VOLUNTEER PROFILE: ZOE TEMPLETON

12 Mar 2018 by City of Armagh Rugby Club

Alongside her full-time, paid role as Ulster Rugby’s Regional Development Officer for the south region, Zoe Templeton has been giving up her free time to volunteer as a Backs Coach for Ulster’s U18s girls team. Here we find out how her passion for sport led her to this role and the benefits of volunteering.

1. What does your volunteering involve? Putting on training sessions. Analysing both games and sessions to find areas to work on. Creating engaging sessions for the team, with the aim of making them better players, both individually and collectively. I also help with player-management, particularly in the run-up to the season starting. This means making sure the players are fit and ready for the season. 2. When did you first begin volunteering with Ulster Rugby?
I started with the U18 girls team around four years ago as their manager, alongside Jonny Gillespie. I did this whilst working full-time as Ulster’s Female Rugby Officer.

3. Have you had a previous volunteering role elsewhere?
I started coaching with Armagh RFC minis at the age of 17. I coached the under 8s for two years and then coached the U18s for a year.

4. What inspired you to get involved?
I grew up around Armagh RFC. My parents were both involved with them, my Mum was part of the ladies’ committee and my Dad was a coach, so that’s why I started playing mini rugby with them until the age of 10. When I was in secondary school, a coach from Armagh gave a presentation, which included details on their girls’ section, which I wasn’t aware of. I decided to get involved after a conversation with the Armagh Minis Convenor, who encouraged me to sign-up for a coaching course.

5. What attracted you to the role?
I have always had a huge passion for the sport. I just wanted to be involved, to give something back and saw it as an opportunity to break down some barriers.

6. What skills or qualities are required for your volunteering role?
Passion for the game, organisation, technical knowledge – which I have learnt over the years and continue to learn. Good communication skills are essential also. You have to take a holistic approach to the role, as you need to be more than a coach. You are a facilitator, friend, mentor and a role model for the girls.

7. Why do you continue to volunteer?
Why not?! If people didn’t volunteer, the game would suffer and eventually die, so I continue to give back. Also, I
thoroughly enjoy it, if I didn’t then I wouldn’t do it.

8. How often do you volunteer?
We start working with the U18s in April, all the way through to October. Initially it is just once a week, but as the season progresses we move to training twice a week.

9. What has been the highlight of your volunteering?
Watching players enjoy themselves and develop new skills. I have worked with girls that have progressed to senior teams around the country, Ulster Women’s squad, and even the Ireland squads (both 7s and 15s).

10. Why would you encourage others to get involved?
Clubs wouldn’t exist without volunteers, so I would recommend everyone to give their local club a full season of their time, so they can give something back.

11. What advice would you give someone who wants to start volunteering?
There’s an array of things you can get involved in, from administrative work, setting up sessions for coaches, being a first-aider, transporting players to games and making tea and coffee! You don’t need to come from a rugby background or have rugby knowledge. If you find something you are good at, are passionate about, or just want to get involved with – you can give something back.

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