Developing Girls' Rugby in Colorado: How Coach Rob Is Raising the Standard On and Off the Field

Something special is happening with girls' rugby in Colorado, and it's not just about what's happening between the try lines. Coach Rob Quickfall is leading a movement that's transforming how we think about youth sports development, especially for young women. At SAFFA RUGBY, we're not just teaching girls how to tackle and pass – we're building future leaders, one practice at a time.

Beyond the Game: A Different Kind of Coaching Philosophy

When you watch Coach Rob work with his players, you quickly realize this isn't your typical sports coaching. Sure, he knows rugby inside and out – his technical expertise is evident in every drill and strategy session. But what sets him apart is his unwavering belief that rugby is a vehicle for something much bigger than winning matches.

"We're not just developing rugby players," Rob explains. "We're developing young women who will go on to lead their communities, their workplaces, and their families. Every time they step onto that field, they're learning skills that will serve them for life."

This philosophy drives everything SAFFA RUGBY does with girls' programs. While other coaching approaches might focus solely on athletic performance, Rob's method integrates character development into every aspect of training. Players learn resilience through challenging drills, leadership through rotating captain responsibilities, and determination through setting and achieving both individual and team goals.

Building Stronger Programs from the Ground Up

The girls' rugby landscape in Colorado has evolved dramatically over the past few years, and Coach Rob has been at the forefront of this transformation. Working with programs across different age groups – from elementary school introductory clinics to high school competitive teams – he's developed a comprehensive approach that meets girls where they are and helps them reach their potential.

What makes these programs unique is their focus on accessibility and inclusion. Rob understands that not every girl comes to rugby with the same background or confidence level. Some are natural athletes looking for a new challenge, while others have never played a contact sport in their lives. His coaching methods create space for both, ensuring that every player feels valued and has opportunities to grow.

The development pathway Rob has created includes multiple entry points throughout the year, skill-appropriate groupings that allow for individual progression, mentorship opportunities where older players support younger ones, and regular goal-setting sessions that extend beyond rugby objectives.

Leadership Development That Extends Beyond Rugby

One of the most impressive aspects of Coach Rob's approach is how he integrates leadership development into rugby training. This isn't just about naming team captains – it's about creating systematic opportunities for every player to develop and demonstrate leadership skills.

During practices, players rotate through different leadership roles. One week, a player might be responsible for leading warm-ups. The next, she's organizing equipment or mentoring a newer player. These responsibilities aren't random – they're carefully designed to build specific leadership competencies that research shows are crucial for success in all areas of life.

The impact is remarkable. Parents regularly report seeing increased confidence at home and school. Teachers notice improved communication skills and willingness to take on challenges. The girls themselves talk about feeling more prepared to handle difficult situations, whether that's standing up to peer pressure or taking on new responsibilities in other activities.

Resilience Through Rugby: Learning to Bounce Back

Rugby is a sport that demands resilience, and Coach Rob has turned this natural aspect of the game into a powerful teaching tool. Rather than avoiding challenges or protecting players from setbacks, he creates environments where girls can experience failure safely and learn to bounce back stronger.

This approach is particularly important for young women, who research shows often avoid challenging situations where they might not immediately excel. Through rugby, girls learn that struggle is part of growth, that making mistakes is how we learn, and that getting knocked down isn't nearly as important as how quickly you get back up.

The resilience training happens on multiple levels. Physically, players learn to handle contact and push through fatigue. Mentally, they practice staying focused under pressure and bouncing back from errors. Emotionally, they develop the confidence to take risks and the maturity to handle both success and disappointment gracefully.

Determination: Setting and Achieving Meaningful Goals

Goal-setting in Coach Rob's programs goes far beyond rugby statistics. While players certainly work toward athletic objectives – improving their passing accuracy, increasing their fitness levels, or mastering new skills – they're also encouraged to set goals related to personal development, academic achievement, and community involvement.

This holistic approach to goal-setting teaches girls that determination isn't just about sports performance. It's about identifying what matters to you and being willing to put in the consistent effort required to achieve it. Players learn to break large goals into manageable steps, track their progress, and adjust their approach when needed.

The determination built through rugby translates remarkably well to other areas. Girls who learn to push through challenging training sessions find themselves better equipped to handle difficult academic projects. Those who persist through learning new rugby skills develop the grit needed to tackle other complex challenges in their lives.

Community Impact: Changing the Culture

The ripple effects of Coach Rob's work extend far beyond his immediate players. As these young women develop into confident leaders, they're changing the culture in their schools, communities, and families. They're becoming advocates for inclusion, champions of hard work, and examples of what's possible when young people are given the right support and opportunities.

The program has also created a network of families who share similar values around youth development. Parents report forming lasting friendships and finding a community that supports their goals for raising strong, capable daughters. This network becomes another source of support and encouragement for the girls, showing them that they're part of something larger than themselves.

Raising the Standard: A Vision for the Future

Coach Rob's vision for girls' rugby in Colorado extends well beyond current programs. He's working to create pathways that will support girls from their first introduction to rugby all the way through potential collegiate and even national team opportunities. But more importantly, he's building a foundation that will enable these young women to become leaders who will, in turn, create opportunities for the next generation.

This long-term thinking is evident in how the programs are structured. Older players are actively involved in mentoring younger ones, creating leadership opportunities while ensuring that the values and culture are passed down. Alumni of the program often return as volunteers or coaches, maintaining their connection to the community that helped shape them.

The standard Coach Rob is raising isn't just about athletic performance – though the teams are certainly competitive. It's about creating an environment where young women can discover their potential, develop the skills they need to succeed in life, and build the confidence to pursue their dreams, whatever those might be.

The SAFFA RUGBY Difference

What makes SAFFA RUGBY's approach to girls' rugby development unique is the integration of South African rugby culture with American youth development principles. This combination creates programs that are both demanding and supportive, competitive and inclusive, focused on excellence while never losing sight of the individual needs of each player.

Coach Rob brings this philosophy to life through his daily interactions with players, his program design decisions, and his commitment to ongoing learning and improvement. He understands that developing young women requires a different approach than working with boys, and he's created programs that honor both the similarities and differences in how girls learn and develop.

The results speak for themselves. Girls who participate in SAFFA RUGBY programs consistently demonstrate increased confidence, improved leadership skills, and greater resilience. But perhaps most importantly, they develop a love for challenge and growth that will serve them throughout their lives.

As girls' rugby continues to grow in Colorado, Coach Rob's influence will be felt not just in the players he's directly coached, but in the culture of excellence, inclusion, and personal development that he's helped establish. The young women coming through these programs aren't just better rugby players – they're better prepared to be leaders, contributors, and positive forces in their communities.

That's the real victory, and it's what makes this work so much more than just coaching rugby.