Martin Slagt

I started playing rugby at the age of 19 and was lucky to by coached and trained by some of the best coaches in Holland. I have certainly learned a lot from Frits Frankfort and John van Altena. This site is dedicated to them.
Being part of a team that won National Championships three times I needed to work hard to keep my place in the team. Overtrained during the summer at the athletics club (Achilles Tendon) I had to stop when I was 25 and started coaching the 14 – 16 boys of the club. When it became more and more obvious that I would not make it back to the first team I decided to take the coaching more seriously. I followed the Level ‘A’ coaching course and my career as a coach kicked – off from there……

In my spare time I have a regular job at Shell as project manager for IT projects having a strong background as IT service manager. And sorry Mark Lammers and Robin van Galen, I understand you want to make some money but your lectures about cross over of sport and business:  but you have no idea!

Some of my achievements…

Rugby Development

With the growing numbers of players and subsequent ambitions of clubs to take the next step beyond ‘entertraining’ there is a need of understanding how to build a structure in development. Through SuperCoach Online, I help clubs and youth trainers to built their trainingsplan. For this I have detailed the Long Term Development models and used a “best of …” approach, bringing together various development models. Using the SuperCoach Online tool and its development model, clubcoordinators have a quality dialogue for the trainers.

Helping Erik and the Amstelveen Juniors (U16)

After a sabbatical year, I work with Erik and the staff with Amstelveen RC under 16. It is  also a great opportunity to try-out the learning method set-up by Gethin Thomas and Cardiff University! Fun to be out on the pitch again!

Youth trainer at Invictus

When Bassets decided to prioritise their 1st XV over youth development, it was time for me to leave. I now work with Dessie at the new boy in town: RC Invictus in Noordwijk, which is the next village up the coast, a 15min bike ride away.

Meanwhile still supporting clubs with SuperCoach Online licenses.

Clubcoordinator at Bassets

This started out as supporting my friend Desmond Tuiavii with his Under 16 team. Quickly became advisor in the Technical Committee and advising the club on development methods

Clubcoach Castricum RC Juniors

After visiting the Wellington and Sydney Sevens in 2016 and following Sir Gordon Tietjens and the All Black Sevens team for a couple of weeks I was very much inspired by his work. I realised I missed coaching myself and decided to get involved with a team again. Great to be on the pitch again!

Clubcoordinator at Castricumse RC

After the Union decided to continue with another coach for the National Under 18 I was asked by Cas RC to help to built their youth division. Since 2013 I assist the youth coaches in building the yearplans and presenting the individual training sessions. SuperCoach Online is not a goal but a great tool to assist me.

SAQ program for Hockey Girls!

I got the fantastic opportunity to break out the rugby world and work with hockey girls. Starting with a six week program with one team turning into a three year stint and working with four teams. Tough and a great work ethic, the girls adapted really well to the SAQ program I setup and the results were beyond all expectation. All the exercises are of course now included in the SuperCoach Online database and in use with the licensees.

IRANZ Coaching Clinic

While visiting New Zealand for the RWC2011 I had the opportunity to follow this course. Great to have exposure to the ideas and practise of Murray Mexted, Chris Boyd, Ian Foster and David Ellis!

Dutch talent development program

We realised working with the eighteen year olds of the National team that we had to start developing players at a younger age. The ambition for the talent development program was set: if Portugal can organise it to participate in the 2007 so should we in the Netherlands. I was part of the volunteer organisation that developed the program, contacted LOOT Schools for the the talent academies, worked on the Dutch version of the Long Term Player Development program and more.

National Coach Under 17/18

An exciting opportunity to bring the new ideas to a group of talented young players, presentation of the structures of teamplay a fascinating aspect of it. Piecing a good campaign together took me three years, the first year was relatively short with a two months preparation for the FIRA-AER Cross Border Tournament in Logrono, Spain. Next season We had more time and laid the structure for a good European Championship in Madrid, Spain. We lost to Poland in the Final. Very disappointed we reviewed the whole program and adapted it in the right places. In the 2012-13 season we won the final convincingly. Promotion to Pool A.

Head Coach Sparta Rugby, Capelle a/d IJssel, Netherlands

Having learned so much working on the talentdevelopment program I felt it was time “to practise what you preach”. Two great years with a “soccer-like” ending.

Video Analist for FIRA Stage Elst, Netherlands, FFR Summercamp of Pierre Villepreux 2009

With a little more FIRA budget the NRB invested in video equipment + Apple MacBook + Gamebreaker software. We used the equipment to good use in these two training camps. I had used video in the “old days” with VHS tapes and stuff, the digital possibilities are much greater. It kicked of the video performance coaching career of my friend Timo Meinders and learned me video is crucial part in developing players.

Rotterdam Motherruckers 2006-7

Our mini’s were out on the beach playing a little tournament and we went along to watch. Found myself refereeing and at lunch time called out “In 5 minutes: Mothers against the mini’s!”. The mothers won and wanted to experience more. The idea of participating at the yearly beach rugby tournament at Ameland was born, surprisingly they wanted to start preparing for it 6 months before the event.
These six months were an unforgettable journey for everybody and was very interesting to see the mothers grew and even beat teams that play regularly in the NRB competition. Good opportunity for me to try out and test my ideas about the essence of rugby.

Rotterdam Juniors 2005-6

Two years with the 14-16 youth team of Rotterdam. It was great building a team again and see the youngsters develop. Working with Irwin Toonder and Ae Kyong on the team success was super. The end was a dream: taking the best four players out for the National Squad we put a lot of trust in the others when they had to qualify for the National title play-offs. They did and with the internationals back we went to Scotland for a super trip were we had great matches against Scottish Champions Gala Triangle and Jed Forrest. Came back to win the semi and the final……

Rotterdam Colts 2002-3

Being a rugbycoach with the Rotterdam Colts returned me to where I started. These three seasons gave me to opportunity to put  all the stuff I learned into practice at the bottom of the pyramid. Creating awareness amongst youngsters, promoting a 15 man game play in a competition where other coaches are parents or senior players and play is very poor. Eventually becoming National Champions will be something the players will never forget….

Rugby Club Delft 1995-7

I was working with a National Selection and had premier league experience with Hilversum and I wanted to do more work at the bottom of the premier league. With R.C. Delft I had this opportunity. A club wanted to be amongst the top clubs and asked me to guide them in 1995. Ambitious, but in the end not enough people within the club really wanted to perform at that level. Some interesting experiences: goal setting, team involvement in team management, individual successes and development of coaching structure.

Netherlands Rugby Trainers Association (NRTV)

Enthusiastic as I am I got involved with this organisation, first writing articles in the monthly magazine, later as chairman. Being an intermediate between the governmental institutions, the Netherlands rugby union and member trainers was very interesting. I was involved setting up special seminars, working on the union regular course programs and improving the communication between the premier league and National team coaches.
A lot of energy went into this with very little response. In the end I decided to save my energy for other things like this website…..

The Dutch National Under 21

Working with Hilversum and showing the improvements I was asked in 1993 to coach the Under 19 selection. It was a duo job together with Cees Eskes. I helped to set up the team and establish it within the other selections. I helped set-up a testing program and we introduced new issues to the players like regular weight training, nutrition and goal setting.

Rugbyclub Hilversum

With Hilversum I started coaching the Colts and discovered a whole new dimension to rugby! I took my level I course in 1988 and developed the Colts and myself to one of the top teams in Holland. My playing career ended when my Achilles Tendon problems could not be solved and I decided to take my coaching career more seriously. I took over as coach of the first XV in 1991. Changing the style of play, bringing new techniques requiring the older players to adapt. It took some time but in the end the results showed.

District Midden Colts

As Hilversum coach I was also involved with the District Midden Team. Both Frank Steginga and myself enjoyed putting a team together and working with it. I not so sure how the team did at the National Championships anymore….

Coach in the Netherlands

Being a rugby coach in the Netherlands is not easy. With only 15.000 people playing the game, not many coaches are around. Little is available for coaches like clinics and courses. This results in a small but totally committed group of (amateur) coaches.

After finishing my level I and II courses I started coaching at Dutch Premier League level as a 31 year old! I needed the support of other coaches. I started to built a network for getting info.

I am very interested in your comments and or questions, please feel free to contact me at martin@rugbycoach.com.