\u201cI\u2019d say it\u2019s like a positive challenge. These are the kind of projects you want to be involved in to change things. You want to work where you can make a real difference. \n \n<\/p>\n\n
\u201cI look at the Siya Kolisi story. He went to a local club in Port Elizabeth. One person told him he is going to become something. One person had an input on one individual and see what he has become and the difference he made.\u201d \n<\/p>\n\n
Poppmeier\u2019s vision on rugby clubs is \u2018holistic\u2019. Getting families involved, creating the club culture, creating a community. \u201cThe two clubs that I\u2019ve been involved with in Germany \u2013 we began reaping rewards after 10 years. Every year they\u2019ve brought new people in because of the culture that the club offers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n Culture\u201d is a big word. What is it in reality?<\/strong><\/p><\/p>\n\n \u201cCulture would be wanting to be at the club because there\u2019s something to do there. It\u2019s networking. It\u2019s where your kids are learning values, especially the values of rugby. So you as a parent see what your kid is learning, you see him making friends, and want to be part of it.
\n<\/p>\n\n \u201cA club is where you go in the morning to bring your kid to train. Then there is a senior game. Then maybe a barbecue and a screening of a big international test match.\u201d<\/p>\n\n Ok. So moms, rugby, injuries\u2026 you know the next question\u2026<\/strong><\/p><\/p>\n\n \u201cSure. Personally, I will show them examples that show you are very likely to get injured in other sports too. Handball or soccer, or even snow skiing. Always a risk. But in rugby, they\u2019re gonna be taught and gonna be conditioned. Learn how to protect themselves in these situations.<\/p>\n\n \u201cI had a kid who wanted to go to South Africa on an exchange. And the mom was worried that the rugby there will be too tough. I said, rugby is rugby. He could get injured here; he could get injured in South Africa. But he\u2019s gonna love it and have the best time of his life.<\/p>\n\n \u201cThis kid went on to stay in South Africa and finish high school there.<\/p>\n\n \u201cI always tell moms, leave the son here and come back after one training. If your son is happy and wants to come back \u2013 that\u2019s gonna make you happy as a parent.
\n<\/p>\n\n \u201cAnd then the job of the club is to make training fun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n Do you believe in an academy setup in Israel?<\/strong><\/p><\/p>\n\n \u201cI think if if that could be a goal for maybe 5, 6, 7 years. I see only benefits in it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n But isn\u2019t there a danger of diluting the clubs from talent?<\/strong><\/p><\/p>\n\n \u201cI see a scenario where they still play for the clubs. They just come to the academy and learn. We have to figure out how we do it in Israel, because we have the army. So that also is a bit of a speed bump. I was at the South African Rugby Academy. Kids were shown how to be better professional athletes and went back to their clubs.\u201d
\n
\n<\/p>\n\n Another development project you must have followed is black rugby in South Africa. A population that faces difficulties. The quota system was criticized but now we see incredible results.<\/strong><\/p><\/p>\n\n \u201cOf course. I read Rassie Erasmus\u2019s (South Africa coach, RD) book. It too was a long project. By they identified Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am, Siya Kolisi. Now I don\u2019t think they have one player in the team that isn\u2019t there on merit and they have a long line of brilliant black players.\u201d<\/p>\n\n So drawing some parallel \u2013 would you support a quota system for Israelis on the Tel Aviv Heat?<\/strong><\/p><\/p>\n\n \u201cI would. I mean, what\u2019s the point of having a professional team in a country where it doesn\u2019t benefit the local players? The Heat is something that a player should aspire to. I think if we look at where the Heat started 3 seasons ago. The first season we did okay, the second and third seasons we ended up in finals. That\u2019s a good project to look up towards. If I was a young under 18 under 19, that should be my goal.<\/p>\n\n \u201clast year we did use more Israeli boys. But obviously this year with the war, we lost a few of those guys. So I think it would be a good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n What are Israelis good at? What are they lacking?<\/strong><\/p><\/p>\n\n \u201cThe good thing is they are gutsy and fearless. That is what I want as a coach. They lack some game understanding because of the lack of experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n What can you practically change with youth and adult players?<\/strong><\/p><\/p>\n\n \u201cFor example, Kevin may identify critical skills. Then we spend 20 minutes of every 90-minute coaching session working on this skill.<\/p>\n\n \u201cWe identified evasion. The fundamentals of rugby are obviously to run, catch, and pass, but we added in a fourth one, which is evasion, avoiding contact. So footwork, sidestepping speed work. Because we will come up against countries with bigger teams, and there\u2019s no point in running straight into them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n How is our scrumming?<\/strong><\/p><\/p>\n\n \u201cYou gotta be very careful with scrumming because there\u2019s a lot of injuries that come around with it. Most clubs don\u2019t even have enough numbers to have a full scrum. But there\u2019s a lot of individual stuff that the hooker can do to just better his technique. Strengthen his core, strengthen his neck.<\/p>\n\n \u201cBut these things again they take time. I look at ‘Nitsi’ (Nitzan Reizel) for example. He went and put himself in a Romanian league club. Now he understands what he needs to do in the gym to compete at a higher level and he\u2019s come back a much better player.\u201d<\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Conversation with Mike Poppmeier on his role with Rugby Israel\u2019s club development program<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":4565,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4571","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gallery","category----en"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rugby.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-01-05-at-14.34.33-1.jpeg\")
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