I have a feeling this is a collection of shorter rugby quotes mashed all together into one longer article. Derived from a local club’s e-mail list, but I suspect that the origin is British based on some spelling variations I have “Americanized.” - Wes
Coaching Quotes
MENTAL ATTITUDE
What makes a good player better, or a poor player good? Sound basic skills?
Size? Strength? Scoring ability? Speed? Perhaps it's Attitude - The ability to
accept situations and make them work in their favor. Losers never seem to know
why they lose. They blame the referees for poor decisions, the ground
conditions, the training program, their teammates, their coach, etc. Winners on
the other hand play above the problems.
A wise man once said, "It's not what life hands us, but what we do about
it". What is the most important measurement on rugby pitch? Without a
doubt, it is the six inches between your ears.
Winning and losing comes down to who can stay focused. Great players never let
their opponent or outside conditions control their game. They are mentally
tough and mentally conditioned. It's easy to get frustrated when pressure and
mistakes happen. The more you dwell on it, the more mistakes you'll make.
SPORTSMANSHIP
Show sportsmanship! It's easy to be a good winner, but it takes real class to
hold your head up after a tough loss. Great players never take losing well. If
you gave 100% during the game, and you were beaten, there is no shame in having
lost. Give credit to the team who played better on that given day. Learn from
it and let it go.
The respect you'll gain from opponents and all supporters on both sides are
well worth it. Don't blame the referee or touch judge for the loss. How many
mistakes did you make in the game, which contributed, to your teams defeat? The
referee as are you, is only human and fallible.
CONDITIONING
Stay in shape! A 'man of the match' is no braver nor in general terms no more
skilled than the other players, but they keep going all game. Spend as much
time caring for your body as you put into your game.
Eat well, get the correct amount of rest, train as you should each week, and
stay away from drugs. Training on your own isn't easy, but as the great
American Football Coach Vince Lombardi said, "fatigue makes cowards of us
all".
To lose a contest because you run out of gas in the last 15 minutes is
unforgivable. If you lose a game, make sure it was because they were better
players and had better skills, not physically fitter.
IT'S NEVER OVER UNTIL THE FAT LADY SINGS
Never give up! Winners never quit. Finding a way to win is the mark of a great
team. Nothing is impossible when you believe. You will be surprised what can
happen when you never give up.
COMMITMENT AND HARD WORK
Work hard at your game and be aggressive. Always play hard and within the Laws
of rugby. The team whose work is persistent usually comes out on top. Show
enthusiasm! Make a commitment to excel, and you will never stop improving. When
things you did
yesterday still look big to you today, you haven't done much today!
There is no substitute for training and practicing your rugby skills. Don't
count the days.....make each day count! The only person that keeps you on the
bench and from being in the run on 15 is you!
TEAMMATES
Strong players criticize themselves, not their teammates. They are skilled in
self-evaluation. Everyone has room for improvement no matter what the level of
play, and talking about someone else's shortcomings never helps improve your
game.
Take an interest in your team and friendships will grow along with the success
of the team. Remember, there is no "I" in team. It takes 15 players
and the reserves working together to become successful.
LEADERSHIP
Never be afraid to take charge. When a teammate is 'down' pick them up with
some encouragement and get back on track. At training be the first one on the
field and the last one to leave. Talk on the field; assist whenever possible,
let people know when you have
an idea, or when there is a flaw in the defense.
What you can see as plain as day may be hard for someone else to see. Never
take any opponent for granted, respect everyone's ability. Be a player who
says, "can" not "can't". Nothing great was ever achieved
without enthusiasm. Be a total player!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Play hard! But never take yourself so serious that you forget to enjoy what
rugby can do for you and what you can do for rugby. Enjoy the game, many
lessons about life are taught from your adventures in rugby both on and off the
field. Take what it has to give you and apply it to what life throws your way.
Remember, we cannot always control what goes on outside, but we can control
what goes on inside. Be mentally tough, never let what happens during a contest
take you out of your game. Concentrate on what is important, experience and
learn. Be the best you can, and the best will come back to you. Champions are
made, never born. Ability can get you to the top, but it takes character to
keep you there.