Prior to this week, my rugby background included a few games of touch at break time, cheering on the Red school heroes from the sideline, channel flicking through some highlights and passing comments from the couch. I was in for a perspective shift as I joined the Melbourne Rebels on an all access pass for a week prior to their game against the Stormers at Newlands. I have always been fascinated about the workings of high performance environments across sports and industries and this experience was an eye opener into the culture and operations of one of Australia’s up and coming rugby franchises.

I was connected with Rebels Head Coach Dave Wessels through a mutual friend and colleague Tom Dawson Squibb who has worked extensively with both of us personally and in our professional environments. Dave’s coaching journey began at Rondebosch Boys High School in Cape Town whilst consulting to the Stormers defense. He was appointed as assistant coach of his alma mater, UCT, under Kevin Foote from 2009 to 2011 during their meteoric rise to the title of the Varsity Cup. Dave’s journey continued under Jake White at the Brumbies in Australia as a defensive consultant catapulting him to the assistant post at the Western Force, where after 3 years, he was appointed Head Coach. Following the exclusion of the Force from Super Rugby, Dave was appointed Coach of the Melbourne Rebels.

This background is relevant to understand a few initial observations about the environment. Firstly, it is distinctly apparent that he has “cut his teeth” in the game of rugby and coaching from a young age, the fertile grounds on which many world class coaches across sports have started. Secondly, the relationship he shares with his management staff is deep. Not only have they already walked a road together which has strengthened the bond, but there is genuine respect, care and trust across the coaching group. Remarkably, during my time with the team, not once did Dave walk through a door or get off a bus without thanking the person responsible.

My first contact with the team was to sit in on the review of the game against the Bulls which happened the previous week. I’m in over my head! The players and coaches are speaking a language which resembles English, but one that is quite clearly unique and authentic to this environment. The fluency which these words flow off the tongue is followed by the studious nods of heads and pens on paper as the players engage in the detail of the previous match reflecting and drawing out the learnings supplemented by visual representations on the big screen. This I didn’t expect, these players are far from rugby brutes, they are rugby smarts discussing the intricacies of formations and phases – something which I would gain a keen appreciation for as the week went on.

Monday morning meetings complete and we head off to the training ground, I am looking forward to seeing some of these moves in action. To my surprise, these will not be “run” today, but rather “walked” as part of a team clarity session for the week ahead. All calls, set plays and formations are explained, taught, coached and demonstrated by a coaching staff that have their finger on the pulse of detail. In a game where a metre can mean the difference between a game winning try, this is necessary.

Day two, I am assured some action packed training and at first glance the energy displayed by the coaching group has ramped up a few notches as an extensive warm up begins. Next, Cameras on, Drones raised and away we go! For the next 60 minutes I am treated to what can only be described as a choreography of practice. Specific drills followed by unstructured play, one after the next interspersed with brief key coaching points and an intensity which I have not seen in another sporting environment. Every second of the practice is being accounted for by Will Markwick, the progressive Head of Performance, and is being communicated like a symphonic conductor via ear pieces to all the coaches. The players respond with corresponding effort and skill as this flow of energy permeates everyone at the facility.

As impressive as this practice was to witness, the post practice huddle is what really stands out! Local kids from the community have come to watch the training and are invited into the circle to share in the review of the training. What an experience that must be for these 10 year olds looking up to their heroes. However impressive, it is the behaviour which takes place after this though which catches my eye. Throughout the practice, some student athletes from UCT Ikey Tigers have been running drills with the team, tackling like men possessed and adding competition to the play. Every one of these players is thanked individually by each player and coach for their contribution and are welcomed back for tomorrows session. Coming from a sport in which thrower’s and net bowler’s contribution are so often overlooked this is a note to self.

Upon arrival at the hotel the next day, I am greeted by a sight that I have very rarely seen in a team room. Individual players viewing footage on laptop screens, huddles of positional players drawing out session plans, coaches with computers having “one on ones” with specific players using footage of practice the previous day. This is the planning being done for this afternoon’s sessions. The team has decided on the practice drills to be done today, it seems this phase of preparation for the game on Friday is player-lead. In this small space it is apparent to see the connectedness of the group, it seems all players have the buy in to the system of play and they need to. Rugby is such an integrated sport between backs and forwards, wings and props. I was first exposed to a concept a while back of “Total Football” which is a strategy which revolutionalised soccer in the 1970s which relies on possession of the ball where players have no definite position whilst working as a unit on defense and attack. Easily summed up by Johan Cryuff “Everyone could play everywhere”. These peer learning sessions were certainly what I had in mind.

Another session of high intensity training followed and was supplemented with skill specific practice. The players really do go to pain staking lengths to hone their craft, this is often the element which the public don’t see. The extra time and detail taken to fine tune their preparation and accuracy doesn’t always relate into performance on match day but these professionals stick to their processes with high standards.

The following day a detour was taken by the bus which arrived at UCT rugby club for a team session which allowed a window into the culture of this team. With both Dave and Kevin’s roots in the soil at UCT this provided an opportunity for both players and coaches to share in some past, present and future. The genuine care for each other was palpable in the room and no doubt there is a connection with this group far deeper than the game of rugby. A Captain’s run at Newlands and we are all set to go for the fixture of the week.

Match day! A different feel in the camp. The tone of the day seems to be focused and controlled. With a long wait until the afternoon kick off, a few “walk-throughs” and bit of light hearted ball drills take place in a conference hall down the road from the hotel. This gives me an opportunity to pick the brain of the coaches and enter into discussing their philosophies a bit deeper, this is fascinating. Throughout the week, all the coaches have been approachable, curious and welcoming showing that they are not only preaching development but living it themselves.

Warm ups complete and it is time for the main event! Entering the coaches’ box, I am amazed to see the level of technology used in assessing games in real time and the productive conversations which happen between the box and bench. There is an intensity and clarity to these exchanges. The Rebels are behind on the scoreboard throughout much of the game. Notably, Dave is solutions focused and proactive in his approach with suggestions from analysts and assistant coaches. There is no doubt he knows what is like to be advising from the chair next to him and shows an empathy towards his support staff.

Unfortunately, despite great effort, the Rebels end on the losing end against the home side. The mood is one of disappointment and introspection. Upon reflection, it seems the execution on the day was not as accurate as is capable from this group. A few critical errors at important moments in the game wrestled the momentum away on too many occasions. The somber emotions are lifted by keeping an eye on improvement and moving forward in the competition as well as not passing over celebrations of milestones and performances of specific individuals. Thanks are also given to those from the security personnel to the physios for their contribution throughout the week with great gratitude.

It must be said that I for one have gained an incredible appreciation for the ability and skills of the players, not to mention what their bodies go through week in and week out. Their professionalism was outstanding from the team room to the practice field. The way in which they treat their craft, their staff and little known outsiders such as myself show that these men are more than just great rugby players.

As for the staff, this experience has raised the bar in terms of cohesion, communication and excellence from the “team of teams”. Great things can be accomplished when everyone chips “all-in” to a common cause and does their jobs with pride. There is no doubt they will be looking for areas of improvement for the players this week, but would have also taken some lessons on board themselves. Relationships in this organization are of utmost importance and they will grow stronger through experiences such as the week in Cape Town. As the season rolls on, I wish this group all the best and thank them for opening up their sacred circle and including me on their re-love-ution.

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This groundbreaking programme which targets cricket lovers, coaches, parents, human resource managers and leadership practitioners is now available for public consumption on the www.garykirsten.com website.

Kirsten has dedicated his entire life to the sport of cricket.

As a player he was one of the most successful international cricketers for over a decade. Today he is regarded as one of the world’s leading coaches. Sharing his wealth of knowledge has always been one of his great passions and thanks to a partnership with one of the world’s biggest online learning portals, Udemy, his experiences and insights can now be easily accessed.

Developed by Kirsten himself, the course presents his personal experiences as the head coach of the ICC World Cup winning Team India as well as his tenure as head coach of the Proteas.

“The purpose of this course is to share some of the detail that goes into leading an international cricket team and to provide insight into the inner workings of these teams to empower parents, coaches and business leaders,” Kirsten said.

Having worked with some of the greatest players of all time like Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, Kirsten is well versed in the practice of getting the best out of his team members.

“People that sign up will also gain insight into why coaches and managers of sports teams value culture over everything else,” Kirsten said. He continued, “The course also includes how to deal with difficult individuals, how to give effective feedback and how to build trust within a team environment – all of these are of course also vital skills for businesses across the spectrum from entrepreneurs to large corporate organisations.”

The programme consists of eight supplementary resources, full-time access, 1-hours’ worth of on demand video as well as access on mobile, desktop and other digital platforms. “It is an opportunity to learn how to lead people most effectively and how to build a solid base for consistent performance,” he concluded.

signup and enroll now by clicking ,HERE NOW!

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In January, Kirsten, Ryan Cook and Ryan van Niekerk ran a coaching workshop with 20 coaches from four Curro’s school’s at the Waterstone College.

This engagement was part of the ongoing relationship between the GKC and the Curro School group. The day was divided into two sessions where Kirsten and his team delivered theory and practical workshops. Session one covered coaching education and what is required and different schools. While the second session was a practical one which took place in the indoor centre.Here coaches were put through batting, bowling and fielding drills.

“We gave the coaches a look into how we do things at GKC,” van Niekerk said.

“It was highly beneficial. There were lots of questions, interesting debates and we are hoping to do more work like this in the Johannesburg region,” he added.

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Gary Kirsten is a household name across the cricketing world. His exploits as an international cricketer and coach are well documented, but Gary Kirsten along with his coaching team at Gary Kirsten Cricket are now offering free online coaching via mobile to aspiring cricketers from around the globe.

In recent years, Kirsten and his team have conducted high performance coaching clinics throughout South Africa as well the United Kingdom, UAE, India and the Netherlands.The GKC enjoys working with and passing on their coaching knowledge to players of varying ability and skill levels.

Players will be able to send in a short video of themselves batting or bowling to the Gary Kirsten Cricket coaching team via their Whatsapp number: +27 76 171 2300.

“Cricket is a global game and we as a global cricket academy enjoy traveling to various international destinations for coaching clinics, however we’re very excited about being readily available to anyone with access to a smartphone and the instant messaging application, WhatsApp. Players are able to send the Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy coaching team a short video clip of themselves practising for some free coaching analysis, tips and advice.” said Gary Kirsten head of Gary Kirsten Cricket.

Creating the clip is a simple task and an instructional video can be found on the www.garykirsten.com website. It can be filmed by a player’s coach, parent or friend using the camera on their mobile phone.

“We at Gary Kirsten Cricket always aim to be at the leading edge of innovation and making use of mobile technology is an exciting way for us to meet the needs of our coaching work. The idea of being able to share a piece of coaching advice with players in the most remote parts of India, Pakistan or Africa, whilst also being able to engage with players in the biggest cites of London, Sydney, Johannesburg or Dubai within seconds, makes me very excited,” Kirsten added.

For now the team has opted not to cap the number of videos that players can submit and all the filming guidelines can be found on our website and social media pages, explains Ryan Cook, GKC Coaching Director.

“We have no idea how many videos will be sent to our team from around the world and we’re planning to keep this a free service until the demands become too great,” Cook said.

It gives players a chance to maximise their cricketing potential and a chance to work with the world class coaching team at Gary Kirsten Cricket.

Gary Kirsten Cricket WhatsApp number: +27 76 171 2300

More Information: www.garykirsten.com

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Join us at GKCA Century City at the launch of our new facility where schools will be participating in 8 a side mini cricket matches. There will be a power hitting net from a bowling machine as well as a speed gun net for bowlers. Players will have the opportunity to meet Gary Kirsten and enjoy the day with his presence at the launch of this new facility.

GKCA Century City nets have arrived and have been installed this week so coaching is in full swing at GKCA Century city from next week.

GKCA has built very good relationships with schools in the area already with Curro Century City getting on board with coaching there players. Blouberg International is another school in the west coast area that will become a GKCA hub and will run private / group coaching from their facility.

GKCA will have two brand new nets with a bowling machine. GKCA aims to facilitate a well-rounded experience that allows individuals to express themselves in their own style of play, while also encouraging flair, technical experience, growth and leadership.

Contact Garreth van Hoesselin from GKCA Century City

for more information and how you can get into the action! Tel • +27 (0)83 400 0971 Email • gvh@garykirsten.com

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GKCA Coach Voucher

Buy a 1 hour coaching session with a Highly Skilled GKCA coach.

GKCA Head Coach Voucher

Buy a 1 hour coaching session with Head GKCA Coach, Ryan Cook.

Gary Kirsten Voucher

Buy a 1 hour coaching session with renowned ICC World Cup winning coach Gary Kirsten .

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I fully support the campaign to build and even bigger and better facility to improve the quality and scope of care even further. In cricket every run and and every wicket counts, but let’s not forget that more importantly, every baby counts.”

YOU can make a difference to the lives of Newborn babies by supporting the work of the Newborns Trust…

Make a general donation, honour someone special by making a donation to commemorate a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary, or make a donation in memory of a loved one.  What better way to make a lasting memory than to give the gift of giving! Click here to visit their website and donate online.[/dt_sc_two_third]

The post Groote Schuur Neonatal Unit appeared first on Gary Kirsten Cricket.

The newly-built GKCA nets will be based at Century City in partnership with Fives Football and will be an exciting addition to the existing GKCA coaching offerings. The entire GKCA team is extremely excited about this new partnership which will make the GKCA team’s expertise more accessible to those living in the northern suburbs of Cape Town.

Private Coaching

A team of fully qualified, highly skilled coaches deliver an unparalleled 1-on-1 coaching experience
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Group Coaching Sessions

Ideal for schools, clubs and teams of various ages and experience levels
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Club Practice Hire

Floodlit nets and bowling machine hire enables training at a time that suits your daily schedule
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Corporate Hire

Hire our facilities for your corporate and team building functions and events
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Birthday Party’s

Celebrate your birthday doing something that is fun, exciting and most of all, a healthy alternative
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GKCA will have two brand new nets with a bowling machine. GKCA aims to facilitate a well-rounded experience that allows individuals to express themselves in their own style of play, while also encouraging flair, technical experience, growth and leadership.

Contact Garreth van Hoesselin from GKCA Century City

for more information and how you can get into the action! Tel • +27 (0)83 400 0971 Email • gvh@garykirsten.com

The post Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy Launched a new facility at Century City, Cape Town appeared first on Gary Kirsten Cricket.

The Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy (GKCA) provides private coaching for individual cricketers, teams and coaches of various ages and experience levels.

All the GKCA Coaches work closely with Head Coach Gary Kirsten and other senior coaches to provide the finest coaching programs designed for school, club, amateur and professional cricketers.

These programs are conducted at world-class facilities that provide aspiring cricketers the very best opportunity of success. Through teaching the fundamentals of cricket and developing a culture of excellence, the qualified coaches deliver a cricketing experience for all individuals and teams based on respect, understanding, honesty, trust and clear communication.

The successful candidate will be;

• A driven professional with strong networking and relationship building skills
• Passionate about cricket at all levels
• Comfortable with technology
• A great communicator that is confident of presenting to groups
• Prepared to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in
• Experienced cricketer with a deep understanding of the game and cricket coaching
• Prepared to travel locally and internationally

This role is part of the coaching team and the applicant will be responsible for contributing to and executing elements of the GKCA coaching strategy within South Africa and internationally.

GKCA offers a competitive salary and a genuine opportunity for you to forge an amazing career in cricket and coaching under the guidance of Gary Kirsten.

 Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for all coaching and business functions at Century City facility, Cape Town, SA.
• Devise, implement and manage GKCA coaching products/services and budgets in conjunction with the senior management team to enable the achievement of GKCA goals
• Devise and implement sales and marketing strategies in conjunction with the senior management team to enable the achievement of GKCA goals
• Research and analyse the chosen markets for GKCA products and offerings
• Ensure customer feedback is sought and managed to enable the ongoing development of coaching products and services
• Work with the senior management team as required to assist in the specification and development of GKCA products and services
• Liaise and manage external relationships with partners, sponsors, parents and clients
• Contribute to the high quality offerings of GKCA
• Research, identify and analyse new opportunities within surrounding areas for GKCA
• Assist as required, in recruitment, mentoring, training and managing other GKCA coaches and staff.
• Provide input to the on-going development and maintenance of GKCA intellectual property, process, documentation and templates
• Generally contribute to the development of the GKCA business growth
• Any other duties which may be reasonably required by GKCA from time to time

Applications

Send your covering letter and CV to info@garykirsten.com

Or complete the form below and attached your CV :

The post We’re Hiring! We have a position available at GKCA for a Senior Coach appeared first on Gary Kirsten Cricket.