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Forum Guru
 
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Last Login: 19/03/2011 21:45:42
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| Within the age group I'm involved in, all the coaches (including myself) are also parents' of players in the team. At the recent County trials virtually all the coaches' sons were selected, this includes coaches' sons at other clubs. Not only has various charges of bias been thrown at the County body but also within the club. On reflection many of the training programmes have been geared towards some of these players, it isn't just a question genetic superiority. Many mini and junior sections at local club level support their senior teams financially, indeed without these junior sections there might not be a viable 1st xv. Whilst I appreciate the RFUs drive to encourage mass participation the danger is age sections can be run by and for only a select few. Has anyone else encountered similar difficulties and is there a remedy? I fear any approaches on the subject would cause a very defensive mindset.
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Forum Member
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Last Login: 23/11/2011 09:52:38
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Hi Crookedfeed,
Wow! talk about throw in a handgrenade . . . this is a thread I think I shall watch 
Pat
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 17:19:03
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its not an uncommon concern/suspicion.
being charitable, I suppose these coaches own sons stand a greater chance of being selected because they play for a club side coached by the same coach (by definition). So they are pre prepared in many ways to be playing in a manner that is likely to conform to how the coach feels he wants his squad to play.
Its also IME the case that there are not enough coaches coming forward to be county coaches, so often county management has to take whoever comes forward and the system is thus "stuck" with whoever does so.
As a county squad coach myself in the past, with no offspring involved, clearly I was outside of this scenario. I didn't often have many lads from my own club for varying reasons, so there was less chance of favoritism being alleged there. But you still can;t win... I would still be harangued at times for picking lad X, or players from Q club even though I had no connection with them. Equally I have even been told by an assistant coach that he only stood as coach to ensure his own club players got a fair representation in the county squad!
Some of these selection problems may be alleviated by clubs nominating only those that truly have a chance of selection and that conform to the criteria provided by the squad coaches/management. IME unfortunately many selection days are frequented by too many players that are reasonable, but nothing outstanding and they (WADR) have been up to fail by their club coaches and dilute the opportunities to perform well for those that should be there.
As for the initial concern raised I see only three options if one feels that such favoritism is occurring
1) refuse to put any of your players forward as a protest.
2) do nothing and just put up with it
3) become a county coach oneself and start working with a clean slate approach.
Which one suits oneself will define whether changes occur.
didds
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Forum Guru
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Last Login: 19/03/2011 21:45:42
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| The problem is twofold:- 1. Within a club context coaches' sons can be at an adavantage in terms of the way any given coach wishes the game to be played. In my experience the same players have had whole drills and exercises geared towards them at the exclusion of other players. This clearly causes some dis-harmony at the club. 2. Within the county context all coaches' sons played all the games at the trials whilst some equally talented players had to rotate. They were also given the appropriate prepping beforehand, as Mr Cameron would say 'sharp-elbowed' middle class parents and all that. It is not say these players are not talented but clearly there is an advantage. There was almost a hysterical response to the forthcoming trials which reminded me of some of the worst aspects of footballing aspiration, of which I have experience. By definition the majority of players are 'average,' where is the encouragement for them to reach their potential and develop a lifelong love of the game.
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Forum Guru
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Last Login: 19/03/2011 21:45:42
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| When I joined the coaching team I sat down with my son and explained there would be no favours, he would be treated like everyone else. He understood and was pleased he would not be under undue pressure. 2 of my colleagues have openly admitted that their involvement is conditional, the condition being their sons play in the A team. In turn this places the head coach in a delection dilemma , they are talented players but not that talented. Friends at other clubs have confirmed this is a common problem. Recently a talented scrum half left our club as he was getting no game time, no matter how well played he would never usurp the coaches' son who also plays scrum half, he told his dad that he was tired of being 'mugged off.' He no longer plays rugby.
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 17:19:03
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Hmmm... I'd be very tempted to get these conditional coaches together and ask them what we as a squad should do if N+1 coaches had this approach where N=number of players on a team.
Its not a likely scenario of course, but it highlights what a selfish attitude they have.
I'd also ask them what we would do if a coach joined the squad with the same mentality whose son (bless him) couldn't catch a pass, wouldn't tackle, and didn't actually ever try to be involved.
Its easy for me to say maybe, but I think I would seriously tell them that the situation would have to change and if that meant coaching own my own then so be it - but I'd get the CCC and junior chair involved first. The alternative might be that I'd have to move squad/club.
I appreciate I am talking to the converted.
But its no way forward for anyone involved.
cheers
didds
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