I only got into rugby coaching when my eldest was in the U11s and his head coach appealed for help. Standing on the touchline and watching, I figured “ah – he means me…”. Initially, I just put out cones, held tackle bags and blew a whistle (lots!) [Ed: the Karl is strong in this one.]
A few years on, I’m part of a group of four coaching 30-40 U14s that combines the two age groups of U13 and U14.
Kerry is very much GAA – especially Gaelic football – country. But rugby has a history here, and actually pre-dates the GAA. The 1880s to 1920s were a time of huge turbulence in Ireland, and part of that led to the abandonment of rugby as a ‘foreign sport’ in favour of the new ‘Irish’ game (soccer, cricket and hockey were also regarded as ‘foreign’). Historically, a football game called ‘caíd’ was played in Kerry, but there’s very little evidence of how it was played: we can surmise it might be closer to the Shrove Tuesday games played in England than any modern code of football. There are theories that it might have been akin to Aussie Rules, as that seemed to spring up on the gold fields in the 1850s, where many Irish had headed off to make their fortune.
Rugby in Killarney goes back to the 1880s, and the club notes an official founding of 1929 – but it’s been re-founded on at least 3 other occasions: 1937, 1953 and 1983. With our own field and two decent pitches (and a third … well, it needs work…), we’re in a position to grow rather than just survive. In September 2019, we even hosted a Munster pre-season training session.
As a club at U14 level, which is the first competitive level (full-sized pitch, fifteen a side – hopefully), we compete in what is termed West Munster – essentially this is the other clubs in Kerry plus one other. We only get to play clubs from Cork and Limerick in friendlies or challenges slotted in between regular fixtures. In an ideal world we’d break out of this, as we end up playing the same local rivals three or four times in a season. In September, it’s all healthy competition; by March they hate each other’s guts. Doesn’t help that same group of lads also run into each in schools and club football and soccer over the same period.
Our season breaks into two parts. Before Christmas, there is a local league decided by a premiership-style knockout format (1 v 4 and 2 v 3) to eliminate the vagaries of no home-and-away. After Christmas, the West Munster teams split into an upper and lower section, with a home and away format. We took this opportunity to split our squad in two. The competition rules initially were that you could name an extended panel, and play all the subs in a non-competitive ‘3rd half’.
However, several clubs were struggling to make fifteen, so the rules reverted to two halves and a maximum squad of 23. That left us with ten not getting any game at all, plus subs only playing five to ten minutes at the end. The three-thirds is well-intentioned, but it’s really aimed at clubs with maybe 23-25 players to ensure everyone plays. It’s well-nigh impossible to play 15+ subs: you end up trying to replace the whole team without giving them adequate time to ‘gel’ as a unit.
We bit the bullet, knowing that we’d be stretched for numbers at times, but also knowing that we had the option to start with as few as twelve if numbers got sticky. The real restriction was having to separate the two squads: that meant a few hard decisions.
We wanted a ‘Black’ team to have a chance at winning their competition, but we didn’t want a ‘Red’ team comprised only of inexperienced – and in many cases smaller – 12-13 year olds who’d have to face up to teams made up mainly from the age grade above. A couple of the older lads were asked to step down to the junior squad to help provide some experience and sheer size.
The smaller size of clubs down here means that we don’t have a dedicated U13 competition, which means our younger players can be faced with bigger and more experienced U14s at a time when they’re really just learning to play the ‘adult’ game. It was a risk, but the alternative was standing on the sideline getting cold or not playing at all.
In our first Black game, we lost away to what was regarded as the best U14 in our region, but the seeds were there. 38-14 was final score, but we were beginning to see our strengths (and weaknesses) and to start to recognise the opposition’s.
Strengths: good scrum (if not a lot of use at U14 as limited pushing is allowed), strong, fast ball-carriers, good kicking game.
Weaknesses: looking for contact, over-carrying, weak support running.
Red started off badly, run ragged by a combined club with a couple of gifted individuals. Their second match, a return fixture, was much the same until we persuaded the opposition to ‘retire’ their No.8. Thereafter it was much more even, and you could see the inexperienced players beginning to develop their teamwork and understanding: where should I be? who’s my man? Attack the ruck or stay out?
Their remaining two games were close – a one-score difference in each game – and unlucky not to win one or both of them. But overall, despite the disappointment of losing, they all got to play an hour’s rugby in four games, and there’s a development in actually playing that you can’t get from all the training sessions in the world.
Meanwhile, in Black world we had 2 good wins: 26-17 and 28-7, the first win from 12-0 down and for much of the game playing 13 v 15 when the opposition conveniently ‘forgot’ that all clubs had agreed to match numbers. There’s a bit of thrill when you comprehensively defeat a team whose mentors are trying to pull a fast one. The second win was against a club we’d lost to twice earlier in the first half of the season by 5 and 3 points – basically losing both games from a place where we should have won.
In both wins, there was a pleasing degree of – dare I say it – ‘T-CUP’. Carrying the ball against the wind, and in the second half kicking long and chasing like demons. Then came a defeat: 12-5 and a wake-up call that we’re weren’t going to bulldoze everyone. Our final – not that we knew that at the time – game was a return versus the Tralee team who’d handed out two thorough beatings to us before. Tables were turned this time as we defeated them 36-5.
So it looks like we went out on a high. The lads themselves were recognising their strengths and trying not to play to those of the opposition. We helped them by moving our usual 8 (quick, strong but not excessively big) into 10 and letting him get into the face of the opposition 10 … who didn’t get the armchair ride he was used to.
For me, the main takeaway or ‘learning’ (as my international work colleagues might say) is that we need to get lads playing. We can train them with drills to develop the skills, but they need to play, and play together, to build up their knowledge. Five, ten or fifteen minutes as a sub doesn’t help that development. It’s certainly a bugbear of mine to see a visiting club arrive with 23 or 24 players, knowing that numbers 16-23 will get a few token minutes when the game is already won or lost. We’d be better off to play 12 v 12, and adjust the rules slightly.
I get irritated by coaches for whom winning is obviously the priority. Winning is great, but the long-term view is to have as many as possible playing – and enjoying playing – our game. Hopefully, some of them will be standing on a touchline in 30 years’ time, having replaced me….
Courtesy of Triskaidekaphobia.
Ovally Balls 
I’d be surprised if Bob hasn’t performed Blowin’ in the Wind like that himself at some point.
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That Shatner cover wouldn’t be out of place on a Pet Sounds session recording outtake.
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Shatner’s in a league of his own. I admire the consistent artistic vision.
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This is dospiriting: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/5g-coronavirus-conspiracy-theory
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It’s also dispiriting.
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@tomp
David Icke is all over that conspiracy theory. Means we are allowed to have fun at his expense
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My wife is (now) a civil servant in Dept of Social Protection (effectively Dept of Employment or whatever your local equivalent is ) and a we live in a town heavily dependent on tourism – they’re working 3×12 hours shifts to handle the backlog of claims – but most claims are logged now, even though the government has changed the rules on claims about 4 times – first, you could only claim basic jobseekers allowance, then a separate Covid-19 short term scheme was introduced, then that was extended to self-employed, then they introduced a scheme to cover up to 80% of wages if workers are kept on….. so every thing has had to be reviewed or resubmitted again and again
5 weeks sounds horrendous though…
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OT,
I’ve been to D. Icke’s house. Shaken his hand – out of politeness. I’ll get around to telling the story on here one day.
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Dave’s been fairly quiet for a while
Would have thought the son dog would have been a bit more high profile.
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Some top quality predicting from him.
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David Icke’s house appeared on a particularly lowbrow episode of Through the Keyhole. I remember he wore a turquoise tie.
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For that positive energy
Maybe my black t-shirt is why I’m feeling so irritated today. Spreading the evil.
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I remember the turquoise tie because it was just after his Wogan appearance when he wore his turquoise shell suit. He explained around that time (not on TTKH) that turquoise resonated with good.
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Some feckers broke into the shed last night. The bikes were well locked up with a variety of locks which foxed them though. And they obviously didn’t fancy any of the power tools thankfully.
Now got to fix the shed which is a job I could do without.
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Maybe that’s why I’m not in my happiest state of mind.
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Trisk, 16 million new claims in 3 weeks. The worst of it is that unemployment really only covers those who had proper jobs, so the better off sector of the working population. Self employed, casual, etc are not eligible under current rules, so that effectively excludes many restaurant, hospitality, construction and retail employees. Employment law is somewhat different here to most of Europe, ie there really isn’t any.
A friend here runs a high end smokehouse business, a massive part of his business is to the catering and hospitality trades, and has seen his turnover drop from around 250K to around 5 K a month, and a lot of his regular customers have already thrown in the towel, owing him big money. Still maintaining a staff of 5, but thats 20 casuals gone. Guess its the same pretty much everywhere, but it just seems a little more desperate here than it should, for a first world country.
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And it’s fucking snowing now.
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SBT, there was a thing on NPR yesterday about how the IRS is going to disburse funds. It’s a horrible task and it’s not going to be easy for a lot of people waiting on the cash – https://www.npr.org/2020/04/09/830159777/irs-budget-cuts-and-staffing-challenges-create-coronavirus-payment-headaches
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Glenn Hoddle, sad to report, has become some kind of Communist:
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Poor old Glenn. Never was the brightest. In a perfect world there’d be no need for any weapons, never mind nuclear, but alas it’s humans we’re talking about. Still, even 10% of military spending is around $180bn a year which would make a huge difference.
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Tonight’s rugby viewing, should anyone be interested….
Most people will only have seen the first ten seconds.
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Good start for us, BB
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Great to see Doddie in action here
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Scrums seem very quick. Obviously they worked too well, so they had to be ‘improved’.
Nice to hear Bill as well.
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Sooo many things in this game that would not be allowed nowadays. Still fun though.
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Metcalf should have absolutely melted Howley instead of farting about looking at the ball
Maybe it wasn’t Metcalf on replay
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Well that was fun.
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Fun indeed, BB, a trademark Jim Telfer side, super performance from the Scottish pack.
Howley was very good for Wales and did his best to stem the tide, he outplayed Armstrong there and that is no mean feat, it wasn’t Armstrong’s best performance but to be fair to him he was 33 that year and Basil had taken over the starting jersey by then.
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One of the best performances was from a guy I’d forgotten about, Eric Peters, in our back row,
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Dave Hilton was famously disqualified from playing for Scotland a year later, after his grandfather’s birth was found to have been registered in Bristol, rather than Edinburgh as his whole family believed.
According to wiki this was reversed when a tv documentary crew investigated and traced his grandfather’s origins to Glasgow.
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Anyone short of a film to watch in the next few days you could check out the new time travel epic Assassin 33 A.D.:
I’m sure it’s not too bad.
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May to run sideways back to Gloucester at ‘end of the season’, whenever that will be.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/apr/11/jonny-may-to-leave-leicester-and-rejoin-gloucester-at-end-of-season
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Beadle should be happy. Shocking to think that Jonny is 30. Good move tho, hopefully he will have a good 3 or 4 years left in him. Kind of wasted at Leicester, shame he didn’t get to play more with Veanu, they linked up really well.
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A great read Trisk – thank you for putting that together. Club coaches – the unsung heroes of sport.
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Interesting view on drugs from Joe van Niekerk.
https://m.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/jungle-living-ex-bok-makes-headlines-with-views-on-use-of-recreational-drugs-20200411
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Lock down extended to the end of the month here. Unemployment rate expected to rise from current 38% to around 50% if it goes much further than that. Desperate times.
Sitting outside in our wee garden with a fire, good wine (our own, surprisingly) and music which is lovely, restrictions or not, but can’t help thinking that shit has to change going forward. I really hope that if nothing else, a massive global movement demands a massive restructuring of the current system.
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Slightly maudlin, my apologies. Hope OB-ers and their families are healthy and happy!
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Didn’t realise May was 30! Swansong Lions tour before being let go to bring through younger talent for 2023?
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Deebee @19:18 – no, I’m with you there. The lack of traffic and noise pollution, and the consequent rebounding of wildlife is wonderful. It’s also much less stressful working from home: no commute, much less in the way of politics.
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I dare Thauma to say she doesn’t like Chris Stapleton:
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And there i go and put my foot in it! Trauma, this is some seriously good music – and with a banjo!
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Just to put my other foot in it, I first heard about Chris Stapleton watching an Adele concert at Royal Albert Fucking Hall (her words not mine). Watching the DVD, to be precise. Although she attributes the song to the Steeldrivers, who actually don’t sing it, but back Chris on it.
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I think my excommunication is complete with the revelation (apt on this this weekend) that Adele does a cracking version. I shall wonder (and wander) for 40 days in the wilderness now, waiting for signs of forgiveness* and the return of the prodigal son.
*Covid phone wanted foreclosure as a first option. Fucker!
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Very sadly, I am unable to listen to the track as the mister’s watching summat on the telly.
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Thauma – I’m actually loving working from home. Mrs Deebee always has so she’s getting cabin fever from not being able to get out at all. Our lock down is total. It’s just been extended for 2 more weeks here, which is a wee problem in that I bought enough ciggies to last her until the original lock down was done, but not the extension. Alcohol and cigarettes are not for sale.
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It’ll still be there tomorrow. Awesome track!
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“I really hope that if nothing else, a massive global movement demands a massive restructuring of the current system.”
That’d be good, as a first step but it’d have to win. No crumbs from the table, no thanks for your sacrifice but y’know.
I wouldn’t hold my breath for it succeeding.
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I’m doing some teaching work from home on Skype and Zoom. It’s ok and I’m thinking hard about what I have to do but I’d much rather be out seeing the people face-to-face from 2.01 metres.
Deebee, I saw that Cele announced the crime figures the other day and the murder rate, though still way too high, had dropped by 66%.
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