Passion

I just watched Julie and Julia and I loved it! How is that for keeping it real? Not something you would expect to hear on a rugby and football blog. Now for an explanation -I really admire people who have passion and loyalty is one of the character traits which I cherish the most. This movie has plenty of both. I find in a female cook- the delightful Julia Child and her husband Paul, role-models for life and coaching.

For those of you who have not seen the movie it is a light-hearted duel biopic covering the career of Julia Child, interspersed with the attempt by author Julie Powell to cook all of Child's recipes in a year. While it is a fun movie to watch with a date, I thought it provided a lot of lessons as well. I do not know if this was the director's intent, but it really struck a chord with me and how much it relates to my love of rugby.

Throughout the movie Child demonstrated an amazing amount of perserverence as she trained to be a chef in the male dominated world of Parsian cooking. She met every set-back with a smile and the determination to overcome her obstacles. Although she was extremely competitive, she treated everyone with dignity and warmth. Her devoted husband Paul, provided her with a foundation of support and love that allowed her to become a national treasure. She was able to to succeed because she had character that is rare in people and a consuming passion to be a master chef and share her joy of great food with the world.

Passion is a rare thing. The world is full of people who get paid to do whatever it is they do. However, you can measure those who have true passion for their particular line of work in a thimble. Watching Meryl Streep portray Julia Child was fascinating because she excuded passion. Her thrill of cooking was so intense to be almost spirtual. The joy of being in the same room (even if it is actor in a movie) with someone who has real passion is invigorating. I relate because I have a passion for coaching rugby.

It cannot be explained or quantified, but it is real nontheless. A passion can consume you in your search to master whatever it is that you are passionate about and hope to share with the world. This is what drives me, the desire to share my love of the game with my family, players, and anyone else who is even slightly interested (and many who are not). I am a very lucky man as my vocation, teaching, is the same as my passion, coaching (make no mistake - teaching =coaching), so I have the perfect platform for my quest.

I believe that to be the best a what you do, one must be passionate, but as Julia Child so ably demonstrated, passion of ones' profession, must always take a subordinate position to the passion one has for their faith, spouse, and (in my case) children. These areas of life provide the foundation for the pursuit of your other passions and to be quite honest, make them all the sweeter, especially when shared with the ones you love. So raise your glass to Julia and thank her for reminding us that passion revealed and shared is a powerful thing - Bon Appetite!

Accountable Coaching

I spent this last weekend re-certifying my coaching license with USA Rugby. I will be honest, I was not very excited about retaking a course I had already demonstrated competency in. Whenever you have to give up a weekend (which by the way is all the time if you are a rugby coach, player, or referee), you do a cost-benefit analysis. Was spending my weekend out in the cold and the rain worth it? The cost in this analysis is easy to measure - time away from my family and home (something hugely important to me) is always bad. So what is or are the benefits?

Rugby in the United States has made tremendous strides since I began my involvement in 1984. We have grown from a largely recreational/alcohol past time, to a serious sport that has involvement from youth to national team. While the governing body (United States of America Rugby Football Union) is a source of constant (and often justified) complaints among its constituents, it has done a great deal to improve the game in America. I believe that the coaching certification program is one of those positives.

The coaching certification program has aligned USA rugby with the other members of the IRB (International Rugby Board) and has provided a system of accountability and a benchmark for competency. One of the factors which defines legitimacy for any organization is the process by which it qualifies its members. The new USA coaching certification program clearly provides such legitimacy. Every team in the country must have at least one USA certified coach. This provides for some type of standardization of basic safety and tactical/skill knowledge for all coaches who are working daily with players. Currently there are three levels of certification (Introduction, Developing skills, and Advanced), which build on the processes and methods established in each of the earlier courses.

While it is never convenient to spend a weekend getting a certification, there is a practical and intrinsic value in receiving that certification. Coaches know they have the basic skills required to their job and while education is a continuum, they have a foundation which is similar to their colleagues. The intrinsic comes from the satisfaction that you had to earn your coaching credentials. No other sport (that I am aware of) in Texas, other than soccer, requires you to get a license and demonstrate competency. I coached football for a long time and can assure you that there are no requirements to coach it. The first coach I ever worked for asked me if I had any experience, and when I said no, he replied, "you look like a smart enough guy, you will pick it up..." Apparently I looked a lot smarter then than I do now. I would suggest that this is probably not the best way to get the most competent and capable coaches. Just because a guy played does not make him a coach - and that is true for rugby or any sport. By getting certified you must prove that you are knowledgeable and have demonstrated competency before multiple evaluators.

In the end, the benefits are valuable enough to sacrifice time away from my family. I believe the process and the way it is taught and has value - the most important being it makes coaches become introspective about their knowledge, skills, demeanor, and how they coach. While I find the courses have value, I do have some issues (you knew the other shoe would drop). The first is the recertification process. We are required to take the exact some course as before, it would be far more productive to have different courses which expand on the core competencies. The second issue is the CE (continuing education) credits that coaches can get to extend their three year certification. The staff at USA is not very responsive to requests or inquiries and sometimes do not answer you at all. Finally, the Advanced course is cost prohibitive for most coaches, so even if you want to get the certification, finances make it a non-starter. This is exclusive rather than inclusive and one hopes that will change in the future.

In sum, it is a good process and despite some weaknesses, it provides the American rugby coach with credibility. I applaud USA's efforts to put our coaches on an even keel with the rest of the rugby world. Although I lost time with my family, I will be a better coach for the effort.

Coaches and Their Impact

I have a saying, "A good teacher makes a difference and a bad teacher makes a bigger difference." This is especially true for coaches. Coaching, when done right, can be an extremely powerful tool in helping mold young men and women into successful adults. Every athlete who had a positive experience can point to a coach's impact on them. Good coaches teach players to be competitive while remaining a good sport, to deal with loss (something they face the rest of their lives), how to set goals and how to reach those goals, the art of time management, and most importantly the fact that anything worth while is worth working hard for.

Coaching gone bad can be devasting. The world of sport is filled with martinets, petty tyrants, selfish and self-centered coaches whose impact is akin to a meteor strike. For these types of coaches it is about self-promotion or all about the "sport", forgetting that there is a very real human factor involved. How many guys have played for the "factory" coach, where the player is just a number, another cog, which can be easily replaced or tossed on the heap? These type of coaches take away the joy of sport and replace it with dread and loathing.

As a case in point, I remember when my oldest son began his football playing career. As young boy it was impossible to contain his enthusiasm and excitement for what promised to be a wonderful eight years. I also remember how this same enthusiasm was crushed by coaches who were insensitive, did little to teach the technical skills needed, and showed favoritism. While my son would later go on to a fanastic football career (marked by 1st team all-state honors), he never rekindled his passion for the game and demonstrated a lack of trust in those who coached him later on.

Have I succumbed to the forces of political correctness? Absolutely not, I believe it is critical for coaches to maintain good discipline, demand excellence, and to push the physical limits of their athletes. However, they must do so while always remembering that they are dealing with human beings. A coach must be flexible and adapt to the modern era. So often I have heard the complaint that modern players are whimps, lazy, and self-centered - if they could only return to the old days, blah, blah, blah.... A good coach looks for ways to overcome these obstacles by understanding his players and finds the tools that will motivate them.

One of my coaching heroes, Coach John Wooden, coached during the turbulent 1960s, when all of society was complaining about how worthless and out-of-hand the younger generation was. How then did Coach Wooden win all those championships with that generation? He treated his players like men, set expectations, demanded excellence, all while maintaining his own self-control. Wooden understood that while "the times may be a changing," people never do. To understand players as people translates into success, and when it is done in a positive, rather than manipulative fashion, it is magical.

My hope is that our young coaches look to the past and use men like Wooden as an example, remembering the positive difference they can make in a young person's life, while at the same time understanding the impact they have if it is done wrong. This type of coaching is not politically correct, but the key to success. Wooden demonstrated that contrary to Leo Durocher's comment, "Nice guys finish last", in fact, nice guys win championships (Wooden won 10 NCAA championships in 12 years). So heres to coaches who make a difference - a POSITIVE difference!

A Pilgrim to Aggieland

Last weekend I had a sporting experience that transcended the football game which I had traveled to see. My family and I were invited to go to the Texas A&M v. Baylor game. I was very excited as I enjoy visiting College Station (my oldest son is a freshman there) and this game had bowl implications. If the Aggies won, they would be bowl eligible for the first time in a while with six wins. In addition, I have a distant connection to the Aggies as I coached Matt Sherman (son of Aggie Coach) at STH. I really believe his dad will be a huge success in Aggieland. However, the biggest reason for my excitment was due to the fact that this was my first gametime visit to Kyle Field. Despite having watched a large number of A&M games in my almost 21 years in Texas, I had never gone to one of their games - I could not have imagined how amazing the experience would be.

The experience began shortly after our arrival with the Corps "Step Off". Watching the entire Corps of Cadets marching to the stadium reminded me of my time in the Army. We were in the middle of the boulevard as they marched past - very cool to see them on both sides of you and chilling at the same time. After watching the Corps march we moved through the hordes of supporters and tailgaters. It was a fantastic festival atmosphere in which everyone seemed to be full of excitment and anticipation. A visitor is struck by the friendliness of everyone, of course it does not hurt if you have Aggie kit on!

The pre-game rituals (yell leaders and drumming the team on the field) were impressive, but not as impressive of watching roughly 40,000 students file into the student section. Amazing! The 12th Man support throughout the game is truely unique to college football and perhaps in all of college sports. However, my favorite part of the day was the halftime performance of the Fighting Aggie Band. I have seen them on TV, but nothing beats being there and man, the band was something to brag about!

I remember ten years ago when the Bonfire tragedy occured and while I shared the sorrow of all my fellow Texans, I was a bit perplexed by the outpouring of grief by Aggies I knew. I didn't get it. My day in Aggieland gave me to a sudden understanding of it all. Aggies love their school, the team, and each other. The traditions which are a part of their four (or five or six) years at A&M meld them together with a shared experience. It becomes a part of who they are - and they spend the rest of their life serving as keepers of those traditions. They take care of their own and delight in allowing the uninitiated to share in their experience. Thank you Aggieland for a great day and an experience that was only remotely about a football game. I drank the Kool-Aide and man does it taste good!

Former Eagles and Future Eagles

Former St. Thomas Eagles Varsity Rugby players Andres Diaz and Conor Mills were named to the USA U20 All American squad which will compete against the New Zealand U21 Academies squad in Santa Barbara, California over Christmas break. Diaz, currently a sophomore and playing for Texas A&M University, was named to the U20 squad last year and competed at the Junior World Cup in Kenya. Diaz was also a member of the U18 squad that went to England in 2008. Mills, a freshman who is also at A&M, was named to the U18 USA National team last year. He was a starter on the U17 squad that went 2-1 at the prestigious Millfield Tournament in 2008. Both players are starters for the A&M squad that is currently ranked #11 in the United States.

Texas A&M v. University of Texas

The Texas A&M Aggies squared off against long-time rival the Texas Longhorns at the Polo Grounds on Saturday Nov. 14. As always, there was a large and vocal crowd there to support both squads. The Aggies were looking to establish their dominance in TRU Cup play. They had easy wins early in the season against Sam Houston State(48-3), Oklahoma (51-3), and Nebraska (57-7) and felt that an improved Texas squad would provide a stiffer challenge. The Longhorns had added a number of new players (Australians, English, and Irish players) and looked to provide some serious competition for A&M.

In the end, the Aggies dominated the game from start to finish for a 42-12 win. While Texas was very physical they had trouble containing the athletic Aggie backline. Led by freshman #10 Conor Mills, the backline used hard-earned ball from the forwards and scored repeatedly. The Aggie forwards, led by #8 Conor Bertrand and #7 Chris Parker controlled the breakdown and were absolutely ferocious defensively. #13 Joey Talley made a number of vicious hits on his Longhorn opposite number, making a huge impact on the match. As a result of the physical defensive play, the Longhorns had virtually no "go forward" ball. In the end, the Aggies' physical dominance and conditioning paid big dividends in the win.

Mills, who scored 17 points in the match (2 tries, 2 conversions, and 1 penalty kick) was named Player of the Game for his performance.

Fans v. Supporters

It has been a fascinating football season and I had the good fortune to attend a ton of games. Based on observations from around the city I see a disturbing trend that has increased in negative "volume" over the years. The observation in question is fan behavior. Long gone are the days of "my team win or lose." They have been replaced by a growing number of "experts," who seem to know more than the coaches, and boo birds who vocalize their disenchantment loudly and proudly. Based on the fan behavior I have witnessed, I have come to the conclusion that "fans" are displaying a sense of entitlement to say whatever, whenever, they desire. While there have always been disgruntled supporters, what shocks me, is their derision is now directed at their own team- sometimes even their own kids. Wow, when did high school football get replaced by the NFL? It is one thing to beat up on a grown man making millions, but an entirely different issue when directed toward an adolescent who is giving his best to represent his school. I fear we have truly lost the plot!

While I fear that soceital trends cannot be changed by one man, it is often one man who makes a difference, so in that light I offer my solution to this growing problem. We need to adopt the rugby model of supporter rather than fan. To be sure, rugby has it share of hooligans and idiots who attend matches, but their loyalty to their team is never in question. A supporter is someone who gets behind their team and regardless the score is there to cheer and lend moral support- win, lose, or draw.

A perfect example is 2008 European Champion Munster (Ireland). Munster is an amazing story which bears some examination. Munster is famous for their support of their side and their stadium in Limmerick is considered one of the loudest in the world. They consistently travel with more supporters than their opposition has at its own home stadium. While they are intense in their support of the homeside, they show their opposition the respect accorded to an opponent well-met on the field of competition. Last summer Munster played the New Zealand All Blacks in Limmerick. The match was a brilliant one and it all came down to a All Black penalty kick for the win. One could imagine that the stadium would be deafening in an effort to throw the kicker's concentration off, but instead there was absolute silence. When Dan Carter made the kick, the crowd applauded his efforts. What an amazing display of sportsmanship! I cannot imagine an American crowd responding that way.

Poor fan behavior is symptomatic of the "win at all costs" attitude that permiates our society. What are sports really about? The giant high school stadiums, millions in resources, and win at all cost mentality seems to reflect adults vicariously basking in the glory of their youth. God help the team and coaches when they lose, because this is wrongly seen as a personal affront - a poor reflection on the adults. Perhaps its time we give the game back to the kids and use it once again as a vehicle to teach sportsmanship, work ethic, teamwork, love of comrades and the game. Maybe we can learn something from our Irish cousins and go home from the game with a smile on our face, win, lose or draw - because we supported our team, who played their hearts out for us and demonstrated all those virtues that make sport such an amazing experience. Lets be supporters and let the fans go to the Texans' games.