Our first scrimmages as a team are close at hand and I know everyone is excited.  I'm sure everyone's a bit nervous too. Who wouldn't be? You're competing for the first time in a sport you've been playing for less than a month!

It helps, I think, for you to know what the coaching staff expects of you going in:

1. We expect you to make mistakes.
We all do, every time we play, even after decades and decades of matches. If you're not making any mistakes, one of two things has happened: you've died or you've stopped improving. There will come a point with most things you do at which you will have very nearly mastered certain routines, and if you stick to those things you'll never make a mistake. You'll also never get better at all the other things you aren't as good at, and in the end you'll find yourself frustratingly single-dimensional and limited. So try something this weekend that you're not sure you can pull off. Give it a go. And if it doesn't work out, no worries. I'll applaud you for making the effort.

2. We expect you to have fun.
You're not on deadline or under review this weekend. No one's getting fired if things don't go perfectly. Rugby has graced this world to provide us with enjoyment. Lets never forget that. Sure, there are times when you'll feel frustrated with yourself or with a teammate because you want to do better. Just don't let that frustration cause you to act in a way you'll be ashamed of later . Take a deep breath, think about the enjoyment you're going to get out of your next tackle, your next ruck or your next try and go make the most of your time on the pitch. If you want to help your mates, let them know it's OK when they drop a ball or miss a tackle. No one's out there trying to mess up, trust me. They'll do the same for you and you'll appreciate it.

3. We expect you to show respect
This is a great group of guys, playing a great sport. We all know that, and I for one am incredibly proud to be a part of Cape Storm - to be a part of Rugby in general. Once you put on that jersey you are a representative of our club and our sport in this community. You have a duty to represent us well - not by winning matches, but by comporting yourselves in a way that we can all be proud of.

You will get knocked down on the pitch . Multiple times. At times you will be bested.

The Rugby man understands that and responds by getting up each time and continuing to play the game. We don't cry about our little defeats to the other team, or to the official. We don't take cheap shots in retaliation. We play our hardest within the laws of the game and, win or lose, we congratulate our mates and our opponents for having endeavored to participate in this sport that many lesser men wouldn't dare try.


I can't wait to be a part of your first Rugby competitions this weekend. This is the very beginning of a journey that I know will be an incredibly positive one for you. Soak it in, enjoy it and know that there is much more ahead of you.

 

Coach Badger

You know guys are serious about Rugby when they come out to training in freezing, 40 mph winds with bronchial infections and other ailments that would keep most men home in bed.

Our Cape Storm boys have heart, no question.

One suggestion for the back of the team t-shirt that came in through the gear survey was: "Only trophy we won this day was the blood and sweat we left on the pitch ... and it was enough." In a nutshell, I think that sums up all that I love about this sport and the guys who play it. For the true rugger, the payoff isn't in the recognition. It's in the utter satisfaction that, merely by stepping on the pitch and putting your best boot forward, you've again rejected apathy's sway.

This group isn't just gritty, it's skilled - and looking more and more like a group of Rugby players who know what they're doing. Coach Roger Howell made a telling comment earlier this week when he said, "These guys actually listen!" It's true, and its a big reason you've come so far so quickly.

Next weekend will be a great opportunity for everyone to get their first real Rugby experience. We have controlled scrimmages set for Saturday (March 28) at Delaware Military Academy - another relatively new team - and for Sunday (Feb. 1) at St. Augustine, where we'll do a round robin with Auggie's brand new team and a more experienced South Jersey squad. It will be somewhat akin to attending a weekend Rugby tournament, without having to cram four and five guys into single-occupancy hotel rooms. Ah, but I digress ...

The staff is planning some excellent training sessions for the upcoming week and we'll use the controlled scrimmages as teaching sessions as well, with coaches on the field to guide you through the different phases of the game.

We're still at the very beginning of your Rugby journey, gents. Your teammates will all learn at different speeds, but if you stick together and help each other out the team will ultimately be successful, I promise. And if there are other guys out there who you think would like to be a part of this, get them out and bring them along for the trip. It won't ever be too late to join.

See you Sunday.

Coach Badger 

It occurs to me that as brand new Rugby players, you guys may be wondering just how you stack up with the teams that will be your competition this year. I know that if I was in your shoes, I'd be curious.

With four training sessions under our belts and two solid weeks of training ahead (Tues., Thurs. Sun. - don't forget!) before our first scrimmage, I can confidently say that you will be competitive with any squad on our schedule. Frankly, if you keep progressing the way you have been, you will be more than competitive. I suspect Cape Storm will surprise a few long-established clubs this Spring.

My second season coaching Valley Forge Rugby Club we beat South Jersey for the EPRU Div. II Championship. That squad had a bit more experience than you - some players had played for a year or two - but athletically our Cape Storm squad would stack up well. And your overall attitude toward each other is as positive as I've seen. I can't stress enough how vital that will be to your success. Work hard to maintain that relationship with your mates, and to nip any negativity in the bud.

Where we can all make a big difference for this club is in recruiting. As you know, we'll play two full matches each weekend. Ideally that means between 30 and 42 players will take the pitch for the Storm every Sunday. The strongest clubs have players competing for spots all week, with younger or less-experienced players proving themselves and gaining valuable experience in second-side matches. Not that having some guys play both games (first side and second side) is bad - its a great way for an ambitious player to get experience at multiple positions. But we'd like to be in a position to make that a choice, not a necessity.

So get the word out. We've got a great thing going and I'm sure there are more guys out there who could be positive additions to what we're trying to do.

I'll look forward to seeing everyone Tuesday.

Coach Badger

Every time I step on the Rugby pitch I try to improve one aspect of my game. As long as I'm getting better at something - even just one small nuance of the game - I'm satisfied. Progress beats the heck out of stagnation.

What I love about this young club is that every week we coaches see marked improvement from every single guy. I can say without hesitation that each and every one of you left the pitch today a better Rugby player than when you arrived. As long as we keep that up, we'll be very successful.

Your improvement is a tribute to your willingness to learn, which is really the key to never becoming stagnant in life. Don't ever be afraid to try something new on the Rugby pitch - that's the only way you get better. And I can assure you that as coaches we'll always support you, even if you don't entirely succeed with what you try.

One thing I always keep at the forefront of my mind is that I don't know everything. I find that if I keep my mind open to the possibility of learning something from anyone, at any moment, I generally do learn something valuable. You can always improve and you should always be looking to improve. Otherwise you're either backsliding or standing still, and neither option appeals to me.

So far, I've seen that crucial desire to progress among our Cape Storm players and in my mind, it is your most valuable asset - beyond speed, strength or fitness. Be comfortable with the fact that you're going to make mistakes as you push yourself to improve, and be tolerant of your teammates as they go through the same process. Remember, we're all in this together and none of us will succeed without the others. Every guy on this club has the potential to evolve into an excellent Rugby player. Some will progress faster than others, but lets be mindful never to leave one of our mates behind.

Within the next week I hope to announce our regular weekly training schedule and location. Please keep an eye on your e-mail and on the new Bulletin Board page of the web site. We'll be going full-contact for part of every session from here on out, so bring your mouthpieces and cleats.

And keep bringing that drive to learn - believe me, it becomes you.

Coach Badger

Whether you know it or not, we're being watched!

A day doesn't go by without one of my Jersey Shore Sharks teammates, or one of my fellow teachers asking me how Cape Storm Rugby is coming along. People are genuinely curious, for different reasons, I suppose.

My teammates? They're excited about the prospect of there finally being a high school Rugby community here at the Jersey Shore. Most are quite envious that our guys are getting to learn and play this sport so early in their athletic careers. And frankly, they can see ahead to the future, when former Cape Storm players who have stayed in the area, or have come back from college, decide to join our mens club, and bring with them several years of Rugby experience. The futures of the two clubs, they know, are linked.

My fellow teachers? Most don't know much at all about Rugby, only that you have to be pretty tough to play. I imagine many of them aren't sure which of their students will really be willing to give Rugby a try - and who will have the tenacity to stick with it. Those who have coached understand that you tend to learn a lot more about the character of a student when he is outside of the classroom setting. I suspect we'll see a lot of those teachers at our home matches - watching not only how you play, but how you respond to the demands of this sport.

So what do I tell the curious? The truth: We have a impressive core group of players with athleticism, toughness and a willingness to learn that will take them far. And we're growing all the time.

After just two practices we've seen marked improvement from each and every player, despite having a lot thrown at them in a short amount of time. We see players helping each other out rather than tearing each other down. We see camaraderie amongst athletes from different schools - guys willing to put aside traditional rivalries to build something special. And we see a great enthusiasm for a sport they're just beginning to understand.

On top of all that, we have a group of knowledgeable coaches that are really passionate about the game and about passing their love of Rugby on to another generation.

All the ingredients are here for an incredibly successful Rugby club. I, for one, am extremely excited for the upcoming season. It's going to be something to remember - and something worth watching.

Coach Badger