On Monday 22nd October, Leeds Rhinos coach Chev Walker and Academy strength and conditioner Prof. Kevin Till led an introductory session to the new coach education project Rhinos RAMPAGE.
Run as part of the Rugby League Development Plan and as benefit for being part of the club ambassador scheme, Leeds Rhinos Foundation offers a range courses to help upskill and equip community coaches around Leeds. This year, coaching courses have been supported by Rhinos players Adam Cuthbertson and Richie Myler and have focused on topics such as kicking, offensive plays and defensive drills.
Walker and Till introduced the new Rhinos Rampage course at a free coaching session on Monday night. 45 coaches attended the session from a variety of clubs across Leeds, to learn more about the new course and see a demonstration of a session with Guiseley Rangers under 13s, who were given the opportunity due to their achievements this year in League and Cup competitions.
The course aims to implement and develop strength and conditioning of junior players aged 12-14-years old. It will run in two phases; first within Community Clubs before moving to schools and other sports in phase two.
The layout for the sessions will follow the RAMPAGE acronym (R-Raise, A-Activate, M-Mobilise, P-Potentiate, A-Activity, G-Games, E-Evaluate) with the aim of emphasising the importance of strength and conditioning in school and club rugby.
Walker who joined the Rhinos coaching staff last season said he was pleased to be supporting the coach education project.
“Leeds Rhinos Foundation do a great job across the board, and these workshops are outstanding,” said Walker. “It’s about giving back to the community game because there are so many players in the Rhinos first team that have been part of a community club and it’s only right, as a club, that we give back to those coaches that put their time and effort into community clubs.
“I think that the numbers we had tonight, if we could get that regularly, would enable more community players to benefit from the knowledge that is being passed down about the importance of strength and conditioning. The RAMPAGE model is something that we use at the Rhinos, so it is good to share this with community clubs”
Steve Lawrie, Under-10s coach at Brotherton Bulldogs attended the session and said it had been really beneficial. “It’s been great to learn about the RAMPAGE model, which the Rhinos club use with their teams and to see how this can be used to benefit community coaches and their players.
“If you’re an upcoming coach, you might not have a rugby league background, so sessions like these are great because you can take away plenty of techniques, that you wouldn’t normally think of, away with you.”
To find out more about the course and upcoming community club events, email sam.horner@leedsrhinosfoundation.org.