Metropolitan New York
Rugby Football Union Est. 1967
"Come Play the Game"

Pictured from Left to Right: Colin Kiley, Peter Keeler, Bruce Mclane, Jared Pedowitz, Paul Silverman, and Mark Griffin

Sometimes expertise is a phone call away. Collegiate players seeking front row help contacted Paul Silverman. Silverman, a long time Met senior player with Old Blue, helped link collegiate players to the senior select side this past fall up in Danbury at the Northeast trials. On relatively short notice, Silverman initiated and brought home a Front Row Clinic on the Fordham University campus. Silverman commissioned Bruce Mclane, current coach of NYAC (Super League National Champions). Mclane also has coached the Met Senior All-star squad for over a decade and was the assistant coach on the Northeast squad for two terms. Mark Griffin (USA Eagle hooker, Old Blue Super League player, Founder and CEO of Play Rugby), and Paul Keeler (Coach of Old Blue, Met and NRU) teamed up to conduct several sessions at the inaugural clinic. Colin Kiley (Met/NRU) and Jared Pedowitz (Fordham) served as coordinators. Kiley said,” This has been a long time coming. We have some very good club players in our union. It has been a banner year nationally for the Northeast. We have Eagles and national champion players and coaches in our midst. Our goal always has been to establish a true program to link up senior clubs with collegiate players. If a collegiate team needs help or coaching, we have some expertise for you. It is a phone call away.” 

            Initially, Silverman expected an attendance of 40 with initial phone calls and emails he received. The numbers swelled to 120 male and female sleepy-eyed collegiate players escorted by their coaches. Refreshments were provided. It was clear that early morning travel, short notice, and the unexpected large turnout was irrelevant. This crowd was here for front row instruction. Nearly all Met collegiate sides were in attendance and there were several veteran referees with clipboards ready to go.

            In one classroom attendees were instructed by Griffin and Keeler in an active PowerPoint presentation covering Defensive Reorganization, Basic Scrum Technique and Ball Retention. Griffin and Keeler adlibbed each other and physically demonstrated many of the bullet point techniques. The student audience appeared to have a “tell me more demeanor” even after sitting for well over one hour. Printout’s of the session were available at the end of the presentation as this group rotated to session 2 conducted by Mclane.

            As Mclane’s first group exited his session the hallways buzzed with animated comments about Mclane’s presentation. As group two entered the room, and spotted Mclane, drenched in sweat, ready to go, anticipation was high. Mclane delivered. His session was hand’s on. He solicited volunteers and grabbed volunteers. No sleeping here.  This was just simplified learning, from the head and neck down, to the feet, instruction. Mclane was informative and entertaining, teaching everyone to have a “duck’s ass,” in posture before setting in.  A broom handle dowel put into place, (in arms behind the back) was used to achieve this posture.  He demonstrated knocking a muscular 250 pound props over with two fingers when he was not aligned properly. As the session progressed Mclane aligned an entire pack of “duck asses.” Mclane, ‘Griffin, and Keeler were surrounded by inquiring students as the clinic sessions were concluded.

            There appeared to be a nice balance between the two sessions. The three hours went by very quickly.  Ideally, the sessions would have moved to the outdoors after the classroom instruction, although it was very cold. A gymnasium would have been ideal.

Silverman said that the clinic could easily be improved to accommodate the interest and numbers. He said, “Not bad for two week’s notice.”

            It was clear this clinic is something to build on. The need for front row instruction was clear to the presenters. The interest and enthusiasm was evident from the follow-up emails.

The clinic will be improved in the following ways, based on feedback:

1. Presentation info from this clinic will be posted on the Met web site with permission of the instructors.
2. The clinic (or clinics) will be scheduled one year in advance.
3. Facility, conveniently located, will have classrooms, gymnasium, and or a field.
4.  Hosting will include classroom instruction, lunch break, hands-on.

Front Row Clinic Presentation

 

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Rugby Football Union, Inc.
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