Following on from Ulster Rugby's Volunteers' Week celebrations, we will be continuing to profile some of the outstanding rugby volunteers and highlight the tremendous work carried out by them.
In this week’s profile we will focus on Simon Foster, lead coach for Ballyshannon RFC U12 and U18 teams.
Having moved to Ballyshannon from England where he played rugby himself, in 2010 Simon was encouraged by the then Ballyshannon U8 coach to help out with the team his son was training with. Simon would go on to coach the U8 team for 4 years, before taking on the role of lead coach with the U12 then U18 club teams.
As lead coach for two different age groups, Simon is responsible for ensuring the players are exposed to the appropriate coaching for their own age:
“At Under 12 level I teach the young players how to develop their skills into the games they play, and we also practice the more advanced elements of the game.
“At Under 18 level, I encourage the players to work out their own tactics during a game, reading and understanding the way a game develops and responding in the most appropriate way. I also coach them in new tactics and routines of play, as well as fitness training and general conditioning.”
Like many of our club coaches, Simon cites watching the progression of young players as his greatest enjoyment from volunteering:
“I enjoy encouraging children and young adults to participate in an all-encompassing sport, that suits all abilities and sizes, and seeing the development that takes place over a period of time. I particularly enjoyed seeing my son joining our U12 team and noticing the progression he had made since I last coached him at U8 level.
“I also gain immense satisfaction from seeing my current U18 team demonstrating a huge level of commitment and camaraderie that is developing them personally and bonding them together as friends.”
If you would like to get involved in volunteering at your local club or would like to be featured in our Volunteer Focus series please contact Kerry Spence, Ulster Rugby Volunteer and Policy Development Officer on volunteer@ulsterrugby.com
In this week’s profile we will focus on Simon Foster, lead coach for Ballyshannon RFC U12 and U18 teams.
Having moved to Ballyshannon from England where he played rugby himself, in 2010 Simon was encouraged by the then Ballyshannon U8 coach to help out with the team his son was training with. Simon would go on to coach the U8 team for 4 years, before taking on the role of lead coach with the U12 then U18 club teams.
As lead coach for two different age groups, Simon is responsible for ensuring the players are exposed to the appropriate coaching for their own age:
“At Under 12 level I teach the young players how to develop their skills into the games they play, and we also practice the more advanced elements of the game.
“At Under 18 level, I encourage the players to work out their own tactics during a game, reading and understanding the way a game develops and responding in the most appropriate way. I also coach them in new tactics and routines of play, as well as fitness training and general conditioning.”
Like many of our club coaches, Simon cites watching the progression of young players as his greatest enjoyment from volunteering:
“I enjoy encouraging children and young adults to participate in an all-encompassing sport, that suits all abilities and sizes, and seeing the development that takes place over a period of time. I particularly enjoyed seeing my son joining our U12 team and noticing the progression he had made since I last coached him at U8 level.
“I also gain immense satisfaction from seeing my current U18 team demonstrating a huge level of commitment and camaraderie that is developing them personally and bonding them together as friends.”
If you would like to get involved in volunteering at your local club or would like to be featured in our Volunteer Focus series please contact Kerry Spence, Ulster Rugby Volunteer and Policy Development Officer on volunteer@ulsterrugby.com