Pre Season Fitness for Top Dublin Rugby Team

The Jackal

Hi. I have been appointed coach at a top Dublin Rugby Club for next season. I am looking at putting a very intense but diverse pre season fitness program in place. I am looking to tap into all the experts on heres know how and experience. I am open to suggestions and am thinking along the likes of Judo, Strongman, Wrestling, Boxing etc. I will be ensuring that they get their running requirements through Rugby Fitness work but want to challenge them mentally and physically by incorporating other disciplines. Please add your suggestions or PM me if interested in helping out. Thanks for your time

bridmwhite@gmai

Ashtanga Yoga - builds flexibility as well as strength and reduces the chance of injury. All the professional teams have been putting it into the mix over the last few seasons.

catch88

bridmwhite@gmai wrote: »

Ashtanga Yoga - builds flexibility as well as strength and reduces the chance of injury. All the professional teams have been putting it into the mix over the last few seasons.

I do ashtanga yoga but i cant imagine a group of ruggers doing it with the
mantras!

JayRoc

The Jackal wrote: »

I have been appointed coach at a top Dublin Rugby Club for next season

I don't want to come across as a prick, but if I was one of the people at this "top rugby club" who'd appointed you, I'd be pretty worried that my choice of coach was asking people on the internet how to do his job.

weightlifter

JayRoc wrote: »

I don't want to come across as a prick, but if I was one of the people at this "top rugby club" who'd appointed you, I'd be pretty worried that my choice of coach was asking people on the internet how to do his job.

I was thinking something very similar...

BUT the best coaches are open to what others can offer. If he is a good coach he will seperate the good offers from the bad and might get some great contributions for his team.

It seems odd to do it online but perhaps the coach is from outside Ireland and doesnt have the same level of contacts here that he would in his native country.

The Jackal

Weight lifter is on the button. I know rugby inside out and have a fair idea what I am looking for. I am just trying to think outside the box here. i have been a pro player and yoga has been a big part of my training as a player (and many other pro teams) so its not a "girly" thing to do, in fact its very hard! So was wrestling. The object of this post was to see if there was any experts that I could bring in from other sports which would be helpful. Stuff like Kettle bell instructors etc. Its just me trying to use this forum for some brainstorming ideas and maybe provide some employment

amazingemmet

For pre-season I'd go this route for strength and speed training. http://www.elitefts.com/ws4sb/default.asp

Personally I think ashtanga yoga is a load of balls for sports people. The saem results inflexibility can be achieved in a quarter of the time using more scientific methods of stretching.

Mickk

JayRoc wrote: »

I don't want to come across as a prick, but if I was one of the people at this "top rugby club" who'd appointed you, I'd be pretty worried that my choice of coach was asking people on the internet how to do his job.

Prick:D

AlphaMale 3OO

Jayroc the comment was a little below the belt. He said he was looking for alternative methods. He's not looking for any tactical advice. From what I know of WS4SB it would be very intense combined with a rugby fitness programme. Any strongman stuff anyone has, I'd be happy to hear too, e.g. sleds, tires, sledgehammers etc.

JMCD

amazingemmet wrote: »

Personally I think ashtanga yoga is a load of balls for sports people. The saem results inflexibility can be achieved in a quarter of the time using more scientific methods of stretching.

Really man? I was thinking of starting ashtanga yoga to help with my flexibilty for soccer but if you have any links to this stretching you speak of, be greatly appreciated.:)

injured365

Yoga can be useful if you have problems with flexibility but it can lead to reduced joint stability. However, if used along with a good weights program, joint stability can be maintained. The scientific methods of stretching, i think, are better than yoga but thats because they have taken all the good from the likes of yoga, pilates and traditional stretches and put them together. To say yoga is pointless for sports people isn't right, as when done right, yoga has great effect on your breathing and it also is a nice way to relax i find.

Transform

as someone who teaches ashtanga yoga i can attest to the numerous benefits for doing it (david collins in blackrock possibly being the best tescher in the country).

but really for athletes is not about general flexibility its about getting them tested to check where EACH of them are tight and give a stretching program based on that.

Ashtanga yoga is beneficial but getting specific is more important.

e.g. i had a 12year old athlete (hurling and football) with me last week having terrible problems with his knees - physio and doctor said everything is grand in the knees and hope it would just go away. The parents came to me and i said if i could't find anything wrong in 5-10mins then i would not charge them. Now 9 times out of 10 with kness is VERY rarely a problem with the knee itself and more to do with the ankles, hips and thighs. The kid had terrible flexibility in his left glute and this was causing the problems - program given (20mins daily) and ART massage to be done, problem solved.

This is just an example of said getting specific with athletes and helping prevent injuries and time away from training.

Roper

The Jackal if you want to give me a buzz I've done some work with rugby/GAA athletes before for alternative conditioning work. We could organise something.

baz.oglesby[at]gmail.com