Finding the Balance
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ACHIEVINGG SUCCESSSUCCESS ON AND OFFF TTHEHE FIELFIELDD CONTENTS FINDING THE BALANCE NRL and NSWRL Welfare and Education programs are designed to help our players, administrators and officials FOREWORDS 4 grow and develop their potential in every aspect of their lives. We want players and officials to be proud of the game they play and love, but also balanced in their approach to life. NRL & NSWRL PROGRAMS 6 There are myriad challenges we face in sport and, no matter how successful our on-field careers, there are setbacks off it JUNIORS too. This street directory-style guide, with tabbed navigation 13 specific to each type of person in our game, will help players as well as officials, administrators and parents deal with SENIORS 19 those challenges as well as embrace all of the opportunities our game presents. NRL and NSWRL Welfare and In short, what we want for the young men and women who PARENTS 27 Education programs span enter our program is what any good parent, guardian or “ teacher wants for the young people in their charge. We want through every stage of the elite COACHES/TRAINERS 33 all in the rugby league family to achieve success on the field pathway, delivering programs as well as off it. and services that assist players I sincerely hope this guide helps you and/or your family OFFICIALS 39 members – whether you’re a player, official, administrator and officials at the start of their or parent – fulfil your potential and overcome the many ADMINISTRATORS 45 careers through to retirement obstacles that life throws in the way… and achieve great and beyond. things in footy and in your interests outside the game. This publication is proudly Paul Heptonstall Paul Heptonstall CONTACTS 51 supported by the NRL ” NRL Welfare and Education Manager NSWRL | 2 NSWRL | 3 DAVID TRODDEN DR GEORGE PEPONIS, OAM CHIEF EXECUTIVE, NSWRL CHAIRMAN, NSWRL THERE’s nothing I enjoy WELCOME to the elite more than seeing a player, competitions of rugby no matter how successful he league. If you are prepared or she was on the field, fulfil to work hard both on and off their potential off it. As a the field you’ll be amazed at sport, we are blessed with just how many doors rugby an outstanding product – and, while they don’t receive league can open for you. I speak from firsthand anywhere near as much publicity, our off-field knowledge. A proud Canterbury junior, I had the privilege endeavours are just as brilliant. of captaining my club and Australia as I juggled a rugby league career with my medical studies. No matter where an aspiring player is in their career, the combined resources of the NRL and the NSWRL are None of which would have been possible without the there to help. Through our Welfare and Education support of my teammates, coaches and the entire program, players taking part in NSWRL-run Canterbury club. competitions and those a part of NSWRL-affiliated sides have access to support, assistance and guidance. Having come through the juniors I was graded in 1972 and made first grade two years later. After representing There are many hurdles players need to overcome in New South Wales (1976-80) I debuted for Australia in their careers and in life and our programs are designed 1978, going on to captain my country five times. to help negotiate them all. Obstacles encountered by our players are just like those encountered by everyday It was fantastic to achieve my goals on the football field members of the community – relationship issues, career but equally important to me were my educational challenges, mental health concerns, financial worries, ambitions and luckily the club could not have been more gambling, alcohol and drug abuse to name a few. Our supportive as I studied to become a doctor. Awarded an programs are designed to educate players to assist them educational scholarship by Canterbury, I was fortunate to make the right decisions, ultimately using rugby league that I didn’t have to have a job as I studied and played as a vehicle for change. rugby league. I hope you find our Welfare Blueprint a valuable tool in I could not have done it without Canterbury and in my making the right decisions in life – whether you’re a role as New South Wales Rugby League Chairman I’m player or one of our valued off-field team members as a delighted to say I know all our clubs aim to support your coach/trainer, official, administrator or parent. development as people as much as they do your development as rugby league players. If you are willing to show the same dedication to your study and traineeships as you are already demonstrating towards your rugby league dreams then you can achieve anything. FOREWORDS NSWRL | 4 NSWRL | 5 PLAYWISE PROGRAM PREPARE PROFESSIONALLY IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE – AND THE PLAYWISE PROGRAM HELPS GIVE YOUNG PLAYERS AN IDEA OF JUST WHAT IS IN STORE OVER THE COMING YEARS. ALIGNED with the annual intake of rookies each cover letter for a job may make the difference between November, the PlayWise program delivers critical getting an interview and being just another application in professional and life skills necessary to help elite youth the pile. athletes and also identifies barriers to learning while complementing the career development and support The PlayWise program also covers what young players’ currently provided by the Education and Welfare teams responsibilities are when it comes to interacting with at each of the NRL clubs. others on social media. Once again, this may seem like a straightforward topic but recent history shows us just what Players learn about topics such as basic finance, payroll, can happen when these things are used inappropriately. resume writing, job-seeking skills, contracts, codes of conduct, match statistics and media. While a lot of this The PlayWise program is a valuable tool that will help you stuff may seem simple enough, it can often get lost in the in your day-to-day life as a footballer but also off the hustle and bustle of training and other day-to-day field too. commitments. Knowing how to write an appropriate CAREERWISE PROGRAM PLOT YOUR CAREER PATH THE CAREERWISE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO HELP PLAYERS MAKE SMART DECISIONS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY MAKE LIFE AFTER FOOTY A WHOLE LOT EASIER. THE best athletes in the world have a balanced Based on best practice in career development, the approach to their lives, and the CareerWise program has program is there as support through every age and stage. been designed so players can follow in their footsteps. The It aids in helping players make well-informed choices program has been designed to assist athletes not only on about their future careers. the field but also in every other aspect of their lives too. The CareerWise program also helps pave the way for the Football careers don’t last forever so players should put future by helping players engage in work, study, work the appropriate building blocks in place to ensure they experience, volunteering and networking, all of which will have something to fall back on to when it is time to hang assist in making a smooth transition from being a up the boots. professional athlete to a post-football career. I played my Every NRL club has a qualified career coach whose job it Players who have already experienced CareerWise are best“ footy when is to deliver the CareerWise program and help players unanimous in their praise for the help it has given them plan for life after sport. The program is delivered to and the tools it has provided for them moving forward. I was working or players of all ages from elite juniors (U16s and U18s) to Be CareerWise – put as much time and effort into your VB NSW Cup playersplayers,, under-20sunder-20s and NRL players.players. career off the field as youyou do on it. studying off the field. Former Australian Kangaroo & ” 75 NRL Welfare & Education Manager, Andrew Ryan TheThe number ofof games played, on average, by a professionalprofession during his NRL career. Be smart and pplan for life post-footy, too! NRL & NSWRL PROGRAMS NSWRL | 6 NSWRL | 7 JUNIORS STATS AMAZING FACTS AND FIGURES FROM NSWRL-RUN COMPETITIONS 977 JUNIORS Players competing in NSWRL open-age competitions – VB NSW Cup, Ron Massey Cup and Sydney Shield. 44 Percentage of players from the 2014 VB NSW Cup who have competed in the NRL. 21 Most common age of players in the VB NSW Cup – 100 NSW Cup players turned 21 in 2014. 10 AverageAverage appearancesappearances each season by VB NSW Cup players.players. 37 PercentagePercentage of players in the Ron MasseyMassey Cup who also playedplayed in the Sydney Shield. 527 NumberNumberr ofof playersplayers who competedcompeted inin thtthee Ron MasseyMassey Cup inin 2014.22014. 51 PlayersPlayers who competed in thethe VB NSW Cup in 2014 who also made their NRL debutsdebuts.. NSWRL | 12 NSWRL | 13 JUNIORS JUNIORS JUNIORS IT ALL STARTS HERE THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE IN YOUR YOUNGER YEARS AFFECT YOU FOR THE EXPERT ADVICE REST OF YOUR LIFE – MAKE SURE Small changes can make a big impact to your health, energy levels and mood. Aim to: YOU’RE MAKING THE RIGHT ONES! • Cut back on sugary drinks • Keep a fruit bowl stocked at home for fast and LIFESTYLE choices you make in your life now will have a low-calorie snacks huge influence on your career and personal life – and your • Eat breakfast every day likelihood of achieving success both on and off the field.