“Rugby League volunteering’s best kept secret receives vital support.”
Like most sports, Rugby League is blessed with some of the most committed and dedicated volunteers, without whom, let’s face it, we wouldn’t have a game. As well as expressing our gratitude to those who volunteer within our game, it’s not always easy provide the necessary support required to overcome the difficult challenges these volunteers sometimes face, so it was a real privilege recently to provide training for a group of Team Managers from our Community Clubs in Warrington.
Over 40 Team Managers, who represent different age groups within the Community Clubs, recently attended the first ever bespoke session specifically for Team Managers at the Haliwell Jones Stadium. The two hour session delivered by staff from the Warrington Wolves Foundation and the Rugby Football League covered a number of important topics pertinent to the key role of Team Manager, including safeguarding, implementing rule changes, managing touchline behaviours to create a healthy playing environment and, importantly, supporting young players mental health.
John McMullen National Clubs Managers from the RFL brought home to delegates the full extent of the Team Manager’s role when he talked about the number of duties and how they can make a positive difference to their teams. Paul Leighton Lifestyle Coach of the Warrington Wolves Community Foundation focussed on the Help out a Mate initiative run in partnership with Movember and Rugby League Cares, which focussed on recognising how anxiety and depression affects our young people and how Team Managers can play a crucial role in supporting them through talking and sharing their thoughts and concerns.
Team Managers are like many volunteers within our sports clubs, who fulfil a vital role, but whom very few people know about. I have to say that whilst none of these dedicated volunteers do this work for the recognition, it shouldn’t be a reason for ignoring their needs and taking them for granted, hence was very pleased that such a large number of Team Managers enrolled on the training.
Our young people face some real challenges growing up ranging from mental health issues to fears about a variety of issues from climate change to cyber-bullying. These challenges are further exacerbated by cuts to services that specifically support young people, hence our Community Rugby League Clubs end up more and more filling the gaps. In many Clubs our Team Managers address many of these issues including supporting young people to play who are affected by child poverty.
Having attended many training development sessions over the years, I was particularly impressed by the interest in the topics discussed and Team Manager’s contributions to the discussions and sharing ideas amongst themselves; further demonstrating their commitment to creating the best possible environment for our young people to thrive within the game. I was also pleased with the unanimous desire amongst Team Managers for further training and development opportunities, something which the Foundation will be very keen to support and organise.
By supporting our Team Managers, they will be able to continue to provide vital support to our Community Club Teams and for them not be one of our best kept secrets any longer.
