Accepting that my future involvement in rugby is much more likely to be from the sidelines, I embarked upon the Scottish Rugby UKCC Level 2 course with some like minded fellows down at Kilmarnock RFC last weekend.
First impressions are that the SRU have made a considerable investment into the support for coaches and coach development. 2 very fine rugby 'educators' were on hand to take us through some rudimentary rugby concepts and to understand the SRU blueprint. We discussed coaching techniques and how the SRU see the game being played from a top level down. The emphasis very much on Mini-Rugby being fun for all and Youth rugby being a developmental game; not one for coaches and clubs to simply hunt for trophy glory but for the much greater ideal of player capture, development and retention.
I have to say that the volume of resource available is incredible, almost daunting, but the Scottish rugby portal on Hive hosts a wonderful array of coaching video and self-learning cards for coaches.
Further to what the SRU have been up to World rugby also have created a 'passport' site where coaches can manage their learning, with superb resources for First-Aid training, Concussion management, Protecting rugby from gambling problems, coaching, officiating and generally understanding the game better. The passport site allows a coach to self-learn and work towards certificates, some of which are mandatory homework for the UKCC Level 2.
I've spent at least 12 hours doing online homework for this and will be back down at Kilmarnock on Sunday for another practical coaching session, where I will need to demonstrate that I've found a way to address the critique I received for last Sunday's practical session. I don't expect to fail, but my goodness I'm impressed with the level of detail in the course and the level to which we're expected to understand Strength & Conditioning, psychology and player development. It's a long way from the 3 laps around the pitch warmup and endless passing drills I endured as a kid.
Very impressed.
Trials, tribulations, tales and titillations of a now 50- something year old, Scot, determined to stave of his cultural and genetic destiny with sporadic efforts to attain Physical perfection impaired by unhelpful refueling strategies and familial responsibilities. This blog will now track my efforts to recover from Multi-Focal Pulmonary Emboli, caused by a dislodged DVT.
