A good coach is all things to all people – inspirational, knowledgeable, intelligent and perceptive. There are so many different aspects of being a coach that it can be difficult to know what to focus on when trying to improve your own performance, never mind your team's.

In addition, not every coaching technique works for everyone – some coaches work better with a bit of distance from players, other are better closer, and so forth. But there are, nonetheless, a few qualities that are always good to possess when coaching a rugby team of any level, no matter who you are. The four discussed in this article have been chosen by Steve Gough, coach of the Premier League Penrith Panthers.

The first is knowledge. This is absolutely crucial to being the best coach you can be – knowing both your players and the game of rugby league. It will become immediately apparent to onlookers if you don't know your players well – for example playing them out of position or not taking account of their strengths and weaknesses in your game plan. Equally, an in-depth knowledge of the game is vital for making that game plan and properly training your players. If you're not sure about any aspect of either of these two, it's time you sat down and studied them! Try and learn from other coaches, and indeed from the players themselves.

Secondly, good organisational ability is indispensable to becoming a good rugby coach. There are dozens of different things to juggle ,once you become  coach of a team, and if you don't plan ahead, you're bound to slip up eventually. No matter how skilled or knowledgeable you are, you will not be able to bring your talents to bear unless you have a plan for the season that you stick to as far as necessary. Being one step ahead of the game means trying to predict things that others can't – for example having a break in training at the time you think your players will have their lowest ebb. Anyone can be organised, it just takes a little work.

The third basis of good coaching is good communication. Many potentially brilliant coaches fall down through not being able to pass on their ingenious ideas in a coherent way to their teams. Being a good coach is about more than having good game plans, it's about bringing players on side and convincing them that your way of doing things will be best in the long run. Huge amounts of coaching is verbal – post-match reviews, player goal setting, even basic instruction – and you have to get these parts right. Try and be aware that how you say something can matter as much to your players as what you say.

Finally, interpersonal skills are important for coaching, as they are for any teaching position. Naturally, as the coach of a team, you will be in constant communication with people and rely on your interpersonal skills for everything you do. It is also the part of being a coach that you can do least about – some are simply better with people than others. One simple rule to remember is to treat everyone with respect, no matter how difficult you think they are being, or how wrong you might think them to be.

Knowledge, organisation, communication and the all-important interpersonal skills are vital for coaching, but they are only the beginning. Remember to keep working at your coaching style!