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Coach Education and Development
The RFU aims to be a world leader in Community Rugby Coaching and Development and provides a coaching pathway from mini rugby to the elite game.
Coaching - that is effective and of the highest quality will undoubtedly have a most significant influence in introducing,developing and retaining players in Rugby Union.
The Community Rugby Coach Education Programme is designed to let you, the coach, access both the courses and support that you need to help you achieve your coaching goals.
All of our Coach Education Courses are staffed by fully qualified RFU tutors and assessors who will always be on hand to help you develop your coaching skills no matter what level of the game you are working at.
The courses we offer are designed to place the coach at the centre of the learning process. Tutors will encourage and support you in both the practical and theory elements of the courses as well as promoting the unique ethos of Rugby Union:
- Ethics - creating a positive environment with good sporting attitudes
- Equity/social inclusion - welcoming people from all backgrounds to the game
- The principles of safety, equity, child protection, enjoyment, and law are established
- A sharing culture – of information and ideas to help develop the game
RFU Awards are always well subscribed and the limited places available are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. It is therefore important that you book early to avoid disappointment.
COMMUNITY LEADERS AWARD (CLA)
The course is competence based and includes modules on coaching, refereeing, child peotection, community delivery and leadership. The course, which involves practical and theory elements is ideally suited for 14-19 yr olds who wish to develop their skills to assist/co-deliver rugby activities
Entry Requirements: Minimum age 14. In order to pass the course, leaders will be expected to organise and commit to an additional minimum of 2 hours of delivery in a Rugby environment.
Course Duration: a 5 hour course usually over 2 evening or 1 day
TAG RUGBY COACHING COURSE (TAG)
The course is designed to help you begin your rugby coaching within the non-contact version of the sport. A practically based course which will help coaches move onto the Start Course or Level 1. By attending a Tag course you will learn how to deliver elements of the warm-up, handling and small sided games specific to the Tag game.
Entry Requirements: Minimum age 14.
Course Duration: 2 1/2 to 3 hours, usually over 1 evening or a day.
START
The Start Rugby Coaching Course is designed to help you begin your rugby coaching and to give others the opportunity to enjoy the benefits the sport. Start Rugby is a practically based course and will help you to move onto the Level 1 Coaching qualification that will further develop your coaching skills and knowledge. By attending a Start Rugby Course you will learn to deliver elements of the warm-up, handling and contact skills, small sided games and basic coaching processes. The course is accompanied by a pack of laminated coaching cards that easily fit into a pocket. Contact your local Rugby Development Officer to run a course at your club or school.
Entry Requirements: Minimum age 16
Course Duration: 2 ½ to 3 hours
IN SERVICE COACHING COURSE
The In Service course is designed to provide coaches with an additional opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge in between the strands of the Coaching Award structure. The course ward covers a range of topics including the role of the coach, planning and delivering coaching sessions, skill development and strategy and tactics. It should be seen as a step between level one and two.
Entry Requirements: Minimum age 16. It is recommended that coaches possess a RFU Level one coaching qualification.
Course Duration: 2 to 2 ½ hour evening course
LEVEL 1 COACHING AWARD - 21 hours (2 ½ days)
Course description:
This course provides an introduction to rugby union and the principles of safe, ethical and effective management and coaching of young people, as an assistant under the supervision of a qualified coach. It offers an opportunity for aspiring rugby union coaches to develop their knowledge of how to coach a local club team or similar effectively, either via the modified game of mini/midi or 15-a-side play. The Award sits within the United Kingdom Coaching Certificate.
Course content:
At the end of the course, successful candidates will be able to demonstrate an understanding of:
- generic coaching skills
- rugby specific coaching skills
- coach and player development
- good practice in club management and coaching
- health and safety
- working with parents, attitudes and ethics
- basic laws of rugby union.
Resources provided:
Candidate pack and a variety of learning materials, including a Level 1 Certificate Coaching Rugby Union (L1CCRU) handbook coaching DVD and Law Book.
Qualification gained:
L1CCRU Certificate.
Eligibility:
Minimum age 16.
Qualified teachers, trainee teachers and AOTTs.
It is recommended that coaches have a two year playing or coaching background, or have worked in coaching for one season since attending a Tag or Mini / Midi course.
Assessment:
The internal assessment component is conducted alongside candidates’ programmes of training, and includes planning and delivering a coaching session and delivering a number of pre-planned sessions as outlined by the tutor. There is also an internally assessed open book, multi-choice test.
Practical/theory Ratio:
General mix of practical and theory.
LEVEL 2 COACHING AWARD - 69 hours (4 days on-course study & off-course study)
Course description:
The Level 2 Coaching Certificate in Rugby Union provides teachers & coaches with the skills and knowledge to prepare for, deliver and review coaching / teaching sessions. These may take place within a school, college or club. The Award sits within the United Kingdom Coaching Certificate framework and aims to equip coaches to ‘to prepare for, deliver and review a series of coaching sessions.’ The course is usually delivered in 2 x 2 day blocks, with Home Study / Delivery in between.
Course content:
At the end of the course, successful candidates will be able to demonstrate an understanding of:
- generic coaching skills
- rugby specific coaching skills, including forward & back Play
- sports Science
- coach and player development
- aspects of team play
- good practice in coaching
- health and safety
- working with parents, attitudes and ethics
- basic laws of rugby union.
Resources provided:
Candidate pack and a variety of learning materials, including a Level 1 Certificate Coaching Rugby Union (L1CCRU) handbook, coaching DVD and Law Book.
Qualification gained:
L2CCRU Certificate.
Eligibility:
Qualified teachers, trainee teachers and AOTTs with a Level 1 Award.
Entry is offered to Level 1 coaches, who gain nomination in acknowledgement of their quality at Level 1, or their general coaching performance since obtaining Level 1 the coach should possess a coaching CV that meets the approval of the CDO/RDO/RDM
Assessment:
The internal assessment component is conducted alongside candidates’ programmes of training, and includes planning and delivering a coaching session and delivering a number of pre-planned sessions as outlined by the tutor. There is also a requirement to Plan, Deliver & Review a series of 10 sessions within the Teacher’s school, which is assessed on return to the course.
Practical/theory Ratio:
General mix of practical and theory.
