Pre-Season at Chiswick

We have now survived the first month of pre-season training at Chiswick. The team building day which kicked it off at the start of July seems a long time ago, and the activities throughout July have served to create a good base on which to build.

The first three weeks involved predominantly athletic work initially concentrating on aerobic ability, then graduating to some speed/endurance work. Through techniques adopted from the SAQ Workshop, SAQ has been incorporated to improve player movement, and enhance speed and agility.

Rugby balls have made a restricted appearance in this early part of the pre-season, partly to ensure skills are sharpened, and partly to avoid boredom through over-reliance. Indeed, the only balls used in the early training period have been tiny examples, which look like specimens found in the RFU souvenir shop!

We are now entering the phase where rugby comes more to the fore. We have established a base of fitness, now we need to nurture ability. Following the development of technique into ability, and through applying pressure, producing skill we are moulding the necessary components required to create good rugby players.

At Chiswick we have adopted a squad approach to the game. There is no division between first and second team, each attendee is a rugby player and his skills will be developed in line with all others. Currently, we are addressing general skills which all players need, so there is not even a split between backs and forwards, such specialism will come closer to the time when we start playing games.

Through the month of July, training has taken place at 7:30 on Tuesday and Thursday. Starting from 5th August, we will be training on Saturday morning as well, commencing at 10 am. August is where we ramp up the activity, and develop skills to prepare us for the start of season in September.