Emirates Western Force development underway for 2014

[GAFFA]

The Emirates Western Force has wasted no time in commencing preparations for the 2014 Super Rugby season with the team returning this week for a seven-week, off-season development block.

With the Emirates Western Force boasting a strong emphasis on ‘standards’ in 2013, the players will be based in Perth for the next two months to work on on-field and off-field objectives to assist in driving their standards even higher next season.

With the side determined to build on the foundations laid this year, the development block consists of:

a) Off-field: Identifying, developing and pursuing further personal, professional career and academic opportunities for a sound life balance.
b) Physical: Athletic testing and tailored performance programs to ensure players are reaching new physical standards in the lead-in to the pre-season (beginning in October).
c) Community Rugby: Force players will be involved with their local Pindan Premier Grade clubs in either a playing or coaching capacity.

Off-field: Pioneering a new welfare program
The Emirates Western Force is pioneering a world-class welfare program previously unseen in Australian rugby to ensure players are developing their interests and opportunities outside of rugby.

During the development block, the players will explore their interests, including university or TAFE courses, or work experience in an industry relevant to their career aspirations, in conjunction with the Rugby Union Players’ Association

The Emirates Western Force will also embark on a series of new initiatives – including vocational workshops and lectures – to broaden players’ perspective on life challenges and enhance professional and personal development.

Player Development Manager, Ryan Webster will be assisting each player in setting a personal and professional development plan to expand their professional and career opportunities beyond the rugby field.

“We are giving the players more balance and giving them something to do that interests them outside of the norm of training non-stop,” he said.

“Each development plan is tailored to the individual so we are giving them the best opportunity to achieve their goals.

“The end goal is to ensure they’ve got something that can fall back on once they’ve finished rugby but also to improve their on-field performance. Research shows that there is a direct correlation between on-field performance due to development gained in an off-field environment.”

Physical: Building on 2013

The training block has been developed to allow players to build on their athletic development with tailored programs ensuring they will hit the ground running ahead of the 2014 pre-season.

This week, the team has undergone testing, including body competency (joint range/strength in motion), lower body power, change-of-direction and straight-line speed, and upper, lower and torso strength.

Players rehabilitating from injuries and/or surgery, such as Kyle Godwin, have also been fully integrated into the program to continue the group’s growth as a team and continual development of the team’s culture.

Head of Athletic Performance, David Joyce, said the purpose of the testing was to determine the physical base for each player before developing a program tailored to their individual athletic requirements.

“Playing rugby is not just bench pressing and squatting,” he said. “It’s about how well you can generate and absorb force and how you can minimise energy leaking when you’re moving.

“This seven-week development block is to ensure the Emirates Western Force players come back for pre-season ready for rugby training so we’re just trying to get the foundations right. It’s about the entire team preparing as a unit through specifically tailored programs to ensure each player is at their physical peak for the 2014 season.”

Community Rugby:

Emirates Western Force players will return en masse to the Pindan Premier Grade this week.

While many players have represented their local club throughout the Super Rugby season, they will begin structured involvement from this week in either a playing or coaching capacity.

Players unavailable to take the field will provide analysis and coaching for their club which will in turn contribute towards a Level 2 Coaching qualification for the player.

The involvement with the clubs will continue through until the end of the season.

Click here to see which players are aligned with which club.


http://www.westernforce.com.au/NewsE...2/Default.aspx

[James]

Interesting that Rory Walton and Winston Stanley are on the list. You'd have thought that if they weren't going to be here in 2014, they would have been released. Maybe since we haven't been able to recruit any other 13s, Stanley will be kept on.

[WF2006]

Guess it depends when their contract with Rugby WA actually ends. Could possibly be October or December or ???

[Alison]

I think the welfare programme is a fantastic initiative - big ups to RugbyWA for that.

So many top-flight athletes really struggle with the transition to 'retirement' and I think it's fantastic that RugbyWA is wanting to support players in this way.

[Alison]

Interesting that Rory Walton and Winston Stanley are on the list. You'd have thought that if they weren't going to be here in 2014, they would have been released. Maybe since we haven't been able to recruit any other 13s, Stanley will be kept on.

Don't know about Stanley, but Rory is keen to stay I think so hopefully this means he will be

[PeterM]

Fantastic move well done Rugby WA I may well be off the mark but I suspect his has the hall marks of our new CEO and Michael Foley all over it and I have nothing but praise that the club or the State are looking at these players as people who have lives to go on with after rugby.

[valzc]

This is great development planning for the Force - and just maybe it will stop all the bitching going on between 'certain persons' on this site regarding Force players participating in local clubs- I HOPE!

[goony]

Good to see Baysie and Kalamunda get looked after again...

[brokendown gunfighter]

Good to see Baysie and Kalamunda get looked after again...

noticed that,I presume that they were inadvertently left off the list--there were only 20 players on the list as well

[westies man]

This is great development planning for the Force - and just maybe it will stop all the bitching going on between 'certain persons' on this site regarding Force players participating in local clubs- I HOPE!

This is obviously a thinly veiled reference at me and that's fine but we'll wait and see how many actually lace up the boots and if they all do I'll shut up and get back in my box but if bugger all play then I won't stop campaigning to strengthen club rugby

[James]

Guess it depends when their contract with Rugby WA actually ends. Could possibly be October or December or ???

Yeah but surely there would be heaps of players in a similar boat. What about James Hilterbrand? He would have been on the same contract as Rory Walton and he isn't on the list.

[GAFFA]

Baysie had Mafi untill he went of the rails. They have no one now not sure about Kala.

[travelling_gerry]

7/25/2013

Force continues commitment to local rugby

By RugbyWA Media Unit*

The Pindan Premier Grade will be boosted by the return of Emirates Western Force players this week with more than 20 players involved in either a playing or coaching capacity.*
The Pindan Premier Grade will be boosted by the return of Emirates Western Force players this week with more than 20 players involved in either a playing or coaching capacity.*
While a number of players will return to the field with their club on Saturday, those unavailable to play will provide analysis and coaching for their teammates, with the experience to contribute towards a Level 2 Coaching qualification.*
This is the most number of Force players involved with the local competition at any one time throughout the club’s eight year history.*

The whole-of-club involvement in the local competition is a key part of the Emirates Western Force’s seven-week, off-season development block, that also features intense tailored programs for players’ athletic development and a strong focus on identifying and developing education and career opportunities outside of rugby.*

While many Force players represented their local clubs during the Super Rugby season, additional players will be integrated into the Pindan Premier Grade each week through until the end of the season.*
Emirates Western Force Head Coach Michael Foley says committing to local clubs is an integral part of growing the game in Western Australia.*
“We’ve had a number of clubs and players assist us throughout the Super Rugby season, and this is our opportunity to return the favour through our commitment to the local competition,” he said.*

“During this training block, we’ve got a real focus on our players’ on- and off-field development and playing *or coaching for their clubs is an important part of that.*

“Through the Level 2 Coaching qualification, the players will work with local coaches to strengthen the pathways between club and professional rugby.”*

This commitment follows on from a number of other RugbyWA initiatives employed this season to contribute to the local rugby community, including:*

The Emirates Western Force coaching staff hosting a series of*specialist training sessions*with the local clubs, with Foley joining Palmyra for the most recent of these on Tuesday;The Emirates Western Force coaching staff presenting at Level 2 Coaching and Advance Coaching Courses throughout the year;

The*Goodlife Health Club’s Perth’s Fittest Club*program, providing strength and conditioning support for local clubs to bridge the gap between club and professional rugby players in Western Australia;

The invitation of Pindan Premier Grade players to train with and against the Emirates Western Force during the pre-season and regular Super Rugby season – exposing them to a professional training environment;

Emirates Western Force players coaching and refereeing Bankwest Junior Rugby;Assistant Strength & Conditioning coach Brendyn Appleby and & Development Manager, Graham Cooper travelling to Kalgoorlie to promote the game through skills and development clinics with schools and senior teams in the local area;

Provision of a coaching development pathway through selection of local club coaches for state representative teams.

**Emirates Western Force players and their aligned clubs
Associates:*Angus Cottrell, Kyle Godwin, Hugh McMeniman
Cottesloe:*Junior Rasolea, Ed Stubbs
Nedlands:*Patrick Dellit, Heath Tessmann
Palmyra:*Salesi Manu
Rockingham:*Kieran Longbottom
UWA:*Chris Alcock , Nick Cummins, Sias Ebersohn
Wanneroo:*Phoenix Battye, Tetera Faulkner, Matt Hodgson, Winston Stanley, Rory Walton
Wests Scarborough:*Pek Cowan, Sam Wykes, Jayden Hayward*

[Alison]

Yeah but surely there would be heaps of players in a similar boat. What about James Hilterbrand? He would have been on the same contract as Rory Walton and he isn't on the list.

James Hilterbrand isn't in the squad for 2014 - he was one of those they told us about recently in that 'thanks for the memories' video.

[jargan83]

I was under the impression that players already did study or other forms of development off of the field.

I know several NRL clubs and most AFl clubs have their players engage in something for when they retire
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