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Welcome! Welcome to the 10 March update from Christchurch Football Club, keeping you connected with everything happening in and around the club.  |
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Hope everyone enjoyed the first full weekend of Autumn – not sure where the summer went tho!! Another busy week within the club with the NZ Police Asset Recovery team here having a three day conference and on Friday the 13th a Remembrance Service for Don Menzies will be held Premier Senior rugby is in full swing with pre-season games now upon us and well done to all players, coaches, physios, and management on a successful first preseason game against Ashley in Loburn. Two good wins were had, and all players came through both games well This week (Saturday) sees everyone on the road heading to Cheviot to play Glenmark-Cheviot with kick off scheduled for 2pm so if you can head north & support the club that would be awesome Speaking of senior rugby it saw me have a great conversion with Megan Williams (our club Physio) last week. As many of you know Megan has been with the club right from the start here at Christchurch Park and has, along with her team, treated many of us over 36 years!! As we all know it is dangerous to assume and in my conversation with Megan I was reminded of that fact in the best possible way!! Regardless of how long someone has been with an organization don’t expect that they know what is happening and what their role is especially when the rugby season begins. As a player, coach and manager you either focus on yourself or the team you are involved with and assume everything else has been taken care of!! In my discussion with Megan I was made aware of things that we must look at being done to ensure everyone from a player to a supporter are looked after when here at Christchurch Park. Some of the areas discussed were: do people know where the AED is located, do people know how to use an AED, do we have a home game emergency plan in place with volunteers in place to help out each Saturday, who holds a First Aid Certificate (besides our physios), as coaches/managers are we fully aware of players medical history that we need to be aware i.e., why do they require strapping if no assessment has been completed? From my conversation I will begin to address the areas identified with Team Managers regarding players wellbeing and if anyone within the club would want to assist with our Home Game Health and Safety Plan please reach out!! To Megan, Lily, Jo, Juliette, and other members of the Christchurch Park Physio team we are extremely grateful for all you do in looking after us all and the huge amount of support you give to the club 😊 If you need to see a great physio, contact the best team at : www.christchurchparkphysiotherapy.co.nz Remember our next Food Truck Night will be held on the 26th of March. We are working on getting another number of awesome vendors to be here so please support this initiative!! I want to acknowledge that Teresa, Lynda, and the team from Eat Food Truck have now finished up here at the Christchurch Football Club and I personally want to thank them all for what they provided and given to the club over their time here. I will miss the early morning and late evening chats with the team!! On behalf of the club and all the members I want to wish Teresa, Lynda, and the team all the very best for whatever the future holds and I hope we will see them back in the club supporting everyone wearing Red & Black!! Lastly I want to acknowledge International Women’s Day (8th of March) that has been existence for 115 years where social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women are celebrated – on behalf of the Christchurch Football Club we thank you 😊 What I liked when reading more about IWD was the saying “Give to Gain” as when we give we gain!” Regards Shu |
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Spending a Saturday at the rugby club has officially begun for the season. At this time of year it’s a good reminder to pack the sunblock and a hat. I managed to forget both, so a big thank you to Tina for coming to the rescue with the UV protection cream. A short trip down State Highway 1 on Saturday saw our Colts and Premier teams head out to Loburn Domain for two successful early-season hit-outs. Both squads were a little depleted due to the usual early-season challenges, but they still managed to put in strong performances and execute well on the field. It was particularly enjoyable watching the Colts side, who only came together for the first time on Thursday night. There is some real talent in this group, and it will be exciting to watch them grow and develop over the course of the season. The Premier team also showed glimpses of the skill and structure they have been working on at training. There is still plenty to work on, but the coaches were pleased with the progress shown and the effort across the park. One of the great rewards of coaching is seeing players deliver on the field exactly what has been practiced during the week. It’s a feeling that’s hard to fully describe — a mix of pride, relief, validation, and quiet satisfaction. Sometimes it starts with a small moment of disbelief. In the middle of the chaos of the game you suddenly notice it: the shape is right, the call you practiced gets used, and the support lines appear just as they were drawn up at training. The players aren’t just playing — they’re executing the ideas you’ve been building together. Then comes the pride. Not so much pride in yourself, but pride in the players. You know the work that has gone into it: the repetition, the conversations, the corrections, and the sessions where things didn’t quite click. Seeing it come together in a match shows that the players trusted the process and believed in what they were learning. There’s also a quiet sense of relief. Coaching can involve plenty of doubt — wondering whether your message is getting through or if the training is truly preparing the team for game day. When the players execute under pressure, it confirms the learning has stuck. Perhaps the most rewarding moment is when you realise the players now own it. They’re not doing it because a coach told them to in that moment. They’re doing it because it has become part of how they think and play. That’s when coaching shifts from directing to observing. From the sideline, the reaction might not be a big celebration. Often it’s just a small smile, a nod, or a quiet “yes” to yourself. Because in that moment you know the team has taken a step forward — not just in the result, but in their understanding of the game. It’s one of the moments that makes all the hours of coaching worthwhile, and a reminder of why we do it. Regards Craig |
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1. Constitution Update Approval of an updated Christchurch Football Club Constitution to ensure compliance with the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022. The revised document remains largely the same in substance, with changes focused on meeting the new legislative requirements. Meeting Details Date: Tuesday, 17 March If you are unable to attend the meeting, you may confirm your support for the proposed changes by emailing the Board Chairman at: chairman@christchurchpark.co.nz |
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Bar Staff Wanted – Join Our Team! We’re on the lookout for awesome people to join our friendly Bar Team! If you have Barista experience, a Manager’s Certificate, and/or solid bar experience, we’d love to hear from you. We’re a welcoming, community‑focused club with a great atmosphere. The ideal place to work while being part of our rugby whanau. If this sounds like you (or someone you know!) and you're friendly, reliable and can work under pressure, please get in touch and send me your CV to: gm@christchurchpark.co.nz NB: Must be able to work Saturday afternoon/evenings… |
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