The real art of winning comes through proper structuring
View(s):
I stood waiting for the customary lighting of the pyre and a much respected professional asked; “What is happening to Sri Lanka Rugby?” I reflected on the question and asked myself why? Why is he asking this? Considering the back ground of the person and people around I would have thought they had many issues to talk of. Professionals, doyens of business and a lawyer would have had many topics to talk. US Presidency, State of the Economy, the Debate on Hedging, Governance would have would have been much comfortable to them. Yet a question on rugby seemed important.
The game it appears is still in the hearts and minds of people. The question that hangs is; do we deliver their expectation. Not so! I would say as it is rarely I would see these components of rugby lovers at a match. Yet it appears they are interested in the game and they would be seen in a game such as the “Bradby.” Going by reason happenings is this too being dragged down the drain? A CR-Havies or a Kandy-CR or Kandy-Police game is not the same as it was. Sparse crowds boring rugby and the vociferous yet blaming the referee. The blaming of the referee is nothing new and is retained form the past. The words however are different more venomous and less cultured. You don’t hear the voice of Shirani with the witty comments that brought laughter but not anger.
A comment was made in lighter vein but came into my mind as a serious one. Sri Lanka Rugby Development is in the reverse of the Long Term Player Development (LTPD) plan. Explaining the thinking is that we play all blacks type of rugby at lower levels starting from as junior as Under-10 and 12 and progress to National Level at which stage we start teaching the basics. Talking to the high performance manager after the CR vs. Army match a similar sentiment was expressed on the skills of the players on the field. In most matches there is a serious inability to pass, catch and retain the ball. LTPD is a six-stage module where at an early age it is fundamental with emphasis being on fun. Then you develop to learn to play and practise and progress to train to train. The next is to progress to train to compete and train to win. The train to compete is around the age of 18 to 21 and the train to win is in the adult and representative category.
When you start the train to win at around 12 to 15 and even before there is less emphasis on the fundamental of the game and fun which should start before 12 does not give room to enjoy the game nor does it give the way to develop skill. This is the point why you say we play all blacks or six nation rugby in the age groups starting below 12. By 18 we are moulded to win and most times it is “does not matter how.”
This then leads to a situation where when you are at club rugby and get into representative rugby the need to teach what should have been learnt at junior rugby surface. I believe that answers, partially the question “what is happening to rugby?”.
It is like the play the Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof features several recurring patterns, such as being a way of life to some, greed, showiness, deception, decay, sexual desire, repression and death.
The plot of the play is also a film and similar to rugby as played in this island where it was a way of life at the club bar table or the old boys gathering. The rest is all about the way the game is made and managed and or administered.
It is a common sight in Lanka to see more prominence to administrators of the game than to players themselves. The deception and decay starts here. It is the will of the money bags that back the game that is talked of. The showiness is rampant when you have nothing to show. It is just not rugby but a culture in all sports.
Can rugby be different to the old times where the talent of various shapes and sizes was on parade draped in different silks? It was the same chocolate but the silk made the heads turn.
At the top game of rugby when you play to win it must also be able to dish out exciting rugby. This comes from using skills to add fare and flavour for good rugby. To dish out the game the skills must be there. If you have not learnt or have been taught that from an early age it won’t happen at the representative or national level game. This will only come if you don’t steal childhood in the name of a win in sport. Kids need structured learning that allows unstructured play. Not forced to learn to win.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB