As part of their School Partner Project, staff from the Leeds Rhinos Foundation were joined by Alex Foster on their visit to All Saints’ Primary School in Leeds on Wednesday 25th November, to run a unique coaching experience for the children in the year 1 and year 6.
Schools Partnership Officer Emma Davis led the coaching session and was supported by Rhinos Academy product Alex Foster, who recently announced he would be playing for Featherstone next season having agreed a new deal with the Rhinos in 2016. Alex is a level 2 qualified coach and he helped the class learn some rugby principles and passing techniques.
The Children from All Saints School took part in sessions involving the development of tag rugby skills and multi skills that are all geared towards the promotion of active lifestyles and embracing physical activity from a young age.
The sessions are a fun way to develop motor skills such as passing and catching with a focus on incorporating team work and communication skills and Wednesday offered the children the chance to learn from a role model in the community with Alex.
Alex Foster said after the session: “As a youngster I would have loved this. For a professional player to come in and teach me a few skills would have been brilliant. I think it’s really important because kids need positive role models, and I don’t think there are any better than sports people to fit that category.”
The Schools Partner Project now operates in 37 schools in the Leeds area and the Foundation are hoping to extend this to enable more schools in Leeds to benefit from the service.
Emma Davis said: “The aim for us is to get as many primary schools in Leeds signed up to this as we can. We know it has been a real benefit to the schools from the feedback we’ve had so far, and it’s a really good way to incorporate the Rhinos into their schools as well as using the power of sport to engage children into physical activity”
Three more Rhinos players are involved in the delivery of these school coaching sessions with Jordan Baldwinson, Mason Tonks and Brad Singleton all taking time out of their schedules to support the Leeds Rhinos Foundation as the project as it continues to promote Rugby in the city over the coming months.
For more information on the School Partner Project contact Jonny.wainhouse@leedsrugbyfoundation.org
The video of Alex coaching can be seen below