WORTH THE WORK
Junior players make volunteering worthwhile
RUGBY LEAGUE: Sports volunteer work is always demanding, but it’s especially demanding right now.
Extra duties and responsibilities bought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have only added to already high workloads.
Junior players like Cooper James make it all worthwhile.
The Brothers under-8 junior is the type of young player every coach and club wants.
An keen listener and team player, Cooper dreams of becoming a talented five-eighth like his older brother Callum and his favourite NRL player Kurt Mann.
“My brother plays football and I thought it looked fun so I wanted to play,” Cooper said.
“We play in the backyard together a lot, tackling each other and trying lots of other stuff.
“I like everything. “Defending, tackling, running the ball up, scoring tries, playing with my team.
“It’s all fun.”
As well as accepting some brotherly advice, Cooper also listens to and applies the knowledge handed down by his coach Paul Bishop.
“It’s important to listen to your coach and do the right thing,” Cooper said.
“He tells us to stay away from the sideline when we’re running and always have two hands on the ball and tuck it in.
“We have to make sure we try to run back in defence as well.”
Back for another stint as a junior coach, Paul Bishop said it’s hard but satisfying work.
“It’s a lot more work for everyone at the moment,” he said.
“All the extra work because of the COVID situation means all the volunteers are putting in some pretty big days.
“It’s not easy for the clubs either, but you have to give them (volunteers and clubs) and the Toowoomba Junior Rugby League a lot of credit.
“All the hard work that’s gone in is so the kids can enjoy a game of footy every weekend.
“When they’re having fun it
makes it worthwhile.”
As coach Bishop said he likes to keep things simple.
“We try to mix things up at training,” he said.
“Keep short, sharp and simple so we keep their attention.
“We don’t ask for much either.
“Ideally what we want is for them to listen and pay attention and put the effort in at training and in the games.
“The only other things we want is for them to have fun and to improve as the season goes on.”
■ This year The Chronicle is keen to shine a spotlight on more of the personalities involved in local sport. If you know a great volunteer, coach, official or player who deserves a little recognition nominate them today.
Email your nomination to jason.gibbs@thechronicle.com.au or message The Chronicle Sport Facebook page.