Ulster Rugby vs Treviso

RUGBY COACHING IN ULSTER

Rugby is flourishing in Ulster with more players, teams, and volunteer’s involved and improvements in facilities and performances evident.

RUGBY COACHING IN ULSTER BY ALISTAIR BROWN

However I’d like you to consider possibly one of the most influential roles in developing the game, that of the COACH. Tonight we are recognising some of the top club and school coaches in Ulster. These coaches have committed themselves to expanding their coaching knowledge and skills through attendance at IRFU Coach Education courses and then applying this knowledge to their own team and coaching environment. As well as giving up their time to attend courses, each coach is required to log a minimum of 60 hours practical coaching, pass the Laws Test, complete Player Welfare certification and demonstrate their ability to plan, deliver and review through observed coaching sessions and other tasks. Derek Suffern, Head Coach of Ballynahinch RFC & Wallace High School, has recently completed his IRFU Stage 5 Coaching Accreditation. Derek has coached various Age Grade Representative teams’ both at provincial and national levels and to achieve this top award he was required to demonstrate a competency in planning, alignment of plans and empowerment underpinned by a greater self-awareness of personality and leadership style.

THE FOUR SUB-SECTIONS OF BEST-PRACTICE COACHING AT THIS LEVEL ARE: PLANNING Operational plans, periodical fitness & conditioning, seasonal plans, game planning based on team profile and planning for specific opposition and long-term development. ALIGNMENT OF PLANS Coaching skills, presentation skills, media skills, time management, match management, match analysis, sports psychology (profiling & mental skills), conflict resolution and selected rugby specific modules. EMPOWERMENT Leadership and high performance coaching. CHARACTER Develop greater self-awareness, intrapersonal and interpersonal skills through personality profiling. COACHING COURSE (LEVEL 3) is the Irish Rugby Football Union’s top coaching award and is for Head Coaches working with advanced adult and representative teams. If you are interested in getting into coaching or would like to know more about the Coaching Pathway in Ulster, please visit: http://www.ulsterrugby.com/ domestic/Development/Coaching For more information please contact: Alistair Brown // Ulster Rugby Coach Development Manager Email Alistair.brown@ulsterrugby.com ENTRY CRITERIA By invitation: The STAGE 5

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