Elke van Meer fell in love with rugby from the moment she was first introduced to the sport at a coaching clinic at high school when she was 17
From those beginnings van Meer went on to enjoy a successful playing career, winning international honours with Netherlands and major domestic honours at club level.
Although now retired from playing, van Meer remains passionate about rugby and she is now helping to inspire the next generation of Dutch girls as backs coach of the RUS club in Utrecht, as well as being involved in the national Under-18s team.
As the first Dutch coach in the Gallagher High Performance Academy WXV 2024, van Meer will be able to share her passion for rugby with other female coaches from across the world.
“I hope that by participating in the programme I will become a better coach,” van Meer told World Rugby.
“A coach who can create an atmosphere in which all players want to work hard for each other, where the players feel seen, and I want to get the best out of everyone on and off the field.”
Building a strong team culture is an important part of van Meer’s coaching philosophy, as is valuing and working with every player in a squad.
“I think team culture is really important. When you coach a new team you have a great chance to set the standard in clear norms and values,” she said.
“I think it is good to hold a team meeting and ask what everyone thinks is important in the team. You must maintain and implement the most important points with the team.
“This could be simple things like being on time, doing your running plan at home in your own time or working on your weak passing side before training starts.
“The coach must then check whether everyone is doing the extra work. This can be done, for example, by taking a running test where you can view the progress of the players.
“You can teach the team that they can speak to each other when things don’t go well. Let them help each other to make the team better.”