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A Biting Malady
Twas with fear and trepidation that I took my seat at
the dentist recently when that notorious cheeky grin peered from under
the riot helmet and said.....
“Well we certainly have a way with words when we
get going don’t we. Really quite whimsical in the old newsletter
what?”
Well what could I say? My only recourse was something
to the effect that others had admired my prestidigitation of the English
vocabulary and application of the lexicon of communication in an amusing
light. Roughly translated this means that what I say is comically magic.
This eventually got me thinking. We all often say things
that seem as plain as a pikestaff but do others really understand all
the nuances we are trying to get across. Forget the subtlety - do they
have the foggiest what we mean. I know I have often failed in this way
and no doubt let you all down.
So what has this to do with rugby? Well play has verbal
and non verbal cues to communication. We need to send clear messages to
our team while confounding the opposition. So I now throw you a challenge.
Do you know what is expected of you on the field this week? Can you anticipate
the player inside you before he has the ball? Do we know where the point
of attack should be? If so all is well. If not please read all previous
issues of the Coaches Notes to discover where this knowledge is available.
Once we are all “word perfect” we will enjoy the totality of
our sport and play to our maximum potential and not an approximation of
it - if we get this far. Once this nirvana is reached I can tolerate those
on the lofty pedestal of self actualisation moaning about we lesser mortals
- not before. Meanwhile remember we don’t have to like our team mates
to play well with them. But we do have to play well with them to win all
those games we should.
Now winning! You’ll like it! (Did anyone dare say
not a lot? NO? That’s magic).
A Ruddick (President)
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A note from the Ed - To no-one in particular
If people cannot be bothered to take note of the deadlines
given in each newsletter, that is their problem. I am not here to chase
people, I am here to produce a newsletter, ensure that it gets out on
time and is therefore relevant to the information contained therein.
From your Chairman
It is quite some time since I made a contribution to
the newsletter in any capacity probably because no one has been chasing
me for a contribution. It has also been quite a time since the start of
the season when subscriptions were due and we still have some people who
have not paid, no doubt they also need chasing for their contributions,
there is however one vital difference, my contribution does not insure
me for injury, a players contribution does!
I happened to be comparing notes with the treasurer
of a southern league club on new years eve and the topic got on to personalities
and he said that all rugby clubs have their share of foolish people. Tell
me more I said. Well, you must have people who put hours and hours of
energy and effort into your club, do it for no remuneration, expect no
reward, except the well-being of the club and its members and for their
troubles are on a regular basis the targets of innuendo from anyone who
has a bitch or a moan. What could I say.
Eastern Counties RFU has appealed to Chairpersons on
the subject of discipline as the year so far sees no decline in the number
of sending-offs and even more worrying an increase in abuse of referees.
It will therefore need to be a topic of discussion at the AGM. If Chairpersons
are being held almost directly responsible by the ECRFU for the conduct
of all club members, then they may need to have extra powers to enable
them to discharge this responsibility. This might mean having the authority
to stop the selection of players who fall into these categories and to
ensure or even to ask for the removal of membership.
What has happened to the fixtures list? Well it is at
the printers but the quote was excessive so I am afraid it is back to
the drawing board. The intention is to submit the proof with all the advertising
on much earlier this year and leave only fixtures to be added at the last
minute. If you know of anyone who would like to advertise in the coming
years list, then let the committee know by May.
I always like to start the New Year on a light note,
which reminds me it appears to be a case of more concrete for the bases.
With the numbers at training recently it does make one wonder if it is
worth the effort that has gone into providing this facility. We live in
hope.
To all those that are making the effort to make the
club a success, thank you. For those who could do with making just a little
more effort ......Please.
Cliff Horobin (Chairman)
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Bits and Pieces
We have some ideas for the millennium celebration, but
any other suggestions will be most welcome. We also need volunteers to
organise the event. Contact Sue Watson - 01493 657052.
The new plans for the proposed extensions to the clubhouse
are on display in the clubhouse and these will be used for the launch
of the lottery bid in April 1999. Please view the plans and let us have
your comments.
3XV matches are regularly being called off by either
team and it is important that if players are selected to play they should
endeavour to turn up and travel if necessary - even if the team has to
travel short handed. The 3XV is important to this club as a starting point
for all youth players into senior rugby.
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Employment Section
Person
wanted to give up free time and happy to meet strange people.
The Norfolk representative job has come available as
Annie now has to work on the evenings of the meetings.
Meetings are held once a month at Norwich RFU Clubhouse,
usually the last Thursday at 8pm.
ENERGETIC AND RESPONSIBLE PERSON REQUIRED
SALARY: LOVE OF THE JOB
Youth administration officer “URGENTLY”
needed to organise games and transport for the youth teams.
We have no one in this position at the moment and the
lads badly need games.
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Quote
Front Row Forward......
“I wouldn’t mind being a naturalist
walking around everywhere with no clothes on”.
Khan
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Many thanks to those members who have submitted
articles for this issue of the newsletter. Articles for the next are required
by 20 APRIL 1999 from the following members and anyone else who wishes
to contribute. Andy Ruddick (President) David Joseph (Coach) Cliff Horobin
(Chairman)
Results from Team Captains Articles are to be submitted
to Sharon or Wayne Gowen by the above date. If we are not around, please
either leave them at the clubhouse or post them to us. Sue Watson has
our address. There is no excuse for not submitting an article.
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The Coaching Comittee
………falling on deaf ears Involved as they
are in the running of the club, it is common for committee members to
spend time thinking how the club can be improved, for the benefit of all.
This obviously extends to coaching, but how do we do this? New Coaches
with fresh ideas? Better facilities and equipment? These would seem the
most obvious starting points and to an extent the former has been tried
over the last two seasons, and the latter currently worked upon with the
provision of permanent flood lighting. Obviously improvement on the coaching
side reflects only on the playing membership, and this season, for the
first time, we have kept a training register, so are in the happy position
of knowing exactly who would benefit from the time, trouble and money
spent on any such improvements.
The answer in real terms is a grand total of 7
club members, these being the people who manage a training attendance
of 75% or more (3 out of every 4 sessions). The figures have been taken
from the start of the season in September, to the final session in December
and as such cover just 18 sessions or 36 hours. Precious little time in
itself, to expect improvements in fitness and skills levels. More precious
still when only 7 people are committed to it. How important is YOUR attendance
at training? IT'S VITAL. Rugby is a team game and whilst we can work on
individual skills, no unit skills can be practiced without the right personnel
in attendance. So by not attending you are undermining the whole ethos
of a team game, and letting down those players around you who do make
the effort to train. As we have said before, two hours each week, is not
asking much. How long do you spend in front of the television in a week?
Put priority on training on a Wednesday evening no matter how you feel,
what the weather is doing, what sort of day you have had at work, what's
on TV, and do your bit to take the club somewhere better. As the figures
prove, there is huge room for improvement.
Finally then, to satisfy your curiosity and because
they deserve it, the magnificent seven are: Neil Blizzard, Graham Clarke,
David Joseph, Iain Mackintosh, Kevan Pywell, Simon Ruddick and Andy Smith.
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Quotable Quotes
"Nothing to worry about boys, they're all fat b……ds"
Tigers Skipper, Pugs', observation on the arrival
at Cobholm of Gordon Skinner, mistaking him for one of the opposition.
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