Minnesota Valkyries Rugby Football Club WPL Spotlight Player:  Libby Berg

written by JL Triemstra for YSC.com

Libby is a native Minnesotan and rugger.  She grew up just south of the Twin Cities in Albert Lea, MN.  Having a father who was an active rugby player, Libby also grew up at the pitch.  After starting to play 8 years ago at the College of St. Benedict’s, Libby’s career began to blossom as she advanced to Minnesota U23 further onto club rugby with the Minnesota Valkyries, Midwest Senior Women, USA U23, USA Senior Women. Currently, Libby is the Valkyries co-captain, prop/hooker, and a Doctor of Chiropractic.  I asked Libby how she finds balance with her career and rugby, how being a leader on the field shapes her life off the field, and if she could go back in time, what would she tell herself 8 years ago when she started rugby:

Q: How do you balance the demands of your career with the demands of rugby?

“Rugby was kind of the reason I choose Chiropractic as a career. I wanted to help athletes get back to their active lifestyles free of pain.  Since becoming a chiropractor, being involved in rugby has only helped me continue to learn about different sports injuries, what they present as, and how I can help to fix them.  Balancing chiropractic and rugby has been, well, interesting.  During chiropractic school, I would spend my lunchtime running or lifting, and then return to class or lab.  I remember studying for my part 4 boards, at the 2009 WPL nationals, in between games and practices.  Since making it through school, things have become a little easier to balance…The hardest balancing act has been when it comes to USA camps or tours, but I fortunately have great bosses and work with amazing chiropractors, who understand there is more to life than just my career, and rugby helps keep me sane and happy.   I am now involved in getting my rehabilitation certification, and plan on getting my sports chiropractic certification within the next couple of years.”

Q:  What priorities do you need to balance when committing time to playing rugby?

“When it comes to my priorities I have gotten kind of lucky.  My family is my top priority, and they are more than supportive when it comes to rugby.  Growing up in a rugby household, we are all involved in rugby in some shape or form, even my 7-year-old niece and 10-year-old nephew.  They just started learning about rugby at school, and my nephew decided to take up football this year, because he couldn’t play rugby.  My family comes to most of my games, even the away games.  My friends and my career are next on my priority list, and both are very understanding when it comes to rugby.  Basically, when fall rolls around, everyone is very aware that my time belongs to rugby, if I’m not working.  I very much appreciate the support I have from my family, friends, and the people at work.  I feel very lucky to have the people in my life that I do.”

Q: How has your experience as captain influenced leadership roles in the rest of your life?

“Becoming one of the captains for the MN Valkyries has been an extreme honor.  When I first became captain, Christy Ringgenberg, was the co-captain and she is an amazing captain to learn how to be a great leader from.  Being a captain has helped give me more confidence, especially when it comes to speaking in front of others in my every day life (for those who don’t know I am terrified to speak in front of people).  It has also made me more self aware of my actions.  I try to lead more by example, since speaking in front of people makes me a little nervous.”

Q: If you could go back to when your first started playing rugby and give yourself advice, what would you say?

“Hmmmm…I would tell myself to be confident as a rugby player, and that if I work hard I can make it to higher levels.  When I first started, rugby was easy …we had a lot of fun, and I never thought I would play for a top team, let alone the USA. Now that I do play for a top team and the USA, I wish I would have had the dedication and drive back then to get into playing at a higher levels sooner.”