One of the most rewarding club experiences is being a coach for your kids. It’s an amazing opportunity to help grow and shape your and others children in love for sport generally and rugby in particular.
If you are a club member along with your child includes access to the adult sections of the club. Both the women’s and men’s social section welcome parents to take part – whether simply to train and learn more about the game, to improve your coaching, or if you are interested in strapping on boots and taking the field.
To illustrate what is involved, we will explore the experience of a few dads who have taken on this opportunity with the men’s section.
Joe Leslie and Pete Stormont both have sons in the U8s, joining the club as U6s. Joe serves as head coach for the team, and shares the coaching responsibilities with Pete and other parents.
Both have played at school but have not played in some time – in Petes case, 36 years!
For both, Monday night social touch was the gateway. Joe shares his experience:
“ I always wanted to get back into it so went along to the Monday night session and got chatting to some of the players. I still had the urge to play contact so went along to see one of the Buccaneers (veterans, over 35 year olds) games. Again, I started chatting to some of the lads who suggested coming out on Wednesdays for some “biff”.”
Joe (right) enjoying his training
Pete has a similar experience “36 years of not playing leads to rusty skills, so it was not long before I was drawn to the Monday night “social” touch rugby sessions – and then the suggestion of a training run out on a Wednesday evening. So on a dark November night I found myself being welcomed to the Men’s section training, despite my rusty skills and dodgy eyesight I felt welcomed almost immediately”.
Both joined in regular training with the men’s social section on a Wednesday night (7:15pm at Well Hall).
What they found was “you feel part of a culture that works hard, plays hard and has fun doing it. The team have been really welcoming and help me improve my game” says Joe.
Pete’s experience was similar “despite my rusty skills and dodgy eyesight I felt welcomed almost immediately, and within a couple of weeks Wednesday nights were a fixture of my diary”.
Both dads have been able to take what they have experienced with the section back to the U8s. Joe has “been able to take elements from training to coach fundamental skills with the minis which has been great to develop the next generation”.
Pete (far left) and other players go over the finer points of clearing a ruck.
For Pete it’s the ethos of the club that’s important: “Being part of the men’s squad is not only a training session, we learn from each other, there is a genuine sense of community supporting each other, the 15 players on the pitch are only as good as the team that trains with them, and stands behind them. That’s an ethos that passes easily through coaching to the minis, everyone has a role in a team. Of course the development of game play, skills and tactics are also helped by the training, but I would (say) it’s building that family ethos that is the key takeaway from most Wednesdays.”
Both Joe and Pete were a part of the Shield-winning vets team last season.
The women’s and men’s social section invite all parent members looking to expand their rugby story to come along.
From Pete: “To any other dads, or mums, looking on and wondering , I can only say you should come along and give it a try. Being able to play rugby with my son is a special bond we have, and helping him learn his skills just adds to that, and I know his rugby journey is in safe hands because I train alongside some of the coaches and players that will be part of his future. But it’s more than that I am part of a community where we share interests, we look out for one another and we encourage.”
Pete with his son Jack enjoying the WRWC
From Joe: “Come along to learn, work hard, socialise and have a great time. It will benefit you and the minis”.
If you would like to know more about training or playing with the adult sections, please contact Andrew Wylie via mensrugby@blackheathrugby.co.uk or Janet Okolie via women@blackheathrugby.co.uk.
LATEST NEWS
