16 year old returning to training

Missyelliot2

Hello there....just looking for a bit of advice.

After a bout of illness, my son returned to rugby training. Unfortunately, the team has just been picked and he's not on the squad.
He's really disappointed and wants to keep up his fitness until September? We've mentioned going for a few runs and we are going to buy a rowing machine (we're ALL going to use it!!!)

I'd be really greatful For any advice about anything else he could do. The school was training quite hard, so he doesn't want to lose his fitness.

Thanks!

Alf Veedersane

Get a Concept 2 rowing machine if you're going to get one.

Missyelliot2

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Get a Concept 2 rowing machine if you're going to get one.

Yes.....that was mentioned by the boy, but how hugely expensive are they?

I looked at the Kettler axos in Elverys....would love to know what you think?

Thanks Alf Veedersane

Hanley

Good second hand C2 would be around €800 but you could flip it next month for the exact same price.

Alf Veedersane

I'll have a look at them and see. I do appreciate they're expensive - i just mentioned them in case you were looking at that end of the market. But don't just buy a rowing machine because it looks good and is relatively inexpensive because it'll end up unused and wasted money. But will have a gander and see if I can offer anything useful.

Missyelliot2

Hanley wrote: »

Good second hand C2 would be around €800 but you could flip it next month for the exact same price.

:eek: No....really can't stretch that far. €400 would be our max, but can understand the resell value would be worth it, but at the moment, the Concept 2 is beyond us.....but thanks!

calfmuscle

Get your son to play GAA to keep/improve his fitness and ball skills.

Lots of my teammates play GAA to improve their speed and skills in the summer.

(although this advice is probably more suited to a back or flanker)

Also get HIM (not you) to chat to the coach and explain how keen he is to make the team next year and ask for things to work on in the interim. This will ensure the coach is aware of him and how interested he is.

The great/awful thing about rugby is the high injury rates, you never know when someone will get injured and they may need to call your son up

Missyelliot2

calfmuscle wrote: »

Get your son to play GAA to keep/improve his fitness and ball skills.

Lots of my teammates play GAA to improve their speed and skills in the summer.

(although this advice is probably more suited to a back or flanker)

Also get HIM (not you) to chat to the coach and explain how keen he is to make the team next year and ask for things to work on in the interim. This will ensure the coach is aware of him and how interested he is.

The great/awful thing about rugby is the high injury rates, you never know when someone will get injured and they may need to call your son up

Thank you so, so much for post! Hate rugby (am just after finishing'engage' by matt hampton).

thanks a mil calfmuscle!love boards!

Alf Veedersane

calfmuscle wrote: »

Get your son to play GAA to keep/improve his fitness and ball skills.

Lots of my teammates play GAA to improve their speed and skills in the summer.

(although this advice is probably more suited to a back or flanker)

Also get HIM (not you) to chat to the coach and explain how keen he is to make the team next year and ask for things to work on in the interim. This will ensure the coach is aware of him and how interested he is.

The great/awful thing about rugby is the high injury rates, you never know when someone will get injured and they may need to call your son up

Actually, ^^^ this. Better off getting involved in another sport until September rather than buying a piece of kit he may never use.

And a skipping rope for yourself

WrigleysExtra

Buy him a gym membership

Big_G

Height, weight, position?

liliq

Could he ask to train with the squad even for one session a week even though he's not on it?
My brother did that occasionally.

Missyelliot2

liliq wrote: »

Could he ask to train with the squad even for one session a week even though he's not on it?
My brother did that occasionally.

They're not allowed - if he could, it would be problem solved.

Missyelliot2

Big_G wrote: »

Height, weight, position?

He's about 5'7" and 67kg. He plays as hooker - so his size is a problem.

Burkatron

Missyelliot2 wrote: »

He's about 5'7" and 67kg. He plays as hooker - so his size is a problem.

If size is his problem getting him into (proper) weights & nutrition at 16 will get him huge results! A good gym/S&C facility should be able to help with that!

Other sports he could get into that would be useful would be a grappling based sport like catch wrestling,BJJ or Judo, the develop great explosive strength & balance which would help transfer to the pitch (plenty of teams use grappling for this)

Alf Veedersane

Missyelliot2 wrote: »

He's about 5'7" and 67kg. He plays as hooker - so his size is a problem.

Out of interest, have you read the stickies on nutrition? They're basically a go-to guide for what's what in terms of nutrition. First port of call is to get the nutrition side right then factor in any physical training.

liliq

Missyelliot2 wrote: »

They're not allowed - if he could, it would be problem solved.

That's a pity

Big_G

Where are you located? Some suggestions that have helped me in the past -

1 There is no substitute for a coach in life. Coaching in rugby takes two forms, strength and conditioning (size, strength, speed) and rugby skills (tactics, strategy, tackling and hand and foot skills, etc) I can recommend a good coach in North Dublin. If not, approach the nearest rugby club with a good underage setup.

2. Game time and playing experience are important. See above about club rugby. If the school doesn't want him, get him to a club.

3. If he's serious about rugby he needs to aim to be 87kg by the time he's 18 or he needs to consider a position change. Some hookers are in the 90s-100s by the time senior rugby comes around. With this in mind, diet and strength and conditioning are crucial. Eat, lift weights, sleep. See note 1 also.

4. Sometimes it's easy to forget that rugby is about having fun. Help him to set realistic goals, putting 20kgs on in two years is not impossible just difficult. If this starts to detract from the fun of the game then what's the point?

I hope this post has been helpful

Missyelliot2

Big_G wrote: »

Where are you located? Some suggestions that have helped me in the past -

1 There is no substitute for a coach in life. Coaching in rugby takes two forms, strength and conditioning (size, strength, speed) and rugby skills (tactics, strategy, tackling and hand and foot skills, etc) I can recommend a good coach in North Dublin. If not, approach the nearest rugby club with a good underage setup.

2. Game time and playing experience are important. See above about club rugby. If the school doesn't want him, get him to a club.

3. If he's serious about rugby he needs to aim to be 87kg by the time he's 18 or he needs to consider a position change. Some hookers are in the 90s-100s by the time senior rugby comes around. With this in mind, diet and strength and conditioning are crucial. Eat, lift weights, sleep. See note 1 also.

4. Sometimes it's easy to forget that rugby is about having fun. Help him to set realistic goals, putting 20kgs on in two years is not impossible just difficult. If this starts to detract from the fun of the game then what's the point?

I hope this post has been helpful

Very helpful! Thank you- I will show it to him tomorrow. I think he's disappointed he didn't make the squad, and knows that his size (not heart!) is one of the major factors.
You are so right about rugby being fun, but honestly, schools are so focused on the result, the fun part gets pushed aside.
I do think he'll never 'bulk up' as much as some of his friends... But as long as he doesn't lose motivation and stop sports, I'll be very happy.

Thanks again for taking the time to write- very kind of you.