- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Former Brumbies flyhalf Rod Kafer says the player-driven culture in the ACT should be mirrored by other Australian teams, not shunned.
Playing a game of contact sport in many ways is the same as going into battle in war, thankfully with a different end result. In the military, units are structured into groups with set hierarchies with specific roles play.
A chain of command is established, a battle plan devised, clear orders on the conduct of the battle given and the battle enacted, though there is no referee except for the Geneva Convention.
Each member undergoes basic training, which includes drills.
Learning to march and instinctively respond to orders in the process. This is not so much about parade ground performance but being conditioned to respond to orders without question – millions of dollars are spent on officers to train them to make decisions in the heat of battle.
Debating tactics when there is hot lead flying around your ears is not encouraged.
Success will depend on the teamwork, the tactics and the camaraderie of the group. The battle is conducted with unit officers situated, in rugby terms, usually around the flyhalf position with radio communication back to a superior officer who is following the battle on his map often being able to watch live via helmet mounted cameras.
A game of contact sport is also structured into groups, with set hierarchies with specific roles play.
A chain of command is established, a game plan devised, clear orders on the conduct of how to play the game are given and the game enacted, there is the variable of a referee.
Each player has undergone basic training, which includes drills.
Learning to play and instinctively respond in pressure situations in the process. Coaches have extensive training/experience that also helps them to make the right decisions in the heat of battle.
Debating tactics in course of a game is not encouraged. Success will depend on the teamwork, the tactics and the camaraderie of the group.
In the military leaders often provide a level of inspiration that will see their men follow them to their deaths. There have been many lauded Australian military heroes, such as Weary Dunlop, Sir Roden Cutler and Sir John Monash.
In contact sports the most successful Australian coaches have not only possessed the technical expertise but also people management skills, such as Rick Charlesworth, Wayne Bennett and Rod McQueen.
Regardless, successful leaders are able to inspire their charges to greater things and make it their business to ensure that all in the team are heading in the same direction. Clear lines of communication are established and maintained where valued team members have an opportunity to be heard and in the process all are empowered.
What is never accepted in the military are those that would seek to usurp or promote their agenda at the expense of others. In sport it should be no different but it does take strong people management skills.
Andy Friend called a meeting of the players after the Rebels match to provide them with the opportunity to voice their grievances. Nothing was said.
Sorry Rod Kafer, the sacking of Friend is player power at its most insidious. I is a model not to be mirrored by anyone.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.