Blowing the whistle on egos

The NZRU states that all junior players must get at least half a game each. Photo / Rotorua Daily Post

First bullying parents and referee abusers were in the headlines. Now it is junior boys' rugby coaches running their teams as if they are Super 14 sides.

In Auckland, the father of a 10-year-old boy tells of a coach who gives the boys extra training, fitness tests, game plans and ringbinders full of set moves to memorise.

The coach asked an All Black to show them how to clean out at the rucks properly, and sends an email after every game discussing performance.

Canterbury Rugby Union's metro junior management board chairman Bruce McFadden says up to 15 per cent of the coaches are trying to coach junior boys' teams as if they are senior players.

The junior management board is responsible for 7000 junior players in 313 teams from under-6s to under-18s, including secondary schools.

"The percentage of coaches in it for their own egos is getting higher," he says.

"They want to win at all costs. We have coaching courses where we emphasise enjoyment for the kids above all else but the message doesn't seem to get through.

"Unfortunately they also have a habit of playing their strongest team most of the time and some kids don't get much game time."

NZRU rules state that all junior boys must get at least half a game each but coaches concerned with winning often leave some boys on the sidelines.

They drop out of the game and a star of tomorrow could be lost.

Almost all provincial unions contacted said they had experienced similar problems.