People get into grassroots coaching for a variety of different reasons and often follow very different paths in getting there. This is the fourth article in a series that looks to tell the story of some of our Mini & Junior coaches.

This time around we have Marcella Wyatt, Under 6s coach.

Name: Marcella 'Red' Wyatt
Profession: Events and Family Officer, The Family Centre (Deaf Children) & TA Cover, Elmfield School for Deaf Children
Age: 46
Team: Ladies 1XV
Playing Position: Hooker

Tell us a bit about yourself and your rugby background
I’m rather a late starter in the rugby game despite enjoying watching it. It has always been a ‘thing’ within my family but during my 20’s I kickboxed. I was even runner up in a European competition for a Japanese kata and had the chance to do my black belt numerous times but my anxieties always took over. That is probably the one regret I have, not gaining my 1st Dan. Growing up, Saturday afternoons were spent at my grand-parents house in Southmead but my Pappy (grandad) would be out most of the afternoon watching the rugby. Roll on 40 odd years later in the clubhouse, I sit looking at the wall and who is looking back at me on a photograph? My grandad!! I had no idea he was an ADOB with over 75 caps as he passed away in 1992, but some members remember him and have shared some stories. He was also chairman of the Bristol Referees Society for a time during the 70’s and has his name on a board in LSC. I wish he and my dad were still alive to see me play for the ladies and my daughter the juniors.

What was it that got you into coaching?
I became involved with the juniors following a successful plea with my daughter to give rugby a try (pardon the pun!). I would offer to do the registration and subs when needed and soon became a fixture and sat on the committee. Last year there was a need for more coaches and me being me said to Kev that I could help out until the under 13’s girls section was up and running as my daughter was now too old to play with the boys and so I, along with two others became coaches for the under 6’s. I love it.

What's coaching done for you personally?
I love to see happy, smiling faces. After all that is what it is about, fun and a sense of belonging. The rugby club is more than just a club, it is a second family to me. The support from all sections has been incredible through good times and bad, resulting in life-long friendships being formed. I’ve worked to start a girls section that is beginning to grow but I intend to stay coaching the under 6’s/7’s. It is addictive and I recommend anyone thinking about it to give it a go.

Has your worklife influenced your approach to coaching?
Outside of rugby I work at a school for Deaf Children, and for a charity supporting children and their families living with hearing loss. I’ve recently studied for my British Sign Language Level 2. This has been something I wanted to do when I was at school, but on leaving I did a YTS (apprenticeship) and became a qualified Travel Agent. I swiftly moved on to working for the University of Bristol where I remained for 26 years, first in Cardiac Surgery where I gained a Master of Science and later for Functional Neurosurgery Research Group until I was made redundant in 2018. I thought I loved my job but now I LOVE my job. I often work with complex children, their hearing loss being the least of their obstacles. No two days are the same. I always look at what children can achieve, and not what they can’t. Bristol Bears Community Foundation came in to do a session with some of my children and it was amazing. Rugby really is for everyone and anyone. You may see me coaching the under 6’s and making odd hand gestures. That is me signing colours or some other instructions to two of our members who have a hearing loss and I try to do it in a way that doesn’t draw attention. Rugby is inclusive.

Inclusivity is important to you in your day-to-day life and you are demonstrating that through your coaching as well. Can you tell us more about that?
Inclusivity is important to me because I strongly feel that every child should have the chance to experience the same activities as their peers. Yes, we may need to adapt some sessions, but those obstacles can be overcome with a little planning. For example, I took a group to the Wild Place Project to the climbing wall. With a chat to the instructor, we were able to manually hoist a child who wouldn't have been able to climb up the wall on their own, so they could have the experience of climbing. With rugby, it is about making sure the child with hearing loss is able to see you. Some rely on lip pattern, some on BSL and others are aided by some means. I started to wear a radio aid for one of our children, but now there isn't the need as I am able to sign if needed and am deaf aware. A radio aid is a transmitter worn by a teacher or parent that makes the sound clearer for the child wearing the receiver and filters out unwanted noise. Little adaptions such as ensuring you are facing them when talking makes all the difference.

Useless facts:
I was a member of the Royal Naval Reserve at HMS Flying Fox and could strip a rifle, and I once dated a professional footballer!