TALKING ABOUT THE COACHES – Submitted by RC Communications

from Rugby Canada:

The players from Canada’s National Senior Women’s team have a lot to say of their two coaches.

John Tait, Head Coach of the women’s 15s and 7s teams, and Assistant Coach Sandro Fiorino, have earned the utmost respect from their players since the two men teamed up last summer. Together with the team, they have established a strong reputation for Canadian Women’s rugby worldwide and a highlight reel of strong performances in both versions of the game.

The players’ respect and admiration for their coaches was magnified last month after 7s and 15s star, Julianne Zussman, took to the Senior Women’s Facebook page praising the duo in a brief but heart-warming post.

“John Tait and Sandro Fiorino, head and assistant coach of the Canadian Women’s Rugby 7s and 15s programs have together produced the most prolific international results in Canadian Women’s 7’s history,” Zussman said.

“Over the past two years they have notably been at the helm of consistent top 3 tournament finishes, and have recruited an exceptional pool of talented athletes; and you can bet that the pressure will continue to grow exponentially as Rio 2016 approaches.”

The post continued with a brief analysis of John Tait, identifying him as a strong leader and a straight shooter who is not afraid to reinforce his advice and criticisms with a sharp sense of humor.
What really makes Tait the outstanding coach that he is, however, is his ability to run practices and develop skills in effective yet creative ways that really stick with the senior women.

“There are many qualities that make John a great head coach, and it is hard to pin-point just one,” Zussman continued. “To emphasize the importance of looking before you pass, he outfitted us in eye patches to eliminate our peripheral vision. He then encouraged us to purchase life preserver rings to wear around our hips when passing so we wouldn’t drop our hands, forcing us to follow through toward the target. We think he gets these ideas from his kids, but we don’t judge where inspiration strikes.”

Sandro Fiorino’s has somewhat of a different reputation, but his contributions are just as valuable for the team’s success. As the article reads, Fiorino is described as a calm, collected analyst with keen eye and unwavering memory.

“As for Sandro, his greatest asset is game analysis. He is blessed with superhuman observational skills and he is always watching, even when he is not. He remembers plays I made as a 14-year-old high school kid, and chances are that if he’s ever seen you play, he has stats and highlights of you too.”

Although Sandro’s disposition is subdued, he is one of our biggest fans. He is hugely invested in our team’s success, and he’s become a pro at cutting highlights and pairing our best moves with our favourite songs to pump us up for competitions.”

Training under Fiorino and Tait is not all fun and games. The coaches do whatever is necessary to unlock the team’s full potential. Harsh criticism, tough decisions and roster selection are all realities any rugby team has to face and this side is no exception. The success the women derived from the coaches took hard work and a lengthy learning curve to manifest.

There are no secrets between the coaching staff and the players, however. Tait and Fiorino waste little time in telling the women where they stand and what needs improvement.

“The truth is, that it has taken some time to adjust to the way the coaches operate, and although they need a little prodding sometimes, the bottom line is, if you want feedback on your rugby then all you need to do is ask.”

The positive energy and solidarity of the women’s team is a testament to the strong development the squad has undergone since Fiorino and Tait took over. Rugby Canada is confident in the chemistry of the women and the success of the side will continue to grow in the future.

To read the Julianne Zussman’s full post, visit the National Senior Women’s Facebook page at: