Coaching Programmes & Courses

Tag Course

Course Description:

The WRU TAG course is mandatory for all club coaches to introduce the non-contact game of tag rugby to their players. It is also suitable for teachers and pupils who are studying coaching or just have a passion for it.

Outline of course:

The course is 3 hours in duration.

There is no formal assessment, informal on course appraisal will be given by course tutor.

TAG rugby provides a safe and simple introduction to the game of rugby union. The WRU has developed this course to offer coaches working with young players in the non-contact game, the opportunity to grow their knowledge and skills and in doing so improve the experience afforded to young players entering the game. An early positive experience has been shown to lead to longer-term player participation.

TAG rugby introduces both the player and coach to the fundamentals of evasive running, handling and passing, as well as the basic rules and principles of the game of rugby union.

TAG is a fast paced, fun game suitable for boys and girls. The invasion nature of the game provides opportunities for players to develop a basic understanding of the principles underlying rugby and other team sports such as football, hockey or netball.

Course Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course you will be able to-

Provide a safe and fun environment to learn.

Ability to coach and understand the benefits of coaching through games.

Cost  – £30

To Book  wru.wales/courses

U9 – U11 Coaching Early Contact

Aims

The WRU U9 – U11 Coaching Early Contact course is designed to develop the coach to introduce contact rugby to young players in a safe, fun and engaging manner.

It is mandatory for all coaches at these ages to have gained this qualification.

Throughout the course the candidate will understand the benefits to ‘coaching through games’ as a method in a training session along with gaining an appreciation for developing the whole player by displaying attributes of the whole coach.

Learning Outcomes 

• Effective Coaching
• Introduciton to the Tackle
• The Coaching Process
• Ontorduction to Contact
• Managing the Environment

 Cost – £70

To Book  wru.wales/courses

Coaching Early Contact Workbook

Full Game Level 1 

As players grow in size, ability, and understanding, your coaching needs to evolve. The WRU Level 1  is the cornerstone of formal coach education, designed for those working with the 15-a-side game and is mandatory for all coaches that coach U12s and U13s.

Aims

The course provides coaches with an introduction to the game of rugby union and the principles and practice of safe, ethical and effective management and coaching of players of all ages.

The course qualifies the coach to act as an assistant to a more qualified coach. The Level 1  aims to develop a coach’s ‘How to Coach’ skills as well as improve their ‘What to coach Skills’.

The course is a modular course made up of the following units:

Learning Outcomes

Introduction to Safe Rugby Union

• The role of the coach

• Working with Children

• Laws of  the Game

• Health and Safety

 Plan Coaching Sessions

• Planning for Delivery of Coaching Sessions

Deliver Coaching Sessions

• Skill Development (Generic and position specific skills)

• Communication Skills

• Observation of Performance

Entry Requirements: Minimum Age 18

Course Arrangements / Outline

• The course is 21hrs in duration (16hrs on course, 5hrs home study)

• The course is a competence based course and involves on-course appraisal

• The course involves both classroom and outdoor practical sessions. Coaches are expected to participate fully in all activities if injured please notify us in advance.

Cost – £120

To Book  wru.wales/courses

Full Game Level 2 

At this stage of development, players are physically maturing and the game becomes more demanding. Coaching shifts towards more advanced technical, tactical, and physical preparation. The course has been designed to deepen your expertise and is mandatory for those coach U14 and above.

Aims

Building on the Level 1 qualification the course develops greater depth of knowledge of the game of rugby union and the principles and practice of safe, ethical and effective management and coaching of players of U14 and above.

The course is a modular course made up of the following units:

Learning Outcomes 

Practical

Handling, Running, Kicking, Contact, Continuity, Restarts

Theory

Communication, Coaching Styles, Effective Coaching, Warm up / Warm down

Home Study Tasks

Codes of Behaviour, Dealing with Accidents and Injuries, Laws of the Game, Child Protection in Sport, Risk Assessment / Health & Safety, Player Development, Skill Analysis

Coaching

Coaching Practical

Assessment

Internal Assessment of Home Study, Review of session Plans, Laws Test, Practical session coaching

Entry Requirements: Candidates must be over 18 years of age, this is due to the level of autonomy and responsibility of a qualified coach of Rugby Union operating at this level. You must of achieved the level 1 before attending the level 2

COURSE ARRANGEMENTS / OUTLINE

• The course is 60hrs in duration

• The course is a competence based course and involves on-course appraisal

• The course involves both classroom and outdoor practical sessions. Coaches are expected to participate fully in all activities

Cost – £250

To Book  wru.wales/courses

Advanced Coaching Course (L3)

Aims

To provide candidates who have an on-going involvement in coaching rugby union with the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to deliver a coaching programme and demonstrate their rugby union coaching ability.

The course offers an opportunity for candidates to be given support to effectively apply the principles of the WRU coaching framework which have the four main headings in coaching craft, Leadership, People, and self-concept.

Within these aspects we will cover creativity in coaching, session design, observation, and coaching approach. Also there will be sessions on planning, self, learning environments, leadership styles and reflective practice.

It also aims to enable the candidate to create an effective coaching environment, establish supportive working relationships and manage the behaviour of self, players, and others. This is achieved through the WRU coaching framework and an understanding and the application of the underpinning knowledge of Advanced coaching (Level 3)

The course is a mixture of  theory and technical and tactical sessions throughout the course, group work, individual tasks  and community of practice sessions. A mentor will be assigned to the candidates for the duration of the course to support the coach through the programme.

The National WRU Advanced coaching course will accommodate a maximum of 24 candidates.

Due to the anticipated demand of course places across Wales, priority access will be given to candidates based on the following criteria if applications exceed the allocated numbers:

Enhanced Priority:

• Regional Age Grade Coaches (16 – 18)
• Regional based Premiership Coach

• Regional Development Workforce
• Player pathway Development Coaches (EPP)

Preferred Priority:

• Regional resident
• Regional based Senior/Youth level coach
• Regular attendance at Regional CPD events

Minimum Priority:

• Coaching a community team from youth or senior team
• Out of region applicants

Application Criteria

• Applicant must be coaching.
• Applicant must be Level 2 Qualified.

To apply, candidates need to submit the following:

• Rugby coaching CV
• Letter of application highlighting why you should be selected for this course.
• 20-minute coaching video.
• 200-word reflection on their coaching session.

Cost £600

To Book –  This course is by application only. Application Opens in February every year and you can apply on line.

Coaching is a vitally important aspect of sport. Coaches have a big impact on people getting involved in rugby and staying involved. It is important that you have a diverse coaching workforce that can meet the needs of each one of your participants and that reflects your playing population and potential participants

Accelerate – Women in coaching has been designed to provide a coaching journey with support.

Who’s it for? For all women who have taken their first step in coaching and are looking to develop, delivered through a community of practice forum, coaches are encouraged to participate through reflection of practice and are offering high valued learning environments, where peer to peer learning activities are offered as a complementary alternative alongside the more traditional course offerings.

If you are interested in doing the accelerate programme contact you local rugby engagement officer

The WRU are committed to the continued support of coaches through bespoke learning and development opportunities that help grow the breadth, depth and diversification of the coach.

The EPP engages with players from 14 to 16 years old and is a 22-month development programme that complements school and club playing programmes, by providing further development opportunities. The primary focus at this stage is developing foundational skills (brilliant basics) and fundamentals in all facets of the game and introducing formalised and structured physical development both of which will be the foundation of a future professional player and a thriving adult community player.

This program is a collaboration of the WRU and the regions working together to support coaches in such topics as session design and feedback along with technical and tactical areas of our game, its very much regionally delivered and WRU facilitated.

It’s an environment that develops a coaches craft, with young talented players over a set period of time.

If you want to be part of developing the next generation of players for Wales and you have the ability to be flexible with the training requirements contact your regional coach development officer to see what opportunities are available to you in your area.

Having completed your WRU L3 programme you may wish to consider how you can further develop yourself as a coach.

In order to access to ongoing development and WRU development resources you will need to become a recognised performance coach.

The video below explains the four stages of recognition which are:

• Creation of a personal profile
• Creation of a Personal Development plan
• Logging of your development activity
• Annual reflection upon, and renewal of, your development plan

The Recognition programmes build upon the Leagacy Of Ray Williams and this video provides background upon how it works.

A recognised coach will gain access to a range of blended development resources including coaching café webinars, Pivotal podcasts, meet the coach interviews, audio book reviews, WhatsApp quickies, 60 second psych clips, in person events for leadership, development and performance with guest speakers and Q and A’s.

Application to the Specialist Level 4 coaching programmes is dependent upon your recognition as a performance coach