The Short Term Goal or the Long Term Objective?

A quick fix or a planned, disciplined approach?  How do players manage themselves?  Who assists young players with their rugby career plan?

I see young rugby players around the country getting opportunities to train and play at higher & higher levels - opportunities such as training and playing at NPC, NZ Colts or even Super 12 level when these players are virtually just out of school. 

The questions I ask myself include:  are these players physically and mentally ready for the levels of commitment and discipline required at these levels?  Are these players setting their own pathways to achieve their goals & objectives or is it just happening as a consequence of playing – being in the right team and at the right time?

My visits to the Southland, Canterbury, Auckland and North Harbour Rugby Academies recently to assist with gym technique and programming have been very rewarding and insightful.  The talent that is coming through and will come through later in New Zealand rugby is exciting for the sport.

The major concern I perceive during my visits comes down to the very physical nature of the game of rugby and the impact on the player’s body of constant playing.  If a young player goes from club rugby to NZ Secondary Schools, to club play, to Under 21’s, back to club play, to sevens, and then possibly to NPC, when does that player get their recovery?

When another perhaps slightly more mature player goes from club rugby to NZ Maori, to NZ Colts, back to club rugby, to NPC and then to Super 12, how does that player grow, get stronger, get faster, and have an opportunity to practice their skills outside the game?

These schedules have a major impact on training & development programmes and the ability of a trainer to work with the demands of the various coaches, clubs, and selectors involved with players.

Too often we get to the gym and the desire is to get big, get strong, get fast or whatever – oh and by the way we only have 3 weeks or 5 weeks to do this!  Yeah right!  Does a sprinter get faster in 3 or 5 weeks? Does a weightlifter get stronger in 3 or 5 weeks?  Yes they may do and often can but then they are focused on that one aspect and they are committed to that one goal.  Rugby players need to consider the variety of improvements they wish to make and then plan for these whilst taking into account the other commitments they have agreed to during this time – study, club play, club practice, other rugby commitments, work, etc.

If a player wants to become an All Black, it is unlikely this will ‘just happen’ so they will need to put in the hard work where it counts and not just on the field.  They will need to implement a strategy and a plan to achieve their objective.  They will need to have some good strong support around them to enable them to reach this goal. 

As rugby moves further into the professional arena the players need to be adept, self sufficient, good time managers, focused and disciplined.  The younger players entering this professional sport need to be mentored into the realms of being a professional sportsperson primarily by non-rugby players.  The guidance needs to come from athletes who have experienced a professional environment and other sportspeople who have strived for their goals without the type of support that is now available.  Successful people in business and in life generally are great role models to help tomorrow’s great rugby players succeed.

The Olympics are the goal for all aspiring athletes and participants of Olympic sports.  Athletes do not win at the Olympics, let alone get to the Olympics by chance!  It can take years of planning, training, competing, skill analysis, biomechanical analysis, nutritional analysis and numerous other variables to eventually mould the athlete.

Richard Dryden

Olympic Weightlifting New Zealand Coach

Strength & Power Trainer