This is the first of several spotlights that is being done by YSC so that we can gain a bit more insight into each teams respective coaching staff. Also there will be player spotlights coming as well from each team! Read below for a bit more insight into the coaching staff of Keystone Rugby!
YSC: What team in the WPL do you coach and how long have you been coaching them?
Keystone: The coaches for Keystone are Peter Steinberg, Peter Baggetta and Chris Ryan. Total coaching experience is greater than 50 years (I started very young!).
YSC: What year was your club established and who established it?
Keystone: Club was founded 7 years ago by local players looking for a competitive environment to play rugby.
YSC: Is there a specific style of play that your trying to instill in your team?
Keystone: We are looking to play a flexible style, but it will be based on playing a fast paced game.
YSC: As a coach do you have a specific area of expertise (ie: forwards, backs, kicking, scrumhalves etc.)?
Keystone: The responsibilities will split this way Peter Steinberg (Attack/Lineouts), Peter Baggetta (Defense/Scrums), Chris Ryan (Skill development/Back attack)
YSC: What are you doing as a coach to involve your local community in the newly formed WPL?
Keystone: We have a good relationship with our local community that provide us the fields and we hope to offer summer youth camps next year. This year we plan to hold skill clinics for the local community. We already held a kicking clinic with a professional coach from Australia.
YSC: What are your expectations for the WPL?
Keystone: We don’t really have any. This is a trial year for us and what happens this year will help us determine whether we want to continue in the future.
YSC: What specific preparations, training camps etc, will your team be participating in to prepare for their upcoming WPL games?
Keystone: The games start too early for us to be well prepared for our games. We have had a one day training camp for the team, but the start of the season needs to be pushed back. We were heavily effected with the All-Star 7s tournament.
YSC: Throughout the season, how will you continue to keep your team on the top of their game?
Keystone: We will target games that we want to win and cycle towards them. This means cycling our training and our practice program with that in mind.
YSC: Where do you see the WPL in 5 years? 10?
Keystone: It will be interesting to see if it lasts beyond one year. Next year the World Cup players will probably not be playing, and the extensive travel that is required is already effecting players ability to commit. This will make it tough on the WPL teams to be able to get players of the quality that makes the WPL worthwhile.
YSC: If you could send a message to all of your alumni and fans, what would it say?
Keystone: Come watch us play!
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I don't understand "target games we want to win". Will there be games they aren't bothered about or won't try very hard in?
It's a shame that it comes across like they aren't too bothered whether the WPL is a success or not. More of a try it and see how it turns out attitude, rather than getting behind the initiative to take the game forward.
It might be honesty, but there's quite a bit of negativity in there and already identifying reasons it will fail.
Good teams work their season in cycles looking to peak at important games. The players always try to win every game, but coaches need to make sure the team plays its best when it is needed. You cannot actually play your best every game.
I think the concern is something that every feels. This change looks like the move that took the women's game to the fall – it was done for the Eagles short term and not for the good of the game as a whole.
I hate to burst the bubble but why would any of the NRU teams (or the Furies for that matter) care whether this league succeeds or fails? If it fails they still play in a highly competitive league. Plus if you're the furies you no longer have to to play Raleigh or Maryland, which leaves a much stronger Matrix (home and way series with the remaining teams?)
If it succeeds they might end up having to fly to face two of the following teams: ORSU, Amazons and or the Valkyries.
Without the pressure for eagles to commute to play for those teams, plus the fatigue on their native eagles, one never knows how strong they'll be next year. It's possible that that second trip to the Philadelphia or DC area could net a game of similar or better quality without the price tag.
On the other hand, you can count on New York and Beantown to be strong regardless…
…besides Sue Parker has show us the way, lets scrap TU play and move to city based 15s in the late spring time instead. That would be a true Super League.
I find K-Train's analysis posted above both short-sighted and self-serving. Sure, NRU rugby is strong and continues to thrive, but if you care at all about the overall success and development of rugby nation-wide, then the continuation of this league matters.
Furthermore, were you involved in discussions that indicated NRU teams would be travelling to play in regular season matches beyond the Eastern Sea-Board? No, because there weren't any. There are two regular season conferences chosen by geography for a reason…$$$$$. The NY/Bean/Key/DC conference has relatively light travel expect for the final taking place in SF this year. Conversely, Berk/ORSU/Valks/Ama are buying 3 or 4 plane tickets to make their season work…and they're all ok with this because it's NO DIFFERENT than regular and post season expenses last year as part of the Senior Women's D1.
In a nutshell: It's voices like K-Train's in the NRU/MARFU that will allow WPL to fail. This is not just about you. This is about the growth and betterment of American Women's Rugby.
Imagine what we can inspire in past, current and future women ruggers if we supported a movement to improve the game on all levels throughout the US.
It's started with this blog, with the WPL…and we can't allow it to stop there.
Last year I had the unfortunate experience of watching Keystone play at the Sweet 16s. Don't get me wrong…The team was great, played good rugby and won the match. The unfortunate part was that I sat close enough to Keystone's bench to be in earshot of Pete Steinberg. I was appalled at the way he spoke (screamed?) at his players and how he treated the opposing players and coach. What a miserable human being. This article is on par with my first encounter with him…negative, inarticulate and narrow minded. There are so many truly excellent rugby coaches out there at all levels. Sadly, Pete doesn't even come close to being in their league.
Dear Anonymous,
Steinberg was not at the Sweet 16's last year…
I believe that person is speaking about when Sweet 16s were in Austin as I was a ball runner and overheard him as well…I was shocked.
I was even more shocked when I learned he was the Developmental 7s coach…
Dear Anonymous,
I've played for Pete Steinberg for many years and have NEVER heard him yell at any of his players in a manner that you might be suggesting. Good try to deface someone you obviously don't remember well enough to speak of, but hands down, he's one of the most professional coaches I've come across. I was in Austin that year as well – and seem to remember him standing on the scoreboard overlooking the pitch – not on the sidelines. If he was yelling, it is b/c its hard to speak quietly to your players on the field to tell give them a coaching point.
Get a life.
(I apologize for the post so much later, I just saw this)