@gardermoen
Meeting everyone at Gardermoen for an early start. Mats (M) is our manager for this trip, standing-in for K who couldn’t make it. Elain (E) will join us a bit later today.
Kl. tidlig
Day 2 – Amsterdam
Second day in Amsterdam. The challenge of the day was to survive without a manager, as Kirsten had to travel back home earlier.
We had two pool games, against the dukkies (netherland’s development team) and a german team.
The first game was the closest of the weekend – it finished on a frustrating draw, with a last minute converted try against us. We had to win the second game with a margin higher than 10 points to qualify for the semi finals. We secured that rather quickly with 4 tries in the first half, thanks to a very strong game, maybe our best of the weekend.
Moving on to the semi got the coaches worried, as we were entering injury time. We down-prioritized the semi, a bit frustratingly, but all our objectives for the weekend had been met, and we needed to look at European championship.
Best player award went to Karin, for the energy she played with during the tournament. She started rugby with NTNUi, when I was coaching the team. She is the only player in the team this year who has been in the national team with me before. Great to see how far she has come!
Day 1 – Amsterdam
We came to Amsterdam 7s to practice our game, get exposure to higher level, and get to know each others. Day 1 was perfect with 2 tough games (Belgium and Mo’s), which we lost, and one at our level, which we won. All the players got good playing time. Trude and I practiced our approach – coach 1 and coach A, each with a precise role to avoid stepping on each other’s feet during the day, and to maximize benefits of having two coaches.
On the evening, we had a classroom session with the team to reflect on two challenges we met during the day.
K, T and myself courageously went for an evening jog, to experience irl the flatness of the Netherland.
Here we go again – Amsterdam
Hair is a bit greyer, many new players, a few I know from over 6 years ago… Same mix of old and new with the staff, Kirsten managing again, Trude on my side coaching the players, and a new physio, Elain.
Ready for Amsterdam 7s, our first competition with the team this year.
Final touch – Bergen
Last training camp before the first competition with the team. We’re in Bergen (the blue sky and the shadows are photoshopped). We started the day with a nice message from our first supporter, Per Thorkildsen, the president of the Norwegian rugby federation. We practiced our passes, went through setup at kick-offs, scrums and line-outs, had a game run. After lunch, a tough fitness session ran my Mats, our new assistant manager and S&C advisor, we finished with calls and set pieces.
We’re ready with our selection, looking forward to Amsterdam 7s in two weeks. We have a captain, Karoline, and a vice-captain, Ragnhild. We’re ready!
Thanks to Mats for his great help, and to Regine, our physio for the day.
Getting closer – Oslo
Training camp in Oslo (clouds are photoshopped). Two master classes, with Brunzie for scrummaging technique, and with Bea for Laws in rucks and line-outs. We also worked on passing skills, fitness, line-outs and back moves. Great from Brunzie and Bea to share their expertise with us.
The squad is narrower now, we are below 20 players, all good players! Selection will be hard.
Back to rugby – Stavanger
Back to rugby after a 5 years’ break, with the women’s national team. First training camp in Stavanger, coaching together with Trude, with great help from Viliame. A tough challenge for the coaches to start with, having to learn the names of over 35 players. Then worked in groups on passing skills, team play in defense, attitudes in contact situations and support. Lunch break was followed by wrestling, pick-and-go, and tackling drills, the intensity was driven by the competitive and fighting spirit of all.
Last session was on defense and open play.
For me, it was my first training since the European university championship in Sofia back in 2013. It was in parts like cycling – you never forget, and in parts quickly realizing that it’s not that easy! The players didn’t stop developing while I was on a break, they actually got much better. Recycling programs and drills from old training camps will not be enough.