For the attention of all Coaches: Minis to Senior Level
This paper summarises the arrangements for the U18 squad and the development of youth male players into adult rugby from the U16 group set before the Rugby Committee in February 2007.
1. Background
1.1 Over the last 18 months we, the U17 coaches, have noted that many rugby clubs in Kent have failed to make available an U18 side until such time as the Kent U18 competition starts after Christmas and even then they have struggled to field a team. At Gravesend we have also noted a similar situation. The lack of play in the opening 3 months of the season has seen players lose interest and as a result the post Christmas tournament for Gravesend has been fraught with the lack of the available players.
1.2 Since around 2002, we have also observed a disintegration of the Gravesend U18 squad in the year prior to stepping up into the adult ranks. There is no set structure within the club that helps this particular transition into the adult game.
1.3 So there are two immediate problems to resolve – what to do pre Christmas with our U18 squad and the general transition of youth to adult rugby.
2. U18 Squad arrangements
2.1 The issue to be tackled is how to keep the U18 squad together until such times that the Kent competition starts after Christmas. The current U17 coaches have considered:
· arranging friendly fixtures with neighbouring clubs,
· arranging fixtures with clubs outside the county,
· joining a recognised competition for U18/U19’s.
2.2 Our research into the first two options has proved difficult as we couldn’t readily identify a single club to commit at this stage in the season. At the recent forum meeting of Kent clubs we could only confirm one friendly fixture. Also in consultation with the squad members they felt that whilst they’d welcome any rugby, the friendly fixture route offered minimal interest for them. We identified an East Midlands U19 competition which is structured into regions prior to the play-off stages and completed before the Christmas break.
2.3 The advantages of entering such a competition are:
- the timing of this tournament gives the Gravesend squad something to aim for in what has become a barren period for U18 rugby in recent years,
- it opens the door for those eligible to play at the U19, as well as U18
- it provides the competitive edge to the game sought by the players
- it expands the squads rugby playing experience and enhance decision making under pressure(addition)
- it will help maintain squad and club identity prior to playing Kent U18 rugby, and ultimately, and most importantly,
- will prevent the disintegration of the squad.
2.4 The disadvantages are:
· it clashes with school U18 rugby activity which affects around 40% of the squad,
· extra travelling time and distance could represent a barrier to a number of the players and parents if assistance is not offered.
2.5 Since writing the original proposal discussions with Blackheath, Westcombe Park, Sidcup and Cobham found that they too enter this competition.
R.1 Recommendation
The Coaches supports the U18 initiative to enter the pre Christmas competition.
3. Development of youth male rugby
3.1 We have no set strategy of how to develop our youth into the adult game.
3.2 Existing coach structure
3.2.1 Our existing coaching structure is set out in diagram 1 which shows a typical format seen in the many clubs who are fortunate to have a youth and mini sections.
Diagram 1
The structure shows clear lines of responsibility, without any formal link between senior and mini & youth.
Director of Rugby
|
Senior Coaches-------------------------------Mini & Youth Coaches
(Appointed) (Volunteer)
| |
1st to 5th team and moles U7 to U18 boys, U14 to U18 Girls
3.2.2 The advantages of this structure are that:
- it is clear and easy to understand,
- it is a tried and trusted format that has worked with some degree of success over many numbers of years.
3.2.3 The disadvantages of the current set up within GRFC:
- it is heavily dependent upon volunteers below senior level, which does not readily guarantee appropriate levels of understanding of the game. (Although through recent initiatives, thanks to the hard work of Teresa Gray & Pete Harman, youth and mini coaching can be now be benchmarked against RFU coaching standards.)
- there is a void of high level rugby experience within the Youth Coaching ranks
- no clear directive from the club as to style and pattern play,
- senior coaches, until recently, have tended to fight shy of youth involvement. Although in the 12 months we have seen a lot of help from coaches and players from the senior ranks – many thanks.
3.3 Proposed coach and playing structure
3.3.1 Diagram 2 sets out the proposed coach and playing structure for the development of our youth players.
Diagram 2
The structure shows clear lines of responsibility, with formal links between senior, youth & team development and mini & youth coaches.
Director of Rugby
|
Senior Coaches-------------------------------------------------------------------
(Appointed) | | | |
| | | | |
| | | Youth Coaches Mini Coaches
1st 2nd 4th 5th 3rd ---------Youth Dev.---- --| U15 to U12 U7 to U11
teams development Coaches (YDCs) |
and moles |
|
Youth Development
Squad Coaches
U18,U17 &U16
3.3.2 At U16 and over the following 24 months players are more receptive to coaching styles and the disciplines to be observed within the game and with that comes the backbone of this proposal. We propose that YDCs give support to the existing squad coaches at U16, U17 and U18 and supervise those U18 players who play for the development team by appointing a number of youth development coaches. Their purpose is to oversee and assist the youth development squad coaches, help establish standards of conduct, coaching and game style set by senior adult coaches, support young players playing in the development team and embed the Club’s rugby ethos.
3.3.3 The appointment of separate youth development coaches is designed to tackle the disadvantages seen within the current structure, in particular,
- appointment to this level can be governed by the club to ensure that the individuals are capable to the task at hand and not rely on the volunteer factor,
- YDCs would ease the senior level coaches capacity issues and relieve them of direct responsibility for youth development rugby,
- style and pattern of plays can be more readily and consistently set down.
3.3.4 In order to accommodate this approach to youth development the existing third team needs to be seen and organised as a Third (Development) Team. It should be noted that other senior clubs playing in higher divisions use the second team for this function.
3.4 How will it work in practice?
3.4.1 The objectives of the YDCs can best be considered over the rugby year i.e. closed season preparation, pre-season, season and post-season. Appendix 1 provides a summary of the objectives that appear in paragraphs 3.4.1.1 to 3.4.1.8 below.
Closed Season Preparation
3.4.1.1 Prior to pre-season training the Director of Rugby, Senior, Youth Development, Youth Development Squad, Youth and Mini Coaches need to meet to discuss the forthcoming year’s training and playing strategy. Through this meeting the basic framework for the YDCs will be established. The first objective arising from this process is to ensure, in consultation with existing squad coaches, that the style, pattern and calls of play are understood and form the basis of the U16 to U18 training programme.
Pre-Season
3.4.1.2 To start training in July on Weds and from September back to Sunday accepting that some weeks will be rather quiet due to holiday and other family commitments. The main focus of these sessions is to maintain levels of fitness and essential skills in July and stepping up the intensity until September where game play scenario training will took over. The benefit from this early commitment is to hit the season running. This brings us to the second objective: to ensure, again in consultation with existing squad coaches, that the U16 to U18 pre-season training programme is designed to allow players to play to their potential and not to be hindered through lack of fitness or loss of essential skills.
3.4.1.3 Youth development should also concentrate on the understanding of game play strategy and positional play. To help this process we see particular benefits arising through mentoring where U18’s can help U17’s and U16’s, and the U17 can help U16’s. This gives rise to the third objective: In at least 3 of the weekends in August and September YDCs will ensure that there will be joint training between the U16, U17 and U18 teams where positional play will be the main focus and set calls and moves can be laid down. The additional benefits of this type of joint training are that it allows personal and social groups to widen, it gives a sense of responsibly for the older groups, and will in time allow the migration from youth to adult rugby to be easier as there should be familiar faces when players move on.
Season
3.4.1.4 In reaching the age of 17 individuals are eligible to play in the adult ranks, with known front row exceptions. This poses issues for the YDCs who need to ensure that that all youth players playing in the adult ranks continue to get the right level of support. This will demand close liaison with the senior coaches, third team captain and the Youth Development Squad Coaches. Thus the forth objective is set: to ensure that any youth players, and or, first year adult players are adequately supported by the YDCs when playing adult rugby. A fifth objective also arises here in that the YDCs must ensure that players under 18 playing in the adult ranks are not over played which increases the risk of exhaustion and long term injury.
3.4.1.5 There will be times during the season that training issues arise through observation of the game. Where considered necessary by the YDCs and the Development Team Captain, they are to liaise with senior coaches to run specific one–off training sessions to deal with the issues arising. Thus the YDCs and the Development Team Captain will have the objective and responsibility to feedback training issues arising from the Development Team games to the senior and if necessary the youth squad coaches.
3.4.1.6 The YDCs will from time to time observe U16 to U18 games to ensure that the general rugby ethos set in the closed season is being observed. Where necessary, and in consultation with the Squad Coaches specific training sessions will be held to deal with matters arising. Feedback to the players and coaches is a vital tool to help their development and consideration should be given to the use of video feedback to achieve this, whilst observing RFU policy on this subject. Therefore, YDCs have the objective and responsibility to provide appropriate feedback to the U16 to U18 players and coaches.
Post Season
3.4.1.7 YDCs as with all other coaches need to feedback to the Director of Rugby a year end report, either verbally but preferably in writing. This should contain their thoughts on the year’s events directly addressing the training and game play strategy set in the previous closed season and make recommendations for the forthcoming year. The final objective of the YDCs is to provide the Director of Rugby adequate feedback during and at the year end to ensure future rugby related decisions can be properly considered.
3.4.1.8 Finally, the end of the season presentation of the squad awards has very much been left to each age group with the exception of the minis who hold an annual event. Given that we’re developing a unique group we see particular benefits in organising a Youth Development Year Dinner & Disco for U16 to U18’s. This will leave the existing U12 to U15 groups to arrange their own events although there is also merit in these age groups joining together as well. The intention here is to recognise the four playing groups within the club i.e. minis, youth, youth development and adult.
R.2 Recommendation
The Coaches support the creation of the Youth Development Coaches and ensure that the Third team is seen as the Development Team for youth and young adult rugby.
4. Development of youth female rugby
4.1 This paper has not specifically considered the development of the youth female section but we can see no reason why the arrangements set out above can not accommodate this.
5. Conclusion and Way Forward
5.1 All successful sporting clubs have invested time and effort in developing their youth sections. We at Gravesend have one of the most envied youth and mini set ups in Kent. To ensure continued success we also need to be capable of change for the right reason. We, the U17 coaches, see the restructure of our current youth into a youth and youth development structure as a step forward. The ultimate beneficiaries are the young players and the club. If managed correctly, we should see standards rise at the U16 to U18 level and an eventual swelling of the adult rugby playing pool with players who are ready to take up the challenge.
5.2 We encourage the Coaches to consider and approve the above recommendations.
6. Feedback
6.1 Feedback on these arrangements is required by the end of April 08. Feedback should given to the Director Of Rugby via his GRFC office.
Signed
Ephraim Cornelissen
U17 Coach & Director of Rugby
John Forbes Steve Weeks
U17 Coach U17 Coach
Appendix 1
Aims and objectives of the Youth Development Coaches (YDCs)
Aim: to oversee and assist the youth development squad coaches, help establish standards of conduct, coaching and game style set by senior adult coaches, support young players playing in the development team and embed the Club rugby ethos.
Objectives:
To ensure that:
- in consultation with existing squad coaches, that the style, pattern and calls of play are understood and form the basis of the U16 to U18 training programme;
- in consultation with existing squad coaches, that the U16 to U18 pre-season training programme is designed to allow players to play to their potential and not to be hindered through lack of fitness or loss of essential skills;
- in at least 3 of the weekends in August and September Youth Development Coaches will ensure that there is joint training between the U16, U17 and U18 teams where positional play will be the main focus and set calls and moves can be laid down;
- any youth players, and or, first year adult players are adequately supported when playing adult rugby;
- players under 18 playing in the adult ranks are not overplayed to avoid the risk of exhaustion and long term injury;
- to feedback training issues arising from the U16 to U18 and Development Team games to the youth squad and senior coaches;
- to provide the Director of Rugby adequate feedback at the year end to ensure future rugby related decisions can be properly considered.
