New Coventry Jets head coach Paul Rickhuss has said that its a fresh start for all involved with his young team.
Rickhuss who has began work after taking over the reins from the retired Gerry McManus is already looking to the start of the next BAFL season next spring.
Rickhuss said: “The plan of action before the season starts is to stick with the rookies we have managed to bring to the club and bring them up to speed both before and after a Christmas break before the senior players join back up with us in February.”
The number of rookies Rickhuss has at his disposal this winter is something he said is unprecedented in his eight years with the club adding: “In terms of the number of rookies we have at training on a Sunday these past few weeks it’s on a scale the Jets haven’t had to deal with since becoming the Jets in 2004.”
“We were lucky in years past to have a squad which included most of the Great Britain squad. That was a team who went until last season, to 6 consecutive championship games.”
Rickhuss is clear in what his goal is now until the senior players rejoin in a couple of months. He said: “My main goal is to win. But similarly to teach these young players how to play the gameand hope that through my and the other coaches teaching they enjoy playing the game, then with the work ethic they show with a new taste for the game. The wins should come.”
The new coach, who up until January was himself a Jets player before a knee injury bought his on-field career to an end is in no doubt at the task he faces: “It’s a challenge, but it’s one I am up for. I’m only as good as what I put around me. It’ll obviously be a new experience and this season is one for progression.”
The Jets, who went 0-10 in what Coach Rickhuss calls an ‘awful season’ last year have a young side compared to most of their rivals in the BAFL.
On the age of his squad Rickhuss said: “Apart from Dave(Cowans) and Kevin Mills who are in their 40’s the rest of the side I expect to have come the start of the season are all under 27.”
That young average age of the roster, is somethingRickhuss sees as a positive further down the road adding: “If we keep the players and the turnover of players going at a rate we have had recently, we could build something special here.”
When pressed if he would look to people in the game he has come across in his 30+ years involved with the sport here and in the US he was steadfast in his response.[Soft Break][Soft Break]“No, I’ll do it my way until it doesn’t work then I’ll step away and let someone else carry the torch. Obviously I’d like to take this team for a long time and take them back to the Championships games I experienced as a player. Whether coach or not, I’ll always have an affiliation with this team in some way.”
As well as a big turnover of newcomers to the side, the Jets have a new place to call home. Bedworth RFC.
Rickhuss on the move said: “Bedworth have been good to us so far but if anything I look forward to visiting teams and getting the stick that comes with it. We got it everywhere we went in 2008 and we won it all. I loved it.”