More than coaching, we’re growing young men

Coaching any rugby team comes with the added curve ball of learning how to develop different ages and personalities. Mike Thorpe, one of three coaches for Lincoln Rugby Club Junior Boys, understands the importance his role has in this environment and thrives in it.  

Mike is in his second year with the boys, who are mainly years 9 and 10 at High School, and says the consistency of working together for a second year is where he has seen the growth happen, “we’re able to make a lot more progress a lot faster,” said Mike.

The team is clearly doing well, having won five from five this season, but spoken as a true coach of young men, Mike’s highlight of his role is something a lot more personal “the achievement is obviously important, and that’s what we work towards, but their growth is far more important” he said, “its generally their growth as young men that we really enjoy”.

After match speeches, understanding game plans and the ability to take on board personal critiques and work on’s are the developments Mike says he loves to see the most “to see them get it and be invested in it is really rewarding”.

Anyone who has met a teenager will know there can come a time when discipline is required, and Mike says the boys learnt very early on that flagging training or distracting teammates would not be tolerated, “the kids respond well when they know where their boundaries are immediately. They’re not only letting us down but they’re letting their team mates down if they continue in that vein”.

Liam, team captain, says Mike has the cool, calm, and collected style of coaching “he’s a calm headed person. He does his research on how to help us improve and is always thinking about the team”.

Mike summed up his viewpoint of his role beautifully, saying “The holy grail of any coach of young people, is to see what they do in training turn up on the playing field. And when that happens you know that what your doing is working. To me, regardless of how your season goes, if you can achieve that - that is worth celebrating”.

With Mike and fellow coaches Matt and Greg guiding them, these Lincoln Junior Boys will take on Sheffield this weekend. The match is certainly one to watch, as both teams battled it out for the top spot in the last phase, with only points differential keeping Lincoln in second place.

Words by Hannah Yates