I am using this first post to introduce myself and outline my goals for this blog. It is my hope that I can continually make solid posts in this creative setting!
First off, my name is Martin Dunham. I recently graduated (January 2014) from St. John's University in Queens, New York with a degree in Sports Management and a minor in Business Administration. Currently I have part-time employment with a local television station as an evening assistant while also serving as (part-time) volunteer assistant rugby coach with the Quincy/North Quincy Rugby Club when time permits. Searching for full-time employment in the sports industry is currently my main priority, working in media and communications. I maintain an optimistic attitude that I will get off on the right foot while trying to exhibit patience. I believe my degree and previous experiences lends itself many opportunities depending on the path I create.
My passion for sports started as a young child watching ESPN and games on television. Slowly that has developed into a lifestyle, a strong desire to understand all the aspects involved. At 20 years old I became a certified International Rugby Board and USA Rugby Level 200 coach despite having been only introduced to the sport three years earlier. While I have always had a deep fascination with statistics, rugby has fostered a new obsession: a need to understand the sports I watch. The technical, the tactical, the physical, the mental, all of it. When I first stepped on to the practice field with a senior rugby club in New York, a whole new world opened up.
My younger years were spent playing basketball. I played many games in leagues, numerous summer camps, and countless hours spent in the driveway (or street!) developing skills. Although I did spend many hours doing many activities, it also led to many wasted efforts because of poor practice habits and lack of competitive games. Fast forward to my junior year of high school and you have the starting point of my rugby career.
I played every forward position in high school outside of hooker and number 8, majority of starts being at loosehead prop and lock. In two plus years (played a few extra matches here and there) of U19 level rugby I played a total 885 minutes in 15 games out of a possible 900 minutes. The last 14 games were starts and I scored 1 try, 2 conversions for 9 points. Was nothing spectacular, played a lot of times trying not to get hurt since there was no backup. As a result it led to a lot of poor habits and play. While I did have some skill my work in contact certainly left something to be desired. That's probably how I'd describe my play from my most senior club game. If there was one great positive I've gotten throughout my athletic career it was my attitude, and it's what helped me through senior men's rugby.
I found out about Old Blue RFC in New York City during my freshman year at St. John's. I wanted a club that offered an open, high level environment to test myself and to be the best I could. I've always felt the best way to improve is to practice, play, and learn with the best. I can tell you my first training was on a warm August 30 evening on the Randall's Island turf in 2011. It was apparent that physically I was well below what was required but the tactical play and technical coaching received from that night forward was the first-class. Ultimately a couple of factors hindered much playing opportunity: travel and academics. Traveling to training took two, sometimes two and a half hours. After a good two and half or three hour training was the long two-plus hour ride home on public transportation that got me to my dorm after midnight. The physical soreness was something I could deal with and kind of enjoyed because it reminded me to keep working but mentally it became draining and my academic performance slipped. Faced with tight financials as well, it was unfortunate that I could never commit full time to a club that's always fully supportive of its members. What did last though were the memories of the few games I got to participate in, the demanding training sessions that had lots of "encouraging" words yelled my way, learning tactics of the game, and fostering new relationships that the sport of rugby prides itself on.
That short time with Old Blue inspired me to get my coaching license. Ever since I got that license I have began to steadily research and learn about tactical and technical aspects of sport. The goal of this blog will be to explore those aspects of sports applying it to recent matches. I aim to write about different sports outside of rugby like American football and basketball, or whatever other sports I learn about. I find that all sports can draw from other sports whether it be a technique, a practice strategy, or a coaching tool.
If you've made it this far, I congratulate you, I didn't plan on writing this much for the first post but it never hurts to give a good background and insight to what the vision is for "Sport Chalk Talk". I hoped to give it a name that resonates with coaching and tactical aspects, and I feel like chalk talk is a good representation of that. I've had friends (some jokingly) say I should start a sport blog since I have many "unique" thoughts. Comments always welcome, appropriate of course. I appreciate the (future) readers out there, and I hope you enjoy reading about my thoughts on sport!
My passion for sports started as a young child watching ESPN and games on television. Slowly that has developed into a lifestyle, a strong desire to understand all the aspects involved. At 20 years old I became a certified International Rugby Board and USA Rugby Level 200 coach despite having been only introduced to the sport three years earlier. While I have always had a deep fascination with statistics, rugby has fostered a new obsession: a need to understand the sports I watch. The technical, the tactical, the physical, the mental, all of it. When I first stepped on to the practice field with a senior rugby club in New York, a whole new world opened up.
My younger years were spent playing basketball. I played many games in leagues, numerous summer camps, and countless hours spent in the driveway (or street!) developing skills. Although I did spend many hours doing many activities, it also led to many wasted efforts because of poor practice habits and lack of competitive games. Fast forward to my junior year of high school and you have the starting point of my rugby career.
I played every forward position in high school outside of hooker and number 8, majority of starts being at loosehead prop and lock. In two plus years (played a few extra matches here and there) of U19 level rugby I played a total 885 minutes in 15 games out of a possible 900 minutes. The last 14 games were starts and I scored 1 try, 2 conversions for 9 points. Was nothing spectacular, played a lot of times trying not to get hurt since there was no backup. As a result it led to a lot of poor habits and play. While I did have some skill my work in contact certainly left something to be desired. That's probably how I'd describe my play from my most senior club game. If there was one great positive I've gotten throughout my athletic career it was my attitude, and it's what helped me through senior men's rugby.
I found out about Old Blue RFC in New York City during my freshman year at St. John's. I wanted a club that offered an open, high level environment to test myself and to be the best I could. I've always felt the best way to improve is to practice, play, and learn with the best. I can tell you my first training was on a warm August 30 evening on the Randall's Island turf in 2011. It was apparent that physically I was well below what was required but the tactical play and technical coaching received from that night forward was the first-class. Ultimately a couple of factors hindered much playing opportunity: travel and academics. Traveling to training took two, sometimes two and a half hours. After a good two and half or three hour training was the long two-plus hour ride home on public transportation that got me to my dorm after midnight. The physical soreness was something I could deal with and kind of enjoyed because it reminded me to keep working but mentally it became draining and my academic performance slipped. Faced with tight financials as well, it was unfortunate that I could never commit full time to a club that's always fully supportive of its members. What did last though were the memories of the few games I got to participate in, the demanding training sessions that had lots of "encouraging" words yelled my way, learning tactics of the game, and fostering new relationships that the sport of rugby prides itself on.
That short time with Old Blue inspired me to get my coaching license. Ever since I got that license I have began to steadily research and learn about tactical and technical aspects of sport. The goal of this blog will be to explore those aspects of sports applying it to recent matches. I aim to write about different sports outside of rugby like American football and basketball, or whatever other sports I learn about. I find that all sports can draw from other sports whether it be a technique, a practice strategy, or a coaching tool.
If you've made it this far, I congratulate you, I didn't plan on writing this much for the first post but it never hurts to give a good background and insight to what the vision is for "Sport Chalk Talk". I hoped to give it a name that resonates with coaching and tactical aspects, and I feel like chalk talk is a good representation of that. I've had friends (some jokingly) say I should start a sport blog since I have many "unique" thoughts. Comments always welcome, appropriate of course. I appreciate the (future) readers out there, and I hope you enjoy reading about my thoughts on sport!
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