A tough loss on the Rugby pitch will teach you a lot about a guy.

The best Rugby players I've known - the best people I've known - are the ones who don't let themselves be too devastated when things don't go their way, or too full of themselves when things do. Believe me, boys, you're never quite as bad - or as good - as you think. There's always something positive you can take out of even the most lopsided loss, and there's always something you can do better than you did in a big win.

Either way, it's the guy who evaluates the past objectively, learns from it and then puts it behind him that keeps moving forward. Too many folks dwell on the past, get mired in it, and never realize their potential.

if you're sitting around right now making excuses for why we lost today, stop. Focus on yourself - what you did well (and each of you, to a man, did many things well) as well as what you need to do better. Come to training with some achievable goals for the week and use the time we have to make yourself a better player than you were when you left the pitch today.

Each guy's goals will be different, and they need not be more than something very basic: I'll tackle with my shoulders, not my hands ; I'll keep the ball in two hands when I run, so I can offload more effectively; I won't complain when there's a penalty - I'll just get back quickly, ready to play; I'll bring guys with me when I know we need to spread out and mark the opposition in defense.

If every guy improves one aspect of his game every week, our forward momentum will be unstoppable.

Forward, boys, is the only direction to be going. Digest today's match, set some goals and then turn your eyes to the road ahead. The coaching staff and I will be waiting for you at training.

Cheers,

Coach Badger

Sunday's win over Wilmington was a great way to start our inaugural season, boys. Congratulations!

As a club, we set some excellent precedents: First and foremost, we maintained our focus on playing Rugby.

This is an intense, emotional game, no question. It takes discipline and maturity to channel that emotion and make it work for you, rather than against you. The entire coaching staff was extremely pleased with how you guys handled yourselves on the pitch in the face of some heated situations. Our goal for the day was to play good Rugby and not to be distracted by anything else. I think we all can agree that your focus on that goal certainly paid off.

As the season progresses, I expect we will have more players interested in coming out to join the club. We should all welcome these guys and set a good example for them. When the opportunity arises, take the time to help teach those new players not only how to play the game, but how to conduct themselves on the pitch. Remember - as some of the relatively few Rugby players in this area, people will form their impressions of the sport and of this club based largely on their impressions of you. Be a good representative for Rugby and for Cape Storm.

We'll have a bigger challenge this weekend at St. Augustine than we did on Sunday. Lets all make our best effort to get out to training so we can keep improving. I know getting a ride has been an issue for some guys - don't forget I always have room for three or four in my car if you're coming from Lower, or from anywhere near the school. And between Vanessa, the other coaches, your fellow players and I, we can always get you home from practice too.

The sky is gray and the winds are kicking up, boys. There was a clap of thunder over Avalon on Sunday. I think I even saw a few flashes of lightning - but that was just the beginning of this Storm that we're building.

See you at training.
Coach Badger

There is a certain satisfaction that comes with the requisite post-Rugby match soreness.

By now, many of you have recognized that bittersweet sensation.

Soreness for soreness' sake has no real appeal. Given the choice between bruised and not bruised, I imagine we'd all choose the latter. But when that aching shoulder is linked to the memory of a well-executed tackle; when the last remaining evidence of your burst through the defense is a scab forming on your elbow, then you find that little bit of pain much easier to bear.

Sometimes you even miss it when its gone.

In the short run, boys, this sport will cause its share of physical pain. There's no sugarcoating that. But while pain is temporary, the lessons learned on the Rugby pitch endure and are well worth the effort.

Like the bounce of a Rugby ball on uneven ground, life is unpredictable. it doesn't always follow the script you had planned. And when the unexpected happens you can fight against the current (and eventually drown) or you can adapt and renew your efforts in a productive way. Many times success in life comes down to the choice between stopping your progress to complain or continuing to move forward, even if its down a path you weren't expecting.

Argue with the referee or get back ten meters, ready to make a tackle?
Punch back at a dirty opponent or rejoin your mates in a real show of strength?

The smart decision isn't always the easy one. But the successful player - the successful man - is the one who finds the inner strength to make it despite his emotions. Rugby offers us the opportunity to make such decisions each time we and our emotions take the pitch.

A pretty good training ground, I'd say.

Enjoy your well-earned soreness, boys. We'll see you at practice.


Coach Badger

Over the course of what was the most enjoyable weekend of coaching I've ever experienced, both Vanessa and I heard the same compliment. It came from two different referees on two different days. Both went out of their way to come over and tell us how impressed they were. Their comments were identical:

"Your guys really listen."

Yes, they also talked about your toughness, and athleticism. But they were particularly impressed with how well Cape Storm players listen, learn and adapt.

It's something Coach Roger Howell noted after his first training session with you as well. As a group you  seem quite adept at taking in information, processing it, and changing your behavior in a positive way. Sounds simplistic, I know, but the lack of this ability is what keeps most people from ever reaching their potential. At some point, folks tend to think they are experts at one thing or another and stop listening, stop learning. Maybe they get tired - it's a lot of work to keep adapting, changing. Sometimes it's a bit tough on the ego to admit you could be better. I guess it's easier to get to a point where you feel comfortable and then convince yourself that your way is the best way.

So thanks to all of you for being so willing to listen and learn. It has made it a pleasure to coach you - the entire staff agrees. It's also the primary reason that you keep making such excellent progress and are well on your way to being fantastic Rugby players.

Think about it. At the onset of the Delaware Military Academy scrimmage on Saturday, we looked a bit disorganized. Spirited, for sure, but very bunched up on defense and unsure at the rucks. We were offside quite a bit as well. The referee said he explained to you once the onside rule and it wasn't an issue after that. As the scrimmage went on and we talked to you about spreading out in defense, rather than clumping up at the tackle, you changed your defensive alignment and shut them out in the second half. No one tried to place blame on a teammate for the tries they scored early - you took it upon yourselves to alter how you played defense and that changed the tone of the scrimmage in our favor.

Today at St. Augustine, we asked you to work on two things: Running straight ahead, rather than across the field, and coming up together as a flat defensive unit, spreading out to mark up the attacking players.

Result? The defense was stellar from the get-go, and our attack was twice as effective because 80% of our takes went North-South. i saw guys start out going sideways and then correct themselves, turning upfield and making positive gains while putting the defense on its heels. A great example was Angel's run off the line out that set up Mike Fancher's try on the other side of the field. Angel directly attacked the defense, drew in at least three tacklers and then got the ball cleanly back to Pat Wood, who then moved the ball wide, where Fancher was able to run around the defense. Why was the space there? Because the defense all converged on Angel the phase before, sucking them in and leaving them vulnerable outside.

I'd also like to compliment you on your on-field composure. You saw first hand what it looks like when a team starts to bicker amongst itself and I think we can all agree it's unimpressive. We asked you to represent our club and yourselves with dignity this weekend, and to a man you did that. You played the game and left the talking to others.

Seems you were too busy listening, and learning.

Keep it up, boys. There's much fun to be had as we go forward with our ears and our minds open.

Coach Badger