Main Body
Thu, Sep 05, 2024 7:15AM • 37:23
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
coaches, sport, wheelchair rugby, playing, paralympics, players, working, team, people, talk, athletes, wheelchair, started, rob, great britain, culture, sports psychologist, court, great, moment
SPEAKERS
Rob Tarr, Alan McConnell, Paul Barnett
Paul Barnett 00:01
Well, special one this evening. I'm talking to mister Rob Tarr, good evening, Rob. How are you? I'm
Rob Tarr 00:08
very well. Thank you. Yeah, still buzzing from the Paralympics.
Paul Barnett 00:11
Well, we're going to talk about that in a minute, but I firstly, need to introduce my my co host, of course, a great coach. We've had on the show before as an interview guest, Alan McConnell, g'day al
Alan McConnell 00:24
Hi, Paul, happy to be your side wheel, if that's sidekick and whatever it is, wherever my role is, you can carry the ROB.
Paul Barnett 00:36
So Rob, why don't we kick off? Can you just start before we talk about the great Australian victory, why don't you tell us where you are in the world and what you've been up to
Rob Tarr 00:49
today. Today? Well, to say, as it's been a quite come down from Paralympic Games, I've been I've been doing some commentary with some of the Nordic nations and watching it from home, but I'm just preparing at the moment. We've got a clinic coming up next month in Bali. So, yeah, doing just connecting with the coaches in Asia and feeding them some information. So that's, that's a project I'm on at the moment.
Paul Barnett 01:13
And we have to ask, what did you think about the game, which, unfortunately, depending on where you are in the world, Australia got the bronze. How did you feel watching it?
Rob Tarr 01:22
It was, I must admit, when the Paralympics started, I wouldn't it was very hard to choose any team, because all the teams are so close this year and and obviously we matched up very well with Australia. We went both. Went high low lineups, which is two very functional players and two less functional plays to do the blocking, and Riley and Riley, bat and Chris bond have played together for so long. I think they just had that extra synergy to make it work at the end, you know, when there was really up against it, the pressure was on, yeah, so respect all the teams. Everybody went out and gave it all. Well,
Paul Barnett 02:00
we'll move on from that now that we've talked about it, but Rob, I'm going to kick off by talking a little bit about your background, because you've been involved with wheelchair rugby pretty much since its inception, well over 40 years. From what I can see, you've traveled all over Europe in your coach development role. You're now going into South America. You're coming over to Bali as well, as you just mentioned then. But I'm sure you've seen some some good coaches and perhaps some great coaches, up close, and I'm I'm wondering if we could just start with what you think the great coaches actually do differently that sets them apart.
Rob Tarr 02:40
I think it's the coaches that prioritize long term development, rather than the, you know, the short term success. For me, a coach that gives a great experience to the players is a is a exceptional coach. So obviously, you know, my wheelchair rugby is quite a small sport at the moment, and, you know, it is growing. But to get participants to come through the doors and then excite them and keep that, keep them and, you know, the retention of them people, I think that's, that's where the a really great coach comes in, somebody can like, welcome him to come through the door, engage him, give him that great experience. And when they leave, they've got a smile on the face, and they just can't wait to come back again.[PB1]
Paul Barnett 03:32
And is that, is that something that you think is separate or unique to wheelchair rugby, or is it something that's more more broad in para sports.
Rob Tarr 03:43
I think it's broadening in para sports. I mean, obviously all sorts of sports people, you know, have to find resilience to fight through injuries and things like that. But, you know, we deal with people with disabilities and, you know, I think we already have got resilience to get over that disability and come through the door and try sport. So we do deal with a very different category of people, and so that attention to detail get to know them people and how they Well, how they function. And of course, you know, you've got the people who just want to come through them doors and have a social time and be with like minded people. And then you've got the other athletes who want to progress and become Paralympians. So you've got all these people in the in one session together. So it's really how to manage and deal with all them different participants together.[PB2]
Paul Barnett 04:40
Well, let's talk about how your journey began, because we go all the way back. I can see that you left school to become a coal miner, which which is not a profession you hear much of these days in England, but it was soon after that that you had your accident that left you in a wheelchair. I'm wondering now how the act. Going to end your subsequent climb in the sport has influenced the way that you talk to others about the future.
Rob Tarr 05:07
Think it's obviously I've got the empathy there, because I've any, any of the athletes I work with, I've gone through the same transition in life. You know that that big change in your life, and I think, you know, appreciating the presence and playing in the moment. So that's something that I take forward into my coaching sessions. As I say, I was in hospital for nine months after my breaking my neck in a car accident, and when I was in hospital, one of the things they always promote in a spine unit is sport, because, you know, it's something you can focus on. And ultimately, I rely on my arms and shoulders to do everything. So being part of the sport does help you build up your strength for your everyday life. I think also it's it gives you a purpose. I mean, what I've done throughout my life, and you said, I've been involved for so long, it's because, you know, I've got a purpose and a very big belonging in life. Wheelchair Rugby is a global family. I mean, you know, you spoke about Brad and carefully the coaches, and even though it's very aggressive and hardest on court, we're all very good friends and keep in close contact, away away from the sport. So, yeah, it's, I think, you know, going through that, going through that period in my life, has given me the resilience to try and help encourage the people going through the same process I went through a major change has helped[PB3]
Alan McConnell 06:46
Rob I I think I come from a pretty tough sport, AFL I reckon you guys might have us covered a little bit the the game. When you first were introduced to it was, as I understand it, called Murder ball. Yeah, is that correct? And if so, I've got a couple of questions. The first question is, what was your take on on the game when you first saw it? And secondly, was being a miner a good lead into that that that space,
Rob Tarr 07:20
well as regarding the mining background, I come from a mining family, so my father, my two brothers, was down the mines. And in the 80s, it was a good, good job, you know, well paid, before Margaret Thatcher got hold of us. So, yeah, it's, and again, very unique environment. Working down the Carmine. You know, you work with a group of men. It's just solely men and, you know, this camaraderie that you got. So I started, you know, I suppose that's where being part of a team was very much my life. You know, I played rugby for me, accent being a minor that all helped. And then, yes, like you say, I heard about when I come out of hospital after a year or so, things settling down, I went to buy a lightweight wheelchair, and the guy selling it was also in the wheelchair. He was doing track racing. So I bought a track chair, started doing a bit of racing, started doing some field events. And we used to all go down to Stoke Mandeville, and you'd spend the week just socializing, playing all these different sports, going in the bowl spot the end of the night, having a beer. And then suddenly, you know, 1984 the international games, this group of Canadians turned up, and they demonstrated this sport called Murder ball. And it was basically, you know, just getting the ball from one end of the court to the other. No Olds barred, you know, all in everyday chairs at that point, so majority of time, you know, we haven't got much balance, so people was on the floor more of both time that was pushing, but that was a life changer for me, because I just fell in love with the sport. You know, it's a team sport, something that I not, was not involved with to that point. And, yeah, let's say that that was the that was the first time I saw it. And then over the years, you know, started to notice that we needed to get proper wheelchairs to play in. So we started manufacturing chairs that we was not falling out of. We I went a demonstration sport in Atlanta, 96 and that's when we changed the name from wheelchair rugby. You know, wheelchair rugby from murder ball. Obviously, we had to take something a bit tamer to the Paralympics. So, yeah, we, there's lots of discussions. We're gonna call it quad ball. But, uh, wheelchair rugby come out of it and say, the reason it's wheelchair rugby is full contact the sport, carry the wall over touch line, score a try. And that's really all come from, but it's never changed. It's, it's very, you know, it's, I think the the other thing about our sport is, obviously, it's a mixed gender sport, so having women playing against the men and. Just as brutal as the guys you know, hammering it out there. It's, it's great to see. And at the moment, that's what, something that we're really focusing on is encouraging more female participation in the sport.
Alan McConnell 10:14
So your transition from player to coach, share us a little bit around that journey. And I guess what you learned about yourself in that time?
Rob Tarr 10:26
Yeah, it's, well, it's on the last year or so of my playing time, I became the captain. So I think once you become the captain, you start taking on a bit more responsibility, and you start you that the link between the coaches and the team. So I think that's where the transition already started, before actually retired as a player, but it was not a straight from player to coach. I mean, I went away after after Athens, which was my last Paralympics, I went away from the sport for a year or so, and I did some mentoring projects. I worked with some Olympians. We worked with children with behavioral problems, and obviously using using sport help them direct their energy into that and and that was really a good learning process for me. You know that mentoring. And then I started, I was asked to do some development with the wheelchair rugby because obviously I played a long time that all that wheelchair wheelchair rugby knowledge. So I started doing development with GB. And then in 212 I was asked to coach lesser tigers, which is our local rugby club. So, yeah, we formed a wheelchair rugby club at the Tigers. And then that's where my that's where my growth as a coach really started to come. Then, you know, working with working with the players, taking on more responsibility, not just thinking so much about individual performance, but performance as a whole in a team, and it's so, so challenging in many ways. You know, it's not, it's not something I think that you can do alone. I mean, when you look behind you that you're having assistant coaches and the staff and and for me as well, good captains that all, all benefits you making that transition.
Alan McConnell 12:21
Rob, I have to go there. I hope you're okay with this. Yeah. I think recovering from your injuries, you know, your car accident injuries to you know, you need to focus on yourself to get through that rehab. You obviously need good people around you, yeah? What? What allows you to transition from that focus on you to the focus on others.
Rob Tarr 12:45
Well, as I said to you before, you know, when I had my my injury, I mean, just you didn't see much of people in wheelchairs in the 80s, you know, it was very much undercover. Now it's very much in the media with the Paralympics and, you know, any sort of things on TV. You know, we're all inclusive now, but at that point, I felt I very isolated. And then when I did start to get involved in wheelchair sport, obviously, then I felt that sense of belonging and and I think giving back to others really helped my rehabilitation as well. So I used to do all my training in the early days at the spite of the local Spina unit, where I actually went through as a as a patient. So we would go there in the daytime and do some training. And then after training, we would go around the wards, and I'd go and speak to people who was freshly injured. And you'd say to me, you know, there's a life out there. And you know, these things to look forward to. And obviously you've got very good, good consultants, and you know, OTs and physiotherapists all telling the patients this, but when you hear it from somebody who's gone through it, it's such more impactful. And I remember myself, you know, when I was a patient, some lads used to come into the ward and chat with me and, oh, you'd be alright, Rob, you know, learn to drive a car and get yourself downtown, and the ladies are willing to sit on your lap and you'll be alright. And they're the sort of things you want to hear. And I say, being able to do that for the people is it's great. It's very rewarding for me that I've been able to put my troubles and traumas and learn from that and then pass that on to other people.
.
Alan McConnell 14:35
It's amazing what a powerful thing connection is, isn't it? And also such a driver for so many coaches? I think,
Rob Tarr 14:44
yes, definitely. So, I mean, I've obviously, when I did three Paralympics as a player, and worked under many, many coaches with different styles. You know, first couple of coaches very autocratic. One was a ex Paratrooper, so it was a whenever you did. Anything wrong? He had a giant medicine ball to carry around for the day. Then, you know, I've had other coaches who just sort of not so familiar with the games like that. Some some coaches are forced to step into the role because there's nobody else wants to fill, fill the boots, and they're very much in a lass, sit on the sideline and leave the players to it so that can become better in them. So yeah, I think, you know, through my time being coached, I've learnt a lot, and then I've had the privilege when I will start working with the Great Britain team. I work with Paul Shaw, the head coach, and Darren Matthew so there's three of us working together, and it was just great that we there's no egos between us. We could bounce ideas off one another. And I think the other thing is, we took on a lot of external advice as well. You know, there was no wasn't precious. So we had a sports psychologist come in and work with us, and team builders and things, and just took on as much information and and used it. So yeah, that made a big difference.
Paul Barnett 16:07
I want to pick up team building, if I can, and Lester tigers, because, of course, in the story, you finish playing, you transition into coaching, you start up the Leicester tigers, and things go really well. And I've got a quote for you, I'd like to read to you before I play the question you say, I've learned through my experience with Great Britain and the Leicester Tigers that building a quality culture, strong mindset and a definitive team identity is the key to empowering the players to reach their maximum performance. So it's a great quote. I think the context you just gave us then provides, makes it even more rich. But I wanted to ask you, what are the building blocks of a quality culture?
Rob Tarr 16:49
It's very challenging. This was because, obviously this is something that this sports psychologist brought to us on on our early stage of the becoming coaches. I mean, at this point, when I became the GB coach, Great Britain had no funding. So everybody was there for the passion. You know, there's no money involved. We, we did get support from sponsors and things which allowed us to go across the pond and play against the top teams, because that's what you've got to do. You've got to play against the best. So it was the challenge. Was there straight away, you know, straight from day one. And it was identified that, why is it that we, you know, we never meddled, you know, we was always, we'd always got near to beddling, but never got there. And we've, we've seen it as the culture.
We needed to change the culture. And, you know, I'm a coach, I'm a, I'm a, I know very much about the game, technically wise and tactically wise, but didn't really know where to start, how to build a culture. So basically, we all, we all sat down in a room on on one training sessions with the athletes, and just brainstormed. I mean, what, what do you see yourself as? So everything that, everything that come from the athletes was, you know, it came from them. So, because it came from them, we was able to hold them accountable to that. So that was, that was the first start of the the culture building, that there was going to be accountable for everything that they wanted to do. And then we started talking about, you know, behavioral problems, you know, getting the right behaviors within the team would bring that extra element onto the court. So what we did is we formed a canvas, and this canvas that came from the players was, what did we want, you know, what did we want to leave at the end of the end of the Tokyo Paralympics. So we wanted to leave a legacy. And and we did, you know, we got gold in Tokyo, and we was the first Great Britain team that had ever won a medal. So that was our that was a legacy. So that was something ticked. And then, you know, what was our glue, what held the team together. So the glue that I'm doing team together was trust. So all the players, you know, not just when they're in camp and they're working hard, when they went away from camp, there, was living the athlete's lifestyle. They could all trust each other, that when they went away from camp, was doing their own personal training, that was eating the right foods, and, you know, living the athlete lifestyle, our effectiveness that brought us all together was communication. [PB4]
So again, you know, having that constant comms within the team with the coaches, that was another building block, and our purpose was to have an impact. So again, working towards every competition that we went to, we would have an impact on that competition. And when we come away from there, people would know that, you know, we are one of the teams that are going to be contenders. And the thing that we seen as a team is the big thing that Great Britain showed is always a relentless team. Team. So whether it was we was goals down or was being bullied on the court, we always fight bought our way back. I think that was very much another part of our culture and one of the building blocks. So once we all agreed on on these main issues, on to change our culture, we made this into a canvas, and then we printed this out. I mean, probably everybody's seen Ted lasso, where he has believe in the change of room, or everywhere we went, we had this sticker where they might be on the bottom of the beaker, or it was always on changing rooms on a poster. So we was constantly reminding the players and the staff and the coaches that these were our core beliefs. This is our culture, and these are our building blocks. So yeah, legacy, trust, impact and comms all tied together with relentlessness, and that's how we built our culture.
Alan McConnell 20:54
This whole piece around culture is intriguing for coaches you know, to deeply connect with people, you need to meet people with where they're at and find commonality. And obviously, the things that you're talking about are key to that sort of an approach. I'm intrigued to know working with your athletes and you talked about your own troubles and challenges you had as you transitioned from your injury to becoming an athlete yourself, you must need to work with a whole range of stakeholders to help your athletes to to nurture a career in their sport. I'm interested to know how that looks, what the boundaries are for you, because often I imagine the the athletes families are going on the journey as much as the individual is that you're working with. When you
Rob Tarr 21:45
work with the team, the whole idea is to gel that team together, but obviously you've got so many different personalities within that team that you've got to have one to one sessions with them. And that's what we always did. We always had team meetings, but then we had one to one meetings as well with the teams. We had lots of people working that still have, sorry, lots of people working within the staff. So very good video analysis, guy who understands what's happening on the court and the game and what the players are doing, so he can talk to them about the stats.
And then we have a good sports psychologist on boards, because obviously it's very important, you know, we get, we get prepared men physically, but they've got to also be appeared mentally as well, especially on the under under the pressure games, you know, because our game is all about pressure. So everything we do now in training is done under pressure. And you think, if you, if you train hard, you play easy. So give them, give them every scenario that they're going to come up against in them tough games, and they've already done it, so in their mind, hopefully they'll they'll adjust. We went through very interesting, interesting thought processes, or we used something called redhead and blue head, where the redhead was like emotional play, and blue head was very logical. So we use that as one of our trigger words from the bench. So when we've seen players start to, you know, fumble around, you can see the emotions kicking in, getting panicky, and then you just shout, bluehead onto the court. And then hopefully that was just enough to flick that switch over and put them back into that logical mode and start playing the clinical sort of game that we want to see. We do have young people coming through. We have a talent and development in within Great Britain. And obviously a lot of these players are 14 upwards. And like you say, you know, the families come along and and obviously the families have got this emotional investment in the children, or, you know, in the young players. So it's a way of having a relationship with the families or carers who come along and getting, get buy in with them. [PB5]
I think once again, you know, we talk about the culture, and the culture is not just for the the team members, the cultures for the whole environment, you know, the staff, the family. So we bring the family in. We explain what we're doing for the for the athlete. You know, are we nurturing them? And the sort of things we do need to nurture them for they might not be ready yet. Just, you know, all the families want to see him in the big tournaments, but there's got to be a time for him to step into that tournament. Because, you know, there's a lot of pressure going off. And often, you know, you see, there's more pressure on the parents on the sideline than there is on the with the young person on the court. So yeah, I think it's okay. It's a case of bringing them in, into the fold, and explaining the pathway for that person, and getting the parent or carer to buy into that, that journey with you and. Support you along the way. And I think that's that's the way things that, things that, that seems to be an effective way build a community for them, people, keep in touch with them and bring them along the journey with you, and get the support.[PB6]
Paul Barnett 25:15
Rob, these days, you're working with World wheelchair rugby, and you're doing coach education in Europe, Asia and parts of Latin America. I'm interested to know what elements of leadership are more prevalent in that program today versus in 15 years ago, when you may have started.
Rob Tarr 25:38
Well, we're very lucky. I mean, when you look at the players are in the Paralympic Games at the moment. Obviously, they've been playing a long time, and they've got very good building blocks, like spoke to you before, in place. You know, they've got good management systems, a lot of funding, so they're able to supply the best video analysis, the best training and everything like so. But when you go into the developing countries of our sport, it's where I was in the 1980s so, you know, the might not have a rugby cheer to play in this. You know, health and safety might be very haphazard. So it's really, it's quite challenging. And I think the big thing I've learned in my coaching process is advanced planning. You know, I like to plan ahead. I like to plan, plan and plan and get everything right. And basically, when you go to these, these countries, you find that you just rip it up and that goes in the bin, and then you, you do everything off the cuff. But I think the lucky thing is, you know, because I've, I've been on, you know, I've been doing it for so long and planning for so long that when you find yourself in them environments, it's very easy then just to make something up and go with the flow and still make it successful. So, you know, I've really, I really do enjoy working with the grassroots sport. Ultimately, it's great to see the high level sport in the world, games, Paralympics, Europeans, but seeing these players and coaches from grassroots level, I like to go there again, a little bit like when I spoke before, by going up onto the wards next, you know, share my experiences. Now I go to coaches, and can share my experience with the coaches, how how they can develop. So I talk about first thing I do is, when I go to go to either South America or when I go to Bali this year, I start communications very early with the coaches, so I start sending out content, and then I'll have meetings with the coaches and chat about that content and just sort of get a feel where, you know, what level they are. So I've made a connection, a relationship with them before we even meet. And then when we meet, you know, on a personal level, you know, I like to have that, that friendship element. So I go over offer my friendship and my experience, and then they've had all this they've had all this content sent to him previously. So basically, I think it's giving them all the all the tools and the skill sets, and then watching them how they how they can put these things together and run a session. So that's, that's what I'm seeing at the moment, and that's what I'm working towards. And then hopefully, when you leave and come back, you know, come back to your own country, you're leaving somebody with all that knowledge and leadership to then start building their own teams and yeah, expanding the sport.
Alan McConnell 28:44
So Rob, what we know is that developing young talent, nurturing and mentoring, playing various roles in that space. Unfortunately, the growth isn't linear. It takes its twists and turns, and that's not necessarily consistent with way, the way the world is perceived to be these days. So what have you learned about managing the motivational level of those people that, particularly those young people that you work with?
Rob Tarr 29:12
I think, as I said to you before, the fact that you've got a club, and within that club you'll have young people, or people just joined the club, playing alongside Paralympians, you know. So they're all together, and we very much foster that sort of relationship where the experienced players will work with them and and show them that anything's possible, you know, because we've all the end of the day, all athletes on any playing field have come from that group, the grassroots level. So we've all been there. So I think it's again, it's I always motivate my young people, participants, when they come through the door and you just talk about my experiences, you know, the sort of pathway I've come through, and the successes that. I've had through my playing career and my coaching career, and then we do try to find mentorship within the other players, you know. So you've got a Paralympian playing with your club, and we've, we're lucky. We've got four within our with our with our wheelchair rugby club. So these players will when the you know, with coaches are focusing on one side of the court and teaching players in a skill zone and bringing them through. You can rely on your more senior players to go and take a little session the souls and and that, I think, that motivates, you know, that does motivate new nuclear players, that the can see that you know anything is possible.[PB7]
Paul Barnett 30:45
I'm going to jump in here and ask you a question. Al, I know I should be doing that tonight, because you're the interviewer, but you're a coach developer as well, and you're also, you've also been in the business of trying to motivate people. When you listen to rob explain how he goes about it, what, what resonates with you.
Alan McConnell 31:09
I think you can't influence growth and change in people or going on a journey without, without finding a mechanism to connect. And so I think that's that's been fundamental to everything that I've heard Rob talk about tonight. And I think that sits consistently with the notion of things that great coaches do. You know, it starts with, you know, the, I think the perception often is that the great coach rants and raves and carries on, and you know, is the Field Marshal in a whole lot of ways. And that's there are moments when that's absolutely true, but it doesn't cut it if you don't have connection.
Paul Barnett 31:54
I heard we interviewed somewhat a while back. It was a professor actually search a professor, Sergio, and he said, connection before correction. And I, soon as he said it, I thought, as a parent, and as you know, someone is leading a business, I thought, Oh, it's so true. You can't really correct someone until you you connect with them. And I, I hadn't heard it before, and it resonated with me, you know very deeply. And I think just listening to your story, Rob about engaging with those people when they come through the door, the connection starts at that moment. And it sounds like from there, you can then take them on on a long journey, which may or may not lead to them being an Olympian. Of course, not everyone can get there, but if they can see it, they can be it. And I guess if they're in the room with them, it, it changes the dynamic.
Alan McConnell 32:43
Rob, I reckon I know the answer to the first of this two part question. I want to know what it is that you find the most rewarding aspect of your work. But then I want to know, and you need to personalize this question. I want to know what you're what you're most proud of about what you've done. And you cannot be talking to us about your athletes or your program or, you know, the growth of the game. You've got to talk about you,
Rob Tarr 33:12
right? I'd say the obviously, the most reward being part of the job is seeing the growth of the sport, because it's come, it's come from grassroots. You know, it literally started with a group of guys in a sports hall. Let's just have a bit of fun and get this ball over, you know, from one entity. So, you know, it's quite unique that most sports within the Paralympics run hand in hand with the Olympic sport. You know, they've just been adapted. But wheelchair rugby was totally can see, you know, conceived and and built for us, so that that in itself, is is unique. And then obviously, you know, I've been, I've been on the circuit a long time, so to see the progress of the sport and the people that have come through it as well has been so rewarding, and it's a life changer. It changed my life for the good. You know, it's given me a purpose and a belonging to where I am now, and I'm still involved now. I'm still passionate about it. And then you've, you know, I see so many people, you know, constantly, every day. Now we know, obviously, now we've got the got social media. Didn't have that when I started playing, but you know, you've got your Instagram posts and your Facebook posts, and everybody just smiling, posting posting videos or photographs, and you just seen that through this sport, it's changed people's lives and giving people a purpose on so many different levels, as you You know, saying Not everybody's going to be a Paralympian, but there's a folk. Everybody's got their own focus. I mean, we've, we've had one of our ladies, our club has come. She's never going to be a Paralympian, you know, but she's lost 25 kilograms, and it gives us something to get up for every day and come along and enjoy. So, yeah, that's that's what I find rewarding about the coaching and coach education, is that I see the change in people's lives and and just know that it's going to be it gives them a belonging and a purpose, same as it's given me.
Alan McConnell 35:15
So there's the first bit of the question, right? He's doing his best to avoid this. I think Paul, like
Paul Barnett 35:22
all great coaches, they just hate that part. I know, but we are going to hold the blowtorch to your toes and make you answer the question,
Rob Tarr 35:32
so what? What's the most important thing?
Alan McConnell 35:34
What do you? What do you? What are you most proud of about, what the things you've just talked about. What's your part in that? What are you most proud of?
Rob Tarr 35:46
Yeah, well, I'm proud that I've made a difference in life to people. You know, I'm proud the way that people think of me. I mean, I must admit, when I was a player, I was a bit of a rebel. I enjoyed, I enjoyed my time on the court, but also enjoyed my time off the court. And I've got, I'm proud that I've represented Great Britain. I'm now representing world wheelchair rugby, and I'm proud that I had a big life changing event in my life. And instead of rolling over, I took it on the chin, and I've made a positive from a negative. And in many ways, see, I look back now, I don't really think much about my time when I was walking, all my proudest moments come since I've been in the wheelchair,
Alan McConnell 36:47
and I'm absolutely certain, right? That's why you're good at what you
Rob Tarr 36:51
do. Yes, probably. So yeah,
Paul Barnett 36:55
I think taking a positive from a negative, belonging, purpose, community. I think that's a pretty good place for us to finish. So thank you so much for your time. Tonight. It's been it's been fantastic learning about you, understanding the journey that you've been on, and, I guess, the difference you're trying to make in the world. Thank you
Rob Tarr 37:16
both very much for your time. It's been really pleasure chatting to you both. Great. Thank you. Applause.