RANDPARK RIDGE – A special Rugby Ball Skills training clinic was held at Rand Park High School as part of a Nashua-sponsored programme on 2 February.
The aim of this programme, run by the ShadowBall Academy, is to improve rugby ball skills significantly, particularly passing and catching. The programme is offered under the guidance of rugby professionals and uses a uniquely designed, flat-sided ball (shadow ball), which allows the players to practice independently.
Each player can throw the ball against a hard surface such as a wall or the floor and catch it on their own, without a field or team. By increasing the frequency of practice, ball skills improve and more importantly, accuracy.
Rand Park High School’s U14 rugby players were invited to participate in Thursday’s session, and they were joined by players from Allen Glen High School. Gcobani Bobo, a well-known former South African rugby player and ShadowBall Academy ambassador, joined the boys and assisted with the coaching and ball skills sessions. “The programme is just one way we can transfer values and share insights about the discipline required to become a pro, as well as boost skills by highlighting the most important parts of the game – passing and catching,” said Bobo.
Director of sports at Allen Glen, Hennie van Vuuren said, “It was very well organised; it was great to see the boys wanting to take the ball home and learn more; it bodes well to the upliftment of the sport.” He added, “I have been coaching for 28 years and even I learned a thing or two.”
Reynier Coertzen, dean of sport and deputy principal of Rand Park High said,”We were very pleased to offer this programme to our U14 rugby players and appreciate Nashua’s involvement. The session aligned well with our pre-season rugby training for junior players and the boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves.”
For more on schools sports, like our Facebook page Randburg Sun or tweet us @Randburg_Sun
