Hello Everyone, Girls, Boys, Mums, Dads, Grandparents, supporters, members of the Rover community.
I planned last week to write to you all this week to celebrate this week’s Round 1 start to the 2020 season. I feel it is necessary to write to you all to offer some hope in these times of uncertainty.
I would like to commend the Rover Community, our Coaches, Team Managers, and our Committee lead by Rohan Barwell – his lead under the Covid circumstance has been first rate. Every member of the committee has worked tirelessly, Alisdair Smyth has worked beyond anything I have witnessed in 25 years of being on club committees at three different clubs, his attention to detail has been brilliant. Kate Robb, Gav Sharp and Lara Tascone have all been a voice of reason, Emma Nicholl outstanding managing our 5 girls teams and older age girls playing in Zebs teams, all positive action, their efforts have NOT been in vain.
Four years ago we set out with a set of values we wanted our club to live; we are a highly respected club that live the values of PASSION TEAMWORK FUN & RESPECT. It has been my pleasure to help drive these values. If I was to add another value to our mantra the word I would chose is RESILIENCE. A young man I know well was asked what his understanding of what the word meant last week, he was also asked to give two examples how it affected him and others. His answer was fulfilling, I sat and listened acknowledging his calm approach, he described that although Covid-19 had brought uncertainty, it was a good time for reflection, to understand yourself and the environment a little better, micro manage your life a little deeper.
As parents we need to empower our children with knowledge, guidance, empathy, judgement and of course love. We can over micromanage them; I see plenty of SMJFL players, boys and girls not just Rover players that I know and it strikes me how well the children are travelling. Each child seems resilient, healthy, understanding – they show a calm layer better than us parents. We want football I think at times more for us as parents as it’s the light of normality that we crave. Our children are smarter than we give them credit. Sure, some will have a tear, lord knows I almost did yesterday but the sun came up today, Kai my 14 year old looked at me and said, “it’s ok dad, footy will be back and you will laugh when it is” this made me smile straight away.
I feel for the young coaching group we have at U15-16 level. Five senior players in their early twenties, the VAFA season had been cancelled so the focus soon shifted to their teams and coaching commitments, their constant approach of wanting to improve with knowledge and delivery is first class.
I sat and watched the U16 squad train on Tuesday night, with coach Ryan Fogarty playing a scratch match with his group and it was real warming. I know the U15 staff have a similar approach planned for Wednesday night.
Finally, the SMJFL staff are focused on getting our children on the park asap, they are committed to playing some games in weeks to come. I encourage everyone to remain resilient, look after yourselves, stay fit and get out for a kick when you can, be safe in the knowledge that when we can play the greatest game there is the Rovers Committee will be ready to go.
Love our Community.
Cheers Caggs
PASSION TEAMWORK FUN RESPECT & resilience
