NLD Helping Rugby Club Links with Schools
In an effort to show more boys and girls the joys of rugby, NLDRFU have been helping clubs connect with local primary schools…
The NLD Age Grade Team have been working with 12 clubs who stated in a recent NLD Club Needs Survey that links with local schools was a priority for them.
This is in addition to RFU initiatives that are supporting club-school links for 11 other clubs in Nottingham, Derbyshire and South Lincolnshire.
The NLD Age Grade Team has started the process of hiring rugby coaches who can run non-contact rugby lessons in schools during school hours and encourage children and parents to attend festivals and holiday activities at their local club. The idea is that they enjoy such a warm welcome from rugby that they can’t resist coming back for more!
Throughout the projects the Schools Links coaches will also mentor teachers to give them the confidence to teach more non-contact rugby lessons in their schools.
The Women’s World Cup in August and September is also providing clubs with the additional opportunity to attract girls into the game with non contact rugby activities during the summer.
The image above shows a recent professional development session for primary school teachers and sports providers run by the NLD Age Grade team hosted at Silverdale School in Derby.
The Schools-Links initiative is a match-funding support project with clubs where 50% is funded by NLDRFU and The Anthony Wharton Trust. Clubs take responsibility for their coach and project supported by the NLD Age Grade Team. The project replaces the Schools Charter that ran from 2022 to this season.
Coaches interested in applying for roles in North Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and North Lincolnshire should contact Tim Wilbraham at [email protected]
What the NLD Age Grade Team can help with
- Provide match funding for coaching in local schools
- Help with recruiting coaches to work in schools
- Help with coaching programme development
- Advice and support for club links with schools
- Provision of surveys to follow up schools activity
How your club will support the programme
- Match funding the Schools Link programme
- Project Management, reporting and safeguarding responsibility for the coaches
- Provide kit and equipment for the Schools-Link Coaches
- Hosting events at your club for schools involved in the programme
- Festivals hosted at your club during school hours
- Welcome at festivals from the relevant age group coaching team
- Holiday activities to retain links through to the following season
For more information, including forms and support documentation, visit the Age Grade Rugby page