Schools section heading for a better game with several workshops
View(s):Better rugby, a better game and a better season is the direction the schools section is heading with a number of workshops that are being conducted for different groups by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association. The concern is high for the game to be played in the right spirit and that it will be a learning exercise for the students: to learn to prepare for a better life through rugby. During the last few weeks the school section has had sessions of various aspects to help improve rugby in school as a sport. This is done together with officials of the Ministry of Sports, Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union and the Ministry of Education.
The masters-in-charge who were addressed initially followed with members of rugby committees and the coaches. With rugby committees it was mostly to promote those within the system to take the whistle as well as to educate on the need for the game to be a sport. There was emphasis in talking to this group on the need to be aware of safety and that children with injuries should not be made to play for the sake of a cup. It will not be long before there will be a lawsuit claiming damages for forced injuries arising from players put on the field while nursing injuries. Another is deliberate collapse of scrum which seems to be taught and needs to be stopped. A recent course of action by a parent against schools needs to be noted.
The effort in educating is to improve the knowledge of the masters to add value to managing the periphery that at times blotches a game of rugby. With the coaches it was an attempt to have an exchange of ideas to improve the requirements on field. All round there was agreement that discipline is important and many issues will get sorted if there is restraint in the side-lines.
There is good and bad in parents overwhelmingly pushing youngsters into certain channels - File pic
All this work with a good intention will be successful if the support of all is given. The cooperation is needed to help prepare the child for life and rugby should be a sport that helps you get there.
One serious concern raised by the medical personnel of the Sports Medicine Unit was on the use and abuse of supplements. When we talk of supplements a particular emphasis and concern has to be directed to the unwanted use of performance enhancers that will win a war but lose the battle. The side effects in males are many and include infertility, impotency, prominent breasts, increased blood pressure psychiatric disorders etc. Look around and you will see a several players who have been pumped up and look good on the upper body except they look feminine on the top.
The after-effects are numerous and dosage taken without supervision and or proper guidance is as bad. Data gathered by the relevant sections of the Sports Ministry suggest huge doses not in keeping with standards.
Do not for once think that this is confined to rugby; the use and abuse is prevalent in many sports. It is just that rugby has had in place systems that have been affected to test players after tournament games. The spirit of sport is the pursuit of greater performance. But does this include doing all sorts of things to improve the performance or to get an edge? Rugby at least has some sort of check and balance.
Evidence suggests that the unnecessary and unwanted use of supplements too has negative effects. It may not always be possible for the coaches and masters-in-charge to supervise what is happening as there is always a tendency to take something that may have been recommended by another. Sometimes it could be over-interested parents who want their child to keep up with the Jones’. These are true and the authorities including the schools should keep educating the boys as well as the parents. Preaching will not be of any use unless there is learning which is important.
It was not s long ago that I saw a boy of 16 years using around 150kg in a squat and supervised by a parent. Asked what the intention was I was told that it was to improve the boy as a front-row-forward. On another occasion it was a 12-year-old girl who was using weights under the supervision of the father and the reason was that the girl who was doing sprint events was losing speed and therefore the need to build her leg muscles. On both occasions the gym instructor said that he had advised both parents and refused to give a schedule but the parents wanted it their way.
In every aspect of sports, guidance is needed and the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association has started work together with the Ministry of Sports and the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union and this is a good sign and the next step would be to keep the parents educated.
The end result of not being careful is that there will be health related issues and no matter what excuse is given the end user will be held responsible in competition if not you as an user will feel the pulse over a longer period of time.
Vimal Perera is a former
Rugby Referee, coach and
Accredited Referees
Evaluator IRB