Managing the national lockdown by sharing parental duties at home with his wife, coaching online and getting enough daily exercise is becoming routine for Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick.
Stick shared a social media video which gave Bok fans some insight on what his current daily life looks like during the national period of isolation, which includes preparing baby formula for his three-month-old toddler.
The Bok assistant coach ends off the video by showing how he keeps fit at home. Stick is a former Springbok Sevens captain and was a key member of the Blitzbok team that won South Africa’s first World Rugby Sevens Series title in the 2008/09 season.
According to Stick, he and his fellow Springbok coaches are in regular online contact with each other as they continue with their planning meetings and analysis for the international season.
“Online technology such as Microsoft Teams have made it so easy for us to be connected with each other, even though we are not able to be physically together at work or in a meeting room,” said Stick.
“By using other tech tools, we also share action clips for analysis and we have regular discussions amongst the group of Bok coaches.
“Our normal lives have been disrupted because of the pandemic and we have to find creative ways to continue with our work. Thanks to the many available tools and platforms that we have at our disposal, we are able to do that.”
It was his turn on Monday to present a webinar to a large group of schools coaches as part of a series of SA Rugby online coaching seminars. The topic of his presentation was aerial skills and counter-attack.
“It is a great initiative by SA Rugby and I think virtual coaching is a brilliant way to share our coaching expertise with a large pool of schools coaches who are scattered all across the country,” said Stick.
Over the course of the next three weeks, Rassie Erasmus (Director of Rugby), Jacques Nienaber (Springbok coach), Neil Powell (Blitzbok coach) and other national team coaches are taking take turns to present their area of expertise with the group of schools coaches.
Stick also added his voice to Government’s call to all South Africans to observe the countrywide lockdown.
“Following the Government’s rules and guidelines is very important in the country’s effort to fight the spread of the deadly Coronavirus,” he said.
“I want to urge all South Africans to stay at home and help to flatten the curve. Last year, during the Springboks’ successful Rugby World Cup campaign in Japan, we saw what we as South Africans can do when we stand together. Now, more than ever is such a time!”
In partnership with ANA and Sports Leo
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