Breeze Sports Academy has continued its partnership with Leeds Rugby Foundation as Year 10 and Year 11 students took part in a Rugby League Leaders Award.
As part of the Rugby League Development plan, Leeds Rugby Foundation are keen to get more people involved in Rugby League in the city.
The programme took place over 5 weeks with pupils in Years 10 and 11 being taught how to coach effectively from qualified Leeds Rugby Foundation Development Officers. The coaches were taught everything from the basics of good coaching practice, to the finer coaching points of some of the more specific skills in the game. The end product saw the individuals pull together as a team to organise, run and deliver a coaching festival to approximately 90 primary school pupils at Soccer City Leeds.
Leeds Rugby Foundation coaches Danny Edmondson, Adam Lunn and Russell Parker lead the programme which saw the students learning in a range of environments, from the classroom where they planned in depth sessions, to the field leading their peers in the training sessions they devised themselves.
Leeds Rugby Foundation Community Development Officer Adam Lunn commented: “I have seen massive improvements in all of the coaches. Many of the coaches are already thinking of going into apprenticeships, sporting courses and further education courses.”
One of the Breeze Sports Academy coaches, Reece Brown commented: “I have learnt a hell of a lot. I have learnt how to give the kids advice and how important it is to listen to what they say as well as coach.”
“I couldn’t thank Leeds Rugby Foundation enough for all their help. They have taught me everything I need to know about Rugby League and teaching it. Hopefully I can move on from this and eventually coach with Leeds Rhinos in the future.”