Coaches, masters, and ‘player safety’
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The SLRFU is having discussions with the Institute of Sport Medicine to formulate a structure to educate the importance of safety in rugby. Professor Arjun de Siva Director General leads the ISM while Chula Dharmadasa champions the cause Sri Lankan Rugby Football Union. Chula emphasized that safety involves more and includes grounds, training equipment, coaches, trainers as well as masters. I would add to that the advisory committees as well as parents who sometimes want to win at any cost and for their child to play.
When asked why the school sections is not involved another council member informed that they will first look at an appropriate structure and thereafter get the Education Ministry to be the focal point in implementation. The position is that there need to be document to sell as the management of school rugby seems to be going alone and at times resenting the guidance of the governing body for the sport.
It is reliably understood that many players continue while being injured and aggravate issues and rugby looses talented players. A recent victim is an all-round sportsman who is now suffering serious knee injury having played while nursing an injury. Chula Dharmadasa who is in charge of this project spoke of the need to ensure that players are coached and nurture properly. He highlighted that there has been a lot of work that has been done by the IRB and the contents of the guidelines need to be implemented. He is empathetic that referees should be very strict on safety as the player welfare overrides all else. Referees alone cannot eliminate the serious aspect of dangerous play or refuse to play on an unsuitable ground. The IRB code of conduct says “All Unions, Associations, Rugby Bodies, Clubs and Persons; must ensure that the Game is played and conducted in accordance with disciplined and sporting behavior and acknowledge that it is not sufficient to rely solely upon the Match Officials to maintain those principles.”
Rugby is a game the chances of a player getting injured is great. Therefore player safety plays a great role. - File Pic
This code is specifically mentioned in the SLRFU tournament rules but has been omitted by the schools section. That is because interested parties when faced with issues postulated that we are governed by the Ministry a and have no truck with the IRB code, its rules nor the governing body.
When asked: how the guidelines will be implemented another council member did talk of not providing the services of referee unless safety issues are handled. It is quirk of fate that the much maligned and insulted referees are seen as a useful tool.
Coaching is one of the most crucial factors in developing, sustaining and increasing participation in rugby while securing the future and quality of the game. In Sri Lanka, anybody can coach rugby. But to be an effective coach, you will need to fulfill a number of different roles and accept a variety of responsibilities, covering the technical, tactical, physical and mental aspects demanded by the game.
The tendency in Sri Lanka is not anybody trying to coach but everybody taking to coaching. Similar thinking prevails as people assume that anybody can referee. Assume because the big talk is never put into practice. Otherwise you would see them at least refereeing the inter house matches that take time early in the season. In coaching it is different as they actually take the field irrespective of whether they have gone through a process.
The coaches are remunerated for what they do and have to show results. It follows therefore that they will try to maximize the returns irrespective of issues that is not safe if you analyze within the framework of safety. It is good news that the SLRFU council is getting vibrant in promoting safety. The program should start at the base of recruiting a coach and educating on guidelines and selection based on a competency model has to be developed.
A statement of the Scottish Rugby Union says Rugby in Scotland would not be possible without the support and dedication of volunteers, whose commitment and hard work is much appreciated. This was in 2010 and they stipulated “From September 2010 onwards it will be a requirement for all coaches, teachers and referees to complete the Rugby Ready Practical course, to ensure that the game continues to be coached and played in a safe and enjoyable manner. Scottish Rugby stated their intention to increase the minimum requirement by following some other tier one unions in introducing a new practical update course for all teachers, coaches and referees at the start of every season. For example, the introduction of the course in New Zealand led to a huge decrease in the instances of serious spinal injuries.
In Sri Lanka there are few volunteers coaching while most are paid and sing for their supper. However a coach should have a moral and legal obligation to ensure that, when given responsibility for young people, they provide them with the highest possible standard of care. They must maintain the professionalism and safeguards of good practice which are associated with rugby union.
No room for unqualified and unregistered individuals – Prof. Arjuna de Silva was the heading of an article in this paper in November 2011 and referred mostly to the sports medicine unit. The same sentiment being spread to the cradle of sport is now most appropriate.
-Vimal Perera is a former Rugby
Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB
Follow @timesonlinelk
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