The Catholic Weekly 13 November 2022

SPORT “YOU SEE this finger here. I put this finger back in place on the footy field. It was facing the wrong way, so I cracked it and played on.” The finger belongs to aman who is often described as leg- endary in the sporting com- munity, who played first grade NRL for the Roosters, who was the backbone of strength and conditioning coaching in Rugby League and who has 40-odd years of PE teaching under his belt. Its owner is Bob Sheens. Over the years, concepts and practices in sport have evolved and changed but Bob hasn’t forgotten the old school values at the heart of thematter. When speaking on the sub- ject of safety in sport, particu- larly collision sports, Bob rem- inisced that before one of his Rugby League competitions “there would be thousands of kids at the park and they would weigh you on a machine. You were stamped ‘4 stone 7’ or ‘5 stone 7’ and then play against those in the same weight divi- sion.” The idea of bringing weight- for-age and ability groups back into sport is an interesting one, considering the diverse range of physicality and developmental speeds in the young. By reintroducing this grouping into collision and ¾ Tasmyn Haynes SCHOOL SPORTS extreme-contact sports, Bob suggested it could be a safer ap- proach and allow for the proper skills to be taught instead of the perceived ‘coddling’ of kids. “We used to teach kids at school to throw the javelin, throw the shotput, but now they’ve taken those away. You get to the point where youwater down the experience so much that it doesn’t become an expe- rience anymore” he said. “We need to teach them the techniques needed to avoid injury, to exceed at sport, and become a holistic, well rounded person.” The eudaemonic approach Bob favours describes life as not just about pleasure and happi- ness but developing one’s-self, being autonomous and striving to reach one’s potential. “Team sports are better at this because not only do you have personal goals, but so do your teammates and your club. In an individual sport such as tennis there is no-one else to worry about.There are different levels of achievement and satis- faction” he said. He also weighed in on the ‘everyone’s a winner’ debate. Although there are many ar- guments supporting the abun- dance of participation trophies being handed out, he shed light on an alternative view. “My son got 97 awards in his first year of high school and he knew that 90 of them weren’t even worth anything,” he said. “A kid knows, they’re not sil- ly, they know if they’ve earned it and deserve it. “A kid that doesn’t get one says ‘I’m going to try harder’ and builds their character and resilience from that. They’re go- ing to strive harder and become a better player and a better per- son” said Bob. After dedicating so much of his life to Rugby League, it wasn’t surprising that he had some comments on the way the game is played today. Yet, the innovative ideas Bob he proposed would surprise many. “The game has changed to suit power and because it’s power you have more impact,” he said. “When you’re tackling, you really exert a lot of energy, so then when you get the ball you’re less effective ... I’d love to see a rule brought in where A sporting icon reminisces on what was in Rugby League - and imagines what might possibly be if you score you then kick off, so that the team that has been tackling all that time get the ball and a chance of possession. “If you share the posses- sion and limit the interchanges NRL will become more aerobic. You make it more aerobic you change the type of athlete you need and the training required so it’s not completely power ori- entated.” Bob has been impressed by the rise of women’s sport . “The girls are competing and getting better and better,” he said, noting that he remem- bered a time when gender dic- tated which game someone could participate in. “I went towatchmywife play netball and was cheering from the sidelines. I got asked not to cheer so loud,” he said. “When we walked into the netball meeting after the game, the whole room was filled with women and I was asked to leave” he laughed. What Bob said next could potentially change the world of AFL IS a game of immense fit- ness, fight and finesse so it’s only natural that it attracts students from all over Syd- ney itching for the chance to become talented athletes. The Sydney Catholic Schools Students trial for an AFL future ¾ Tasmyn Haynes Primary AFL Trials were the first stop for eager students on their journey to the School Sport Australia Champion- ships. The convener of the Fairness was at the forefront of the day as every child was given the opportunity to play in each zone, back, mid- field and forward.” combined Conference 3 and 4 Trials, Steven Nabaki, or- ganised a round-robin style of play for selection. Fairness was at the fore- front with every student giv- en the opportunity to play in each zone: back, midfield and forward. Selectors had impressive pedigrees, starting with none other than SCS convener Ste- ven. Not only does he cur- rently play in the St George Dragons Premiere Division but he has also coached Syd- ney South Division 1 teams. Students were lucky enough to meet Bella Smith, who is currently playing for the Syd- ney Swans in the AFLW. Bella, along with other rep- resentatives from AFL NSW, chose 20 athletes to continue their journey to the Sydney AFL Trials. The continued appear- ance of sporting profession- als at SCS trials and events, partnering aspiring athletes with heroes in their sport, is undoubtedly helping to keep students’ dreams for their fu- ture alive and kicking. AFL SELECTIONS Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) Primary AFL Trials. Round-Robin Style. sport and be a step towards to integration and unification of men and women. “I said to my brother - he’s the Tigers coach - that there’s a really good female Tigers wing- er. I joked that maybe he could play her in his team one day, be the first coach to promote a woman to the NRL side. If the rules allowed to interchange the kicker, put her on because she kicks awesome goals. “I can see down the track, you could have a female inter- changewhere she kicks the goal and comes off or something to that effect.” Bob attempted to retire, but it didn’t stick. The call from the sporting world was too loud. He is currently working as a teacher for Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) and helps out at various events, gala days, and carnivals. “It’s a hard thing to pinpoint where sport should head but I think SCS has it right at the mo- ment” he said. When Bob Sheens’ experi- ence and expertise is combined with new world open-mind- edness the result is an exciting direction and opportunity of growth for sport. “People see old things as be- ing outdated - but I think it’s a traditional thing,” he said. Bob Sheens in ‘retirement’ and as a member, above right, of the 1979 Roosters. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED Tim and Bob before their first day of boarding school at St Gregory’s Campbelltown 1967. PHOTO: SUPPLIED When ‘old school’ turns out to be ahead of the game