Coach and Referee

U14 training was pretty good - I got to stand back and watch Dom and Tony take to boys through a run and stretches before Dom led them through an excellent hit drill. The defenders stand in a line holding shields and an equal number of attacker lie face down on the ground 10 metres away. "One-two-three" calls the first attacker then all the attackers jump up and drive the defenders before running back onto their stomachs. This is repeated four or five times before the ball is kicked long - like multiple ruck phases before kicking for a line out - and the attackers run the ball forward. When touched by a defender the ball carrier goes to ground as if they were tackled, a second attacker cleans out the defender-shield holder so the half back, anyone else, can pick up the ball and either run it or pass to the receiver for another phase. Plently of calling for the ball, must clean up to make space for the half back, repeat to exhaustion.

I stood aside partly because the WA Junior Rugby Super 10 has been postponed so walking through scrums and lineouts as I had planned was no longer a clear priority over perfecting the ruck. It will be good to practice these and kicks over a few weeks to get them down pat and in particular so the boys can learn where they should stand and what they should do as the ball is returned into play. Scrums usually lead to multiple phases of play as rucks are taken along one side of the field, or the first receiver runs and drives to make distance over the advantage line, and lineouts can do the same or lead to a maul forming. Skills and drills are vital to the development of the young players and I am pleased to say that Dom and others seem to have fabulous experience and good rapport with the boys in this area - far beyond my own knowledge.

For myself, my ribs are feeling better every day and after two sessions of (painful) physiotherapy, with another on Monday, throwing the ball, running and bending with a full range of movement is still not an option. It is hard to coach if you cannot demonstrate properly and participate so having the others to assist with coaching drills or to take over is a plus. As as example of good timing, a received a reply from Anthony at Rugby WA about refereeing and I plan to go prepare for Level 1 Accreditation. It is a natural path to progress from playing to refereeing in seniors and I will consider my own pathways as a coach and referee as my development progresses in both areas over the next few months.