Breaking the Cycle: How Pass It Back Youth Coaches Are Redefining the Culture of Coaching

by Mark Villamora

There is something remarkable about 16-year-old Pass It Back (PIB) coach Rachel Pontero from Olongapo. At a young age, she is already challenging traditional ideas about coaching and helping shape what the next generation of coaches could look like.

Rachel Pontero (16), a Pass It Back Youth Coach from Olongapo City, Philippines.

Many former players enter coaching carrying the same pressures, expectations, and even traumas they experienced under their own coaches. Some unknowingly pass these on to the athletes they mentor. Rachel, however, takes a different approach. She believes that every player is unique and that effective coaching comes from understanding individual needs, strengths, and challenges. For her, an individualized approach is not just a coaching style - it is the foundation of good leadership.

“Hindi ko po nakikita yung sarili ko na ganon po sa mga players ko na sobrang harsh, sobrang lala magsalita, kasi ayokong may isang player na dun na sila mag-stop.”

“I don’t see myself being that kind of coach to my players who is very harsh and speaks very badly, because I don’t want a single player to have those reasons that they stop.”

Every player is different, and as she works closely with and lives in the same community as the youth of PIB Olongapo, it breaks her heart to see them go through experiences they should not have to endure.

“May mga time na natataasan ko sila ng boses pero di po talaga ako gumagamit ng mga salitang alam kong makakasakit sa kanila, kasi naranasan ko po kasi yun, alam ko po yung pakiramdam.”

“There are times I raise my voice at them, but I really don’t use words that I know will hurt them, because I have experienced that too, I know how it feels.”

Rachel believes there is power in observation, a value highly emphasized by her parents while she was growing up. This has helped her become a coach who makes everyone feel seen and provides individualized guidance for each player. She believes that despite living in the same community, every youth in Olongapo still has different walks of life.

“Encouragement at pagiging malapit po talaga sa kanila [players], dun po ako mas naging mas open at mas nakilala ko pa po sila isa-isa.”

“Through encouragement and being close to them [the players], that’s where I become more open and get to know them more one by one.”

The young coach also shared an unforgettable journey she had where it became the “pass that came back” to her.

Coach Reflection Narrative

Youth Coach Rachel "Che" Pontero (16), from Pass It Back Youth in Olongapo City, Philippines.

"May mga pagkakataon sa pagiging coach na hindi mo inaasahang magiging mahalaga sa’yo. Hindi ito yung mga sandali na may malalaking panalo o may palakpakan ng maraming tao. Minsan, nagsisimula lang sa isang simpleng training tahimik, ordinaryo, pero may isang moment na unti-unting nagiging mahalaga habang naiintindihan mo ang ibig sabihin nito.
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‎Naalala ko pa sa bawat training namin. Bilang bagong coach, hindi ko maitatanggi na may kaba ako. Maraming tanong ang pumapasok sa isip ko noon. Kaya ko ba silang turuan? Maiintindihan ba nila ang mga sinasabi ko? Magiging sapat ba ako bilang coach para sa kanila?
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‎Habang nagsisimula kami sa warm-up, pinapanuod ko lang sila. Tumatakbo sila sa field, nag-iistretching, sinusunod ang mga simpleng instructions. Sa dami ng players, may isang player na unti-unting nakakuha ng pansin ko. Hindi dahil siya ang pinaka magaling, at hindi rin dahil siya ang pinaka maingay. Tahimik lang siya, pero makikita mo sa kilos niya na seryoso siya sa ginagawa niya.
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‎Habang ipinapakita ko ang pag pasa at salo ng bola, napansin ko na nakatingin siya nang mabuti. Para bang bawat galaw na ipinapakita ko ay gusto niyang maintindihan. Nang magsimula na silang gawin ang drills, doon ko nakita na nahihirapan pa siya sa umpisa. May mga bola na hindi niya agad nasasalo at may mga pasa na hindi pa tama ang lakas o direksyon.Pero sa halip na tumigil o mapahiya, ginawa niya ang isang bagay na para sa akin ay napakahalaga.

‎Sinubukan niya ulit.
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‎Kapag nahulog ang bola, pupulutin niya ito at susubukan ulit. 
‎Kapag nagkamali ang pasa, babawi siya sa susunod.
‎At kapag may sinabi akong correction, makikita mo sa kilos niya na talagang sinusubukan niyang gawin nang mas maayos.
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‎Habang pinapanuod ko siya noon, may naramdaman akong kakaiba bilang coach. Parang sa bawat attempt niya, may mensaheng sinasabi ang effort niya na gusto niyang matuto, na gusto niyang gumaling, at na handa siyang magtiyaga kahit hindi madali.
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‎At doon ako naging proud.
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‎Hindi dahil nakita ko ang pinaka magaling na player sa team.
‎Kundi dahil nakita ko ang isang player na may tapang magsimula at may puso para matuto.
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‎Sa totoo lang, habang pinapanuod ko siyang paulit-ulit na sumusubok, may isang bagay din akong napansin sa sarili ko. Parang sa bawat effort niya, mas lalo akong na m-motivate na turuan sya/sila.
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‎Doon ko naintindihan na ang pagiging coach ay hindi lang tungkol sa paghahanap ng magagaling na players. Ito ay tungkol sa pagkilala sa mga players na may determinasyon yung mga taong handang matuto kahit mahirap, at handang mag grow kahit nagsisimula pa lang at mayroong disiplina sa sarili.
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May isang player na tahimik na lumalaban para gumaling at matuto.
‎At may isang coach na tahimik ding natutong maniwala sa kahalagahan ng bawat maliit na effort.
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‎Dahil minsan, ang pinakamagandang simula ng isang player ay hindi nakikita sa galing niya sa umpisa… ‎nakikita ito sa paraan ng pagbangon niya sa bawat pagkakamali.
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‎At bilang coach sobrang halaga ang bawat pagtuturo, at bawat encouragement na ibinibigay namin sa kanila.
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‎Dahil sa simpleng training na iyon, may isang player na nagpapaalala sa akin kung bakit mahalaga ang ginagawa namin na ang sports ay hindi lang tungkol sa panalo, kundi tungkol sa paglago, tiyaga, at sa puso na patuloy na sumusubok.
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‎At sa moment na iyon, naintindihan ko na habang tinutulungan ko silang maging mas mabuting players…‎unti-unti rin akong hinuhubog para maging mas mabuting coach.”

- Coach Che (16), Pass It Back Olongapo City, Philippines

There are moments in being a coach that you don’t expect to become so meaningful. These aren’t the times with big wins or loud applause from many people. Sometimes, it starts with a simple, quiet, ordinary training—but then there’s a moment that gradually becomes significant as you understand its meaning.

I still remember every training we’ve had. As a new coach, I can’t deny that I was nervous. Many questions ran through my mind back then: Can I really teach them? Will they understand what I’m saying? Will I be enough as a coach for them?

As we began the warm-up, I just watched them. They ran on the field, stretched, followed the simple instructions. Among so many players, there was one who gradually caught my attention. Not because she was the best, and not because she was the loudest. She was quiet, but you could see in her actions that she was serious about what she was doing.

As I demonstrated passing and catching the ball, I noticed her watching closely, as if she wanted to understand every movement I showed. When they began the drills, I saw that she struggled at first. There were balls she couldn’t catch immediately, and some passes weren’t yet at the right strength or direction. But instead of stopping or feeling embarrassed, she did something that, to me, was incredibly important.

She tried again.

When the ball fell, she picked it up and tried again.
When a pass went wrong, she corrected it the next time.

And whenever I gave a correction, you could see in her actions that she genuinely tried to do better.

As I watched her, I felt something unusual as a coach. With every attempt, her effort sent a message: she wanted to learn, she wanted to improve, and she was ready to persevere even when it wasn’t easy.

And that’s when I felt proud.
Not because I saw the best player on the team,
But because I saw a player with the courage to start and the heart to learn.

Honestly, as I watched her keep trying, I also noticed something in myself. With every effort she made, I became even more motivated to teach her—and all of them.

That’s when I understood that being a coach isn’t just about finding the most talented players. It’s about recognizing those with determination—people willing to learn even when it’s hard, willing to grow even when they’re just starting, and who have discipline in themselves.

There is a quiet player fighting to improve and learn,
And there is a quiet coach learning to value every small effort.

Because sometimes, a player’s best beginning isn’t seen in their initial skill…
It’s seen in how they rise after every mistake.

And as a coach, every lesson we teach, every encouragement we give, is invaluable.

Because in that simple training, one player reminded me why what we do is important: sports are not just about winning—they are about growth, perseverance, and the heart to keep trying.

And in that moment, I realized that as I help them become better players…
I am slowly being shaped into a better coach as well.

- Coach Che (16), Pass It Back Olongapo City, Philippines
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For Rachel Pontero, she challenges the new generation of coaches to consistently connect with their players, intentionally understand each individual, and remain mindful in avoiding coaching approaches that reflect their own past traumatic player experiences during the transition into coaching.

These significant milestones of youth coaches in Pass It Back are made possible through the Southeast Asia Sport and Youth Crime Prevention (SYCP) Initiative. Another youth from a vulnerable community has had their life changed and is now passing on positive change to more fellow youth.

About Philippine Rugby Football Union
The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) is the governing body for the sport of rugby in the Philippines. Established in 1998, PRFU is dedicated to the development and promotion of rugby across the country, from grassroots to elite levels. PRFU oversees various rugby programs, competitions, and national teams, aiming to make rugby a major sport in the Philippines.

About Southeast Asia Sport and Youth Crime Prevention (SYCP) Initiative
The SYCP Initiative is a visionary and groundbreaking programme that uses sport to build safer and more resilient communities. Initiated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Agence française de développement (AFD), the Initiative is coordinated by the Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice (AoS) and delivered in collaboration with a wide network of national, regional and international partners.

About Pass It Back
Pass It Back is an integrated rugby and life skills learning curriculum designed by ChildFundRugby to equip children and young people to overcome challenges, inspire positive social change, and ‘pass it back’ to their communities. Through play-based learning, young people gain critical social and emotional skills that build confidence, resilience, and leadership – both on and off the field.
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About ChildFund Rugby
ChildFund Rugby, World Rugby’s Global Social Impact Partner, harnesses the power of rugby to drive positive social change, supporting children and young people in vulnerable situations to build leadership, resilience, and shape their own futures.

For inquiries, please contact: 
[email protected]​