As part of National Collegiate Rugby Coach Mentorship Program, Brown University head coach Rosalind Chou recently shared how the constraints-led approach (CLA) transformed her team’s performance and helped deliver a national title.

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One week before the 2024 Collegiate Rugby Championship, Brown’s women’s squad faced a challenge: they were winning only 60% of their own rucks. Instead of turning to traditional drills, Chou turned to CLA, a teaching method that modifies game conditions to shape player behavior and decision-making.

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“We altered a game in training where only the defensive side could score if they jackaled and stole the ball,” Chou explained. “It made practice far more competitive, and our players naturally adapted, improving ball placement and producing explosive clearouts.”

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The results spoke for themselves. At the CRC, Brown won 100% of their breakdowns across the entire weekend. “I had never seen anything like that in my entire coaching career,” said Chou. “We came home as back-to-back champions.”

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The Coach Mentorship Program strengthens the collegiate game by connecting emerging coaches with experienced leaders like Ros Chou, creating opportunities to share proven strategies and elevate coaching across all levels.