THURROCK RFC are very pleased to announce that one of their youth coaches has won the ‘QBE my coach competition’.
This is a national award and is only awarded to four people in the country. Dean Bennett who is the under 15’s coach at Thurrock RFC won the award for his efforts and time dedication to the club.
Dean was nominated by Dave Graham and Chris Sullivan at the club for his unbelievable commitment and drive to succeed.
His, and his reflected, "Enthusiasm" has helped gel his team, coaches, parents and administrators into a unit which will achieve.
Like so many Youth Coaches he came into that side of the game because of his son, a boy who, by merit, is now included within Thurrock Rugby Football Club Youth Academy, a group comprising of any invited boy between the age of 13 and 17 years of age.
At the start of season 2013 / 14 Dean, for no reason of his own making, found himself with a core of 8 – 10 players and a commitment to Essex Youth League rugby. He ran a good pre-season regime whilst also watching and listening to other coaches to widen his own knowledge, a trait he fully utilised constantly.
Why re-invent the wheel? He completed requisite training modules but was still having no greater attendance at his twice weekly sessions. Â
As the season kicked off Dean realised he would be unable to fulfil his League responsibilities so appropriate authorities were informed. This left him with two thirds of a team to play any developmental fixtures his administrator could arrange.
They managed one meaningful game all season!! A lesser coach would perhaps have retired to ‘pipe and slippers’ but the ex-Royal Engineer went from "failure to failure" maintaining the respect of his core of players and adding, gradually, to it by press adverts; word of mouth; coercion or any other tool which worked.
By the start of season 2014 / 15 he and his team had doubled his squad numbers for TRFC U15 Youth!! They’re – entered the League in the lowest Division. At the time of this submission they lie second in their Division and considering all permutations could finish anywhere in the top three by close of season.
As part of their QBE Coaching Club programme, QBE Insurance will provide Dean with a free place on an RFU Level 2 coaching course for him to further his coaching skills. Dean and his team will also receive a visit from a legendary rugby personality to Thurrock rugby club who will take a coaching session alongside Dean at the club.
