendars. But soon enough the wheels inevitably wobble. I forget to email the pitch coordinator, lose track of which session we’re on, and have to dig muddy balls and bins out of my car boot because I forgot to wash them- again.


Yet somehow, it works.


ADHD has a way of turning planning into a contact sport. My brain thrives on urgency, so those last-minute changes? I excel at them. (Get it, a spreadsheet pun!) A fixture gets cancelled? No problem. We’re running ann extra training session or an social instead. Half the squad texts that they’re stuck at work? We’re suddenly doing agility drills with a side of “fitness fun” (aka burpees). ADHD isn’t great for meticulous admin, but it’s brilliant for rolling with the punches.


And then there’s the hyperfocus. When I lock in on planning a training session or analysing game footage, I can spend hours fine-tuning drills, finding creative ways to motivate players, and making sure every individual gets the attention they need. That unpredictability that makes me a nightmare with spreadsheets? It also makes me a dynamic coach.


Still, I won’t pretend it’s easy. There are moments I feel overwhelmed by the mental load- tracking fixtures, player development, kit orders, and trying to remember if I’ve actually submitted the risk assessment or just thought about it really hard. (Spoiler: it’s usually the latter.)


So this season, I’m embracing my ADHD coaching brain. Instead of forcing myself into rigid planning systems that never stick, I’m focusing on what works:


  • Visual planning so I don’t lose my place.
  • Reminders for reminders (thank you, Becca)
  • Delegating like a pro-because a good coach doesn’t do everything alone. (This is a work in progress)
  • And most importantly, remembering that rugby is about connection, growth, and enjoyment-not about having perfectly laminated schedules.



If you’re a fellow ADHD coach or player, know this: your brain is a strength, even if your bag is full of mismatched socks and forgotten whistles. The chaos is part of the charm. And in rugby, just like in life, we thrive by adapting.


Bring on the season.


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