Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am 40 years old and a father of two. I grew up playing gaelic football, but despite never having played myself I’ve been a lifelong rugby fanatic. I even called my only son Ruan, after the legendary Ruan Pienaar.
How did you get involved in volunteering in sport?
My son started rugby at Ballymoney in P1, after going to rugby tots for a couple of years. He takes a while to adjust to new situations and people, so I ended up on the pitch just to keep him settled. When Covid hit, only coaches were allowed on the pitch, so I got my qualifications.
What is your volunteering role within the club?
I’m the lead coach for the P5 group. I also coach our Blue Jays disability rugby group. I’m a member of the committee and run our minis club’s social media.
What does your role entail?
The primary responsibility for any coach first and foremost is child welfare, their parents entrust them to us for a few hours a week and we have to return them in the condition we found them! After that, I personally see my main responsibility as retaining and developing young players to keep them in the sport for as long as possible, hopefully developing into senior club players, or even beyond that.
What attracted you to the role?
I’ve always had an affinity with kids, probably because I’m a big kid myself. So, I just go out every session and have fun with them.
How long have you been volunteering in sports and has it always been in this role?
This is my 5th year at the club, and this has been my first experience with sports coaching.
Did you have any rugby experience before you started volunteering?
The height of my rugby experience before becoming a coach was a week’s summer scheme of Leprechaun rugby at Ballymoney club when I was 10 back in 1993.
Do you think it’s essential to have rugby experience to volunteer in your role or can anyone do it?
Absolutely not, I have several coaches in my year group all with varying levels of experience, from playing at school to still running out for the 4ths, alongside a couple of us who have no rugby experience. Every one of us brings something different to the team that all together works well.
Why did you decide to Volunteer in your club?
It was simply a way of keeping my son on the pitch as I knew he’d love it once he got settled. But since then, it’s become one of the highlights of my week that I’d love to keep involved with even after my son leaves mini rugby.
Have you gained any new skills through volunteering?
I learned how to pass a rugby ball! Being able to control 30 kids when they just want to run mad is something I never thought I’d be able to do. Also, it’s improved my organisation skills; as a coach you often have to juggle several different WhatsApp groups, making sure players are registered, making sure your coaches have their safeguarding completed, there is a lot to do!
Has volunteering improved your confidence?
My confidence has massively improved since I’ve started coaching. As a naturally shy person I have to push myself into new things, coaching has put me in situations that have really tested my confidence but it gets easier the longer I’m involved.
Has volunteering in sport led to any other opportunities either in sport or outside of sport?
I also coach disability rugby which I absolutely love, it’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever been involved with.
Has Volunteering in sport impacted positively on your life?
Absolutely, even at the bare minimum of running around in the fresh air on a Saturday morning, there is great benefits to your physical and mental health. Above that the friendships I’ve developed with the other coaches and volunteers has been amazing. Simply watching the kids in my group grow in confidence is great and seeing them smiling as they play is a real treat.
Have you had any volunteering highlights?
When the mother of a young boy with autism, who attends our Blue Jays group, told me that he’d written a list of his 5 favourite things and “Coach Kevin” was on it. To have made a connection like that was a huge highlight for me.