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Sharks dive into season
08/01/2008 12:18 - (SA)
Durban - Rugby will get into full gear from this week onwards ahead of the February start of the 2008 Super 14 series, now that the Christmas and New Year break is over.
First off this Friday is the Discovery Sharksmart coaching conference which will be held at the Sibaya Casino complex. Vodacom Super 14 coach Dick Muir and his assistants, John Plumtree and Grant Bashford, will run a full coaching session where a range of topics will be discussed around injury prevention and player management.
Members of the Sharks squad will also be involved in the lectures and will share their first-hand experience with South Africa's coaches of the future.
One of the key themes at the conference will be the ability to create a balanced approach to rugby rather than winning at all costs. Other themes include, encouraging a climate of enjoyment and the return of the spirit of the game to schoolboy and club rugby.
Last year there was a successful public relations "get to know you" exercise carried out by the Rugby Union when they organised a "sleep over" at the Absa Stadium.
Dads and sons (by way of advance booking) got to sleep overnight under tents and then meet up with the Sharks heroes the next day in a fun-filled orientation session ahead of the new season.
It is to be repeated this year on the night of January 25. And on February 19 - also at Sibaya Casino - there is free entrance for a presentation by professor Tim Noakes of the Sports Science Institute which will focus on the use of supplements and performance enhancing substances.
In the modern world of drug taking in sport this should be a worthwhile exercise for coaches and parents of young rugby hopefulls to attend as they will learn much about what should not be done to turn that "wonder" child into a super sports star.
- SAPA
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