Aspire2 Clinic News Update 22nd July 26

Well, that was a very hot half term, tough training conditions and not ideal for contact work. That means that when we start next term, we will re-focus on our four primary tackles (soak up, side, track back and hit-drive-timber) developing our decision making around which tackle, when, how and why. There will also be a focus on our ability to rejoin the game and a little work around ball presentation and developing our contest at the breakdown.

Activate activity will be a part of our warmup and prep for contact skill and handling skills and will always play a part of our session. Across the board our hands are so much better, but there is more to do. Please see the short clip (attached) of the new handling skill that we want to introduce: our ability to have soft hands and pass with empathy cannot be underestimated.

If you usually wear a gum shield, please ensure that you bring it with you. If you don’t usually wear one, we would encourage you to reconsider. It’s also going to be important that you wear or at least bring boots, even if it’s warm weather the ground can get greasy in the early evening.

The big one as usual is fluids and the best advice we can give is, during the off season prepare yourself a little training bag which holds all that you need. Always good to have a beanie for managing cold weather, a flannel for managing hot weather and a warm top and joggers for after training, not forgetting the bin liner for wet and dirty clothes. If your training bag is not waterproof use a second bin liner to ensure your kit stays dry.

Dates for the skills clinic are: 8th 15th 22nd 29th Sept 6th 13th and 20th October (£70).

Take care and have a good summer holiday and if you are throwing away old boots please consider bringing them to the skills clinic, I keep a bag of spare boots for players who are new to the game and are always in need of size 9 and below. I have a limited number of socks as swaps (although I think they are all size 6-11).

With thanks Mike and Sue