As part of our Rugby League Development Plan, proposed at the beginning of the year, the Leeds Rhinos Foundation continue to roll out of coach education and development opportunities for local coaches.
In partnership with the RFL, we are delivering a robust and quality programme to increase the number of coaches in our game, ensuring that there is ongoing development and support for all. Our programme works to qualify and upskill coaches relevant to their age group and community club settings.
As we approach the halfway mark of 2023, we take a look at how our work is benefiting the game in our community.
Qualified Coaches
So far in the 2022-23 academic year, the Foundation have helped the RFL Coach Education department deliver 4 Level 1 courses for primary Rugby League coaches and as a result, seen 39 become qualified. We have also conducted 5 Level 2 courses for 13-a-side game coaches, resulting in 62 becoming newly qualified.
Richard Tunningley, RFL Coach Education Manager, said:
“Sam Horner has been a coach educator for a number of years now and the experiences he provides on courses are second to none, often going over and above to make sure everyone is catered for. He brings a wealth of Rugby League experience which only benefits the coaches attending the courses. Through working with Sam, Helen and the Foundation team, we are able to identify the needs of the local clubs through the Rhino’s ambassador scheme to get coaches qualified to keep Rugby League flourishing, not just in the Leeds area but throughout West Yorkshire. Sam and the Rhinos Foundation team are a valuable partner delivering coach education in conjunction with the RFL’s Coach Education programme, and we hope this continues long into the future.”
Coaching Workshops
Since January, we have run an array of workshops, available to community coaches and volunteers. Our workshops are led by coaches from Leeds Rhinos (including Rohan Smith and Chev Walker) and Leeds Rhinos Foundation alongside special guests, invited to share their expertise. Our workshops are free to attend and are designed using feedback from the community game, with the aim of supporting club and school coaches and volunteers with coach and player needs In mind.
Including the launch night of our Rugby League Development Plan, we have seen 382 coaches from across community clubs attending our coaching workshops.
Upcoming workshop: Positive Coaching Workshop
Date: Monday 10th July
Time: 6:30pm
Our next coaching workshop will be led by Leeds Rhinos Assistant Coach, Chev Walker, and is designed to help coaches create a Positive learning environment in their club settings. During the workshop, Chev will speak about his experiences as both a player and as a coach and the impact coaches can have on players both as young people and aspiring players.
To book your place, please CLICK HERE.
North vs South Programme
Earlier this year, the Foundation opened up opportunities for local coaches to apply to coach on the 2023 North V South Player Development Series.
As a result of this, 18 coaches have since been recruited and will work with players from the local area, with a focus on player development in a representative environment setting. These coaches are taking on voluntary roles and in return for their efforts, they will benefit from the opportunity of working in a player development setting, aligned to professional clubs and the formal and informal personal development opportunities this provides.
Ahead of the programme, the coaches will undertake 3 CPD workshops, with continuous support from the Leeds Rhinos and Foundation staff. They will also have the opportunity to work with coaches from other clubs in the short-term player development environment. This programme runs alongside our Rugby League Development Plan in improving the number and quality of community club coaches in Leeds. Through taking up this role on the North vs South programme, coaches will take the skills and knowledge they have learnt and incorporate this into their community club environments.
Rhinos Talent Pathway
The new-look player Talent Pathway development programme, which is linked to the RFL’s Lions Development Programme initiative, aims to increase the number of quality rugby league players aged between 12 and 16 and will be the driving force behind providing a clear pathway from the grassroots game into Scholarship, Academy rugby and beyond.
Similarly to the North vs South programme, we recruited a small number of dynamic and committed volunteer coaches to help deliver on the programme.
When asked to feedback on last year’s programme, Craig Shepherd said: “I have took what I have learned from the programme and try to pass on as much as possible to other coaches and it has changed the way I develop my own individual sessions.”
“It has made me more confident in what/why I am delivering during a session and how I am delivering it. It has taken me out of my comfort zone, helped me determine why I do well and what I need to improve on as a coach.”
Local community coaches will have the opportunity to apply for a role on the 2023/24 programme later this Summer. This will include bespoke CPD, with informal mentoring and support from the Leeds Rhinos and Foundation staff. We are delighted that we have a number of success stories from coaches taking on the above role, including progression to a coaching role in our Rhinos Women’s Academy as just one example. This programme is run with the aim of improving coaching within community clubs, with a focus on ‘a games-based approach to player development’, athletic development and how coaches can have an impact on players’ mental skills.
Community Club Outreach Programme
As part of our Rugby League Development Plan, all community clubs in Leeds will receive an outreach visit from Foundation Staff. This will include observational opportunities for club coaches whilst our staff deliver a session to club players. This has shown great success in providing other examples of how coaches can improve their own coaching techniques.
RugBees
This month saw the launch of our RugBees programme, open to girls aged 7-11 and will be delivered on a weekly basis by club foundations to help them develop their confidence. The launch of the programme came alongside a volunteer coaching opportunity for those involved in the community game.
As a result of this, the Foundation have recruited 6 coaches to help with the running of the programme to develop their coaching skills. The coaches will take part in session observations and delivery, and will be provided with coaching resources from the RFL to enhance their skills further.
All of the above examples are ways in which the Leeds Rhinos Foundation are improving the level of coaching in community club settings in Leeds and as a result, the pool of players for the future generation of Rugby League.