Game 13th June 2009

Another wonderful game of Rugby last week, well done Gentlemen.

The Coaches asked for better passing and better off-loading when tackled, your improvement in this area was fantastic and we’ll be asking for exactly the same this week.

The Future

The rules and conditions that we play under this year do not change in any way until 2012 for us, we have 3 years under these rules. So the scrums and line-outs are not contested, we play with 10 players per side, etc.

As a result we need to plan for the future … we should take a leaf out if Robbie Deans’ book on running a great team.

At the end of this year we are likely to lose a player or 2 for many reasons, maybe we’ll be lucky and get everyone back next year as unlikely as it is. We do not want new players joining us that are below our standards so my aim is to ensure we have enough players to get us through next year too.

Currently we have Tyler Gordon trying out in our team to see if he wants to continue playing Rugby for us.

The coaches have also be trying out Owen Templeton as although he is in the Under 7’s yellow team, he has shown us that he can tackle very well, he reads the game very well and may well be ready to step up a grade. He’ll get another game with us when his Rippa game doesn’t coincide with our game and his parents are then looking at if he will move into our team permanently.

The coaches believe a team of around 13 to 14 will be good with at least 2 subs for the forwards and one for the backs. We’ve been reasonably lucky with injuries and people being away that we’ve still been able to field a team of 10 each week.

Our Grade and Section

For some reason we are in Section 2 (there are 3 sections in Under 8 with Section 1 being the hardest supposedly). The team we played last week moved from Section 1 to Section 2 because they were beaten by Burnside 60 – 0 the previous week, we then beat them 70 – 5 this week. I am going to seek us moving to Section One, this would mean harder games and possibly some deserved losses but again planning for the future means that our team would become the best of the Top Section and of course the whole grade if we kept winning.

The way our team is training and putting into practice what the coaches are teaching you I see no reason that we should be in section 2. By the way, well done for consistently following your coaches teachings and then putting that into the following game each week, you are doing very well.

I am so enjoying the season this year as I have found with all of the parents at our Team Night last Saturday. As long as you keep following the coaches instructions, keep improving your behaviour at the game and at practice then we can only go on to expect to win more and more games.

Behaviour

The only negative that the coaches are experiencing is with some behaviour. At the warm up before the game last week I saw Evan get very angry with 2 players, Evan doesn’t normally get angry …. I do and so does Dean but not normally Evan.

What you are seeing from us is our commitment to the game and especially to our team.

Disrespect, Bullying, Fighting and Pushing is counter-productive, it wastes our time, and it takes away the “team” element. If someone purposely punches or insults one our players on the field then I would expect you as a team to stand in front our player to protect them and … not hit or insult back … but let the attacker know that you will be there to support them. The referee would do the rest.

To put everything into perspective, you are all very well behaved young men BUT we want to the be the best. The Crusaders are known for their team “culture”, for being a CHAMPION TEAM not a Team of Champions. Our team is mature enough and old enough to behave in the way that your coaches expect.

As a team you back each other, support each other and respect each other at all times … on and off the field.

We show respect and good manners when representing our team (in Thomas’ case ALWAYS) to –
• our opposition teams and coaches by playing fair, never bragging … in other words always remain humble
• use our manners which includes “please” and “thank you” when applicable, letting any female as well as elders go first inn many things, we open doors for our elders and ALL females (including sisters)
• good behaviour in our clubrooms as especially in other peoples clubrooms
• at practice and at the game we do not want to see team members pushing or fighting

If you respect each other and celebrate as a team your success then we will all look and feel good.

Fine young gentlemen that play the way you all do will be a very unique club to belong to.

To finish this email, Dean, Evan and I are all very proud of your efforts to date and we are thoroughly enjoying this season …. Well Done