NEWCASTLE KZN: What is a BokSmart team sheet?

Coaches can use a simple rugby fitness testing battery to determine players' physical readiness for rugby.

April 21, 2021

Zianne van der Nest 1 minute read

KZNRU Covid Compliance Manager, Archie Sehlako with Newcastle Highlanders Head Coach, Andrè Swanepoel and KZNRU Administrator, Vern Chetty.

Testing of rugby players prior to participation has become a required and effective part of injury reduction programmes in all sports, all over the world.

This is particularly important in the rugby union, to ensure players are physically prepared for the game and are properly trained, established, and matched for their position and age-group specific level.

Coaches can use a simple rugby fitness testing battery given by BokSmart to determine players’ physical readiness for rugby. The team sheet is paired with the training, testing, and screening of players.

This sheet, according to Kwa-Zulu Natal Rugby Union (KZNRU) Covid Compliance Manager, Archie Sehlako and Administrator, Vernon Chetty, is particularly important when it comes to fixtures and leagues.

According to Chetty, no formal match will be permitted to begin without a printed BokSmart team sheet from Sports Cap in the future.

“Without this, no referee would be able to begin a match,” said Chetty.

This sheet, which must be available on the Sports Cap website prior to every match, must include details of every player as well as the referee.

“Should a player or referee fail to show up, you will have 45 minutes prior to your match to update this information on the site,” he warned.

This is intended to discourage coaches from placing ‘at-risk’ players in situations where they are not adequately trained or conditioned for their positions and age-appropriate levels of play. Should a player not be able to participate in a match, the coach would not be able to just select any player to fill that spot.