Rugby Development

Ulster Rugby Coaching Courses 22/23

12th October 2022

The programme is already well under way, with several Children's and Youth courses being delivered in venues across the province.

All IRFU courses are designed to support coaches and their development, enhancing their knowledge of the game, and also developing essential skills to deliver the best learning environment for players.

Ulster Rugby courses are designed to develop a better understanding of good coaching at all levels of the game, whilst establishing an identity of coaching the Ulster Rugby way.

Modules on the courses range from planned rugby sessions to technical understanding of the scrum, lineout, and tackle. They also develop the coaching skills needed to deliver a fun, engaging and quality learning experience.

The coaching children award is designed for coaches of mini rugby, coaching from U6 to U12 level. The main theme is on how to coach using Ulster’s PLAY model which focuses on the Players being the stars, mainly coaching through games and creating the right environment to instigate a lifelong love of the game.

The coaching youth award is designed for coaches of players aged U13-U16 and focusses on the 15-a-side game. It supports coaches of adolescent players, and also those relatively new to the game at 15-a-side. Coaches will be aligned to the Ulster Rugby PLAY Model, designed to support our coaches to create environments that allow all players to explore, learn and develop through game-based activity.

The senior coaching award is for coaches at U18 and adult level, and aims to increase the coaches' understanding of tactical and technical skills. As part of this award, coaches are encouraged to challenge player competencies and evolve their understanding of attack and defence principles, as well as individual skills, and unit skill development.

Ulster Rugby Development Manager Budge Pountney said:

"We have a vision to create a community of highly-skilled coaches who possess a collective understanding on how to deliver sessions which are inspiring and engaging.

"We also want to provide an experience that encourages lifelong participation in the game, and also provides an environment for players to develop."

This season the IRFU is also launching the Active Coaching Badge, following a pilot season last year. This is a CPD program to supplement coaching awards.

Budge Pountney said:

"The active coach programme will not only help coaches to gain quality ongoing CPD. We believe it will enable quality sharing moments for all involved. Active coach badge points can be accumulated by attending online modules, face-to-face workshops, or a combination of both to gain a qualification which is now aligned with RugbyConnect.

"Each year coaches will be required to gain at least the bronze active coach badge, safeguarding documents, and their coach award to maintain their qualification."

### Ulster Rugby Coaching Courses 22/23

Senior Coach Award August 22 - SOLD OUT

Senior Coach Award June 23 - To register your interest contact Chris.galway@ulsterrugby.com \[East\] or shaun.bloomfield@ulsterrugby.com \[West\], or budge.pountney@ulsterrugby.com \[any other inquiries\]

Children's Coach Award - Click here to book & for more information.

Youth Coach Award - Click here to book & for more information.

XRugby 7s Award - Click here to book & for more information.

Youth Coach Course (Young Coaches)

### Ulster Rugby CPD Schedule 2022/23

Children Coaches (Mini)

Conference: Omagh RFC, Sep 25

Conference: Holywood RFC, Sep 26

Conference: Rainey Old Boys, Nov 20 - Click here to register & for more info