John
Mitchell, ex-All Blacks player and coach who is famous for guiding the Lions to
Currie Cup Victory, went to Hoërskool Jeugland in Kempton last week to teach
rugby teams and coaches about what it takes to “power through” from school boy
rugby to Super Rugby and beyond.
He
demonstrated new techniques, drills and gave guidance on other
performance-related aspects of training, like hydration, before, during and
after matches.
It’s
not often that school boys get to meet man who has won the Currie Cup and knows
what it takes to power through various types of adversity to become a success.
The young rugby players from Hoërskool Jeugland were able to tap into his vast
rugby knowledge and learn that they have all got what it takes to power
through, as long as they know that they have to work hard and persevere in
whatever they choose to do in life.
Hoërskool
Jeugland invited the four primary schools in the area around the school to
share in the excitement of having a Currie Cup winning coach and former
All-Black share his knowledge with the school. In the end there were nearly as
many coaches as players that attended the session.
Alec de Kock, deputy sport
manager at Hoërskool Jeugland,
and 1st team coach said it was great to have a famous coach like John Mitchell
visit the school and share some of his knowledge with the coaches and rugby
players.
"We were surprised that
John would take a step back and recognise the importance of grass route
rugby," he said. “We did not learn too many new techniques but we were
encouraged by the fact that we are actually on the right path with our training
techniques. John managed to show us that even though we were doing the correct
training routines we were making small technical mistakes in these
routines."
Hoërskool
Jeugland have not had the best season so far but they do have one player
that stands out’ “We only have one player, Darren de Bruin, that is in line to
make the Falcons Coca-Cola Craven Week team so it is important that the team
gels as a unit. We have been successful in doing this and hopefully it will be
good enough."
Alec spoke a lot about the
importance of what he is trying to achieve as a coach. He believes that through
rugby the players can learn life lessons. He would like to see that what the
players learn on the field they can bring into other aspects of life. “You do
not necessarily have to be the best rugby player to benefit from playing rugby,
you need to see what your aim and goals are and try to meet these goals. If you
achieve these goals you can say that you have been a success.
"The players must also
learn respect for their coaches, the opposing players and in doing that they
will learn how to respect themselves.”
Wesley Higgs, Hoërskool Jeugland's
1st team prop said it was a great experience to meet John Mitchell. "He
showed us that we have been doing the correct training drills over the last 5
year but we have not understood the true reason as to why we were doing those
drills and we have been doing them incorrectly.
“I never expected that I would
be coached by a real professional coach like Mr. Mitchell. He thinks
differently from most of the coaches that I have played under because he thinks
a lot more as to what needs to be done, how it should be done and why it should
be done. Then he tells us his reasoning behind what he is teaching us. It makes
it a lot easier to understand our training routines and makes it easier to
understand when we can apply what we have learned in a match situation.”
Wayne Visser, the team's other
prop said: "Mr Mitchell is a huge celebrity and a rugby legend, it was
amazing to meet him in person. I never imagined that a person of this stature
could be so approachable and easy to talk to.”
John
Mitchell has not only coached a Currie Cup team but he has also coached Super
Rugby teams and since Powerade is the official hydration sponsor of the Vodacom
Super Rugby, John knows the benefits of what Powerade can offer sportsmen and
women.
“Our
goal in getting John to schools like Jeugland is to inspire and motivate young
individuals to make sure they maintain their forward momentum and achieve their
goals. We know that coaches also play the role of mentor and guidance
counsellor and we want to empower coaches who will in turn inspire the
players,” said Trivern Chetty, Brand Manager- Sports and Energy at The
Coca-Cola Company.
The
Powerade Schools Programme does not end with the Powerade Performance Sessions.
The coaches that come into contact with Mitchell during these campaigns will
also be able to stay up to date with peak performance by means of signing up
for the communications, developed by the ex-All Blacks and Lions coach himself.
A select group of coaches will receive a training tips newsletter twice a month
from John. This communication will take the form of skills training content,
pictures and links to video demonstrations from the Powerade Performance
Sessions as well as great competitions to participate in.
But
the Powerade Schools Programme is far from over. The schools can continue to
collect Powerade caps until 14th June. The school that collects the most caps
will get tickets for the entire school to go and watch a Super Rugby game in
their province.
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