Investec International Rugby Academy held a two day course for coaches at the Volksrust High School on 18 & 19 February 2010. This course was aimed at helping coaches improve their skills and expose them to the latest ideas and coaching methods. Not only were they exposed to new drills, skills, mental skills, kicking, team building etc but they also learnt how to create a successful team environment. During this course, the Investec International Rugby Academy Coaches made use of the Volksrust U/14A rugby squad to demonstrate the drills to the participating coaches. They also spent some extra time working with the “Volkies” team while Mr Ian McIntosh (ex Springbok Coach and Springbok selector) put the coaches on the course through their paces in the lecture room. They had a fantastic time and it was amazing to see how they responded to the sessions. It was a long two days out on the field, but at the end of it all, it was well worth all the effort explains head coach of the U/14A team Koos de Jager.
“We used all the drills that the Investec Academy coaches showed us on the course and the team went from strength to strength. The boys worked extremely hard during these two days and they learned so much. They then went on to use these news skills in their games and before long, were racking up some great victories. They went on to win the PUK 16 competition; winning the Final against Vryburg 29 – 7 in Potchefstroom.”
“Later on in the season they also went on to win the Mpumalanga league beating Piet Retief 29 – 10 in the final. Unfortunately they lost out to Louis Trichardt on a technicality as they drew the game 5 all, but the opposition went through to the next round as they had scored the 1st try.”
Coach Koos de Jager is ecstatic about his team’s performance through the season and is so happy his boys had the chance to be exposed to such a wonderful set up and a fantastic experience. A huge thank you to the Investec International Rugby Academy and its coaches.