Colts Rugby – Safeguarding Tips
September 20th, 2017 by NicoleThe Colts structure is proving a great success in retaining young players and transitioning them into the adult game and is to be applauded.
The first few weeks of the season have brought into focus a few issues which we need to clarify to ensure the success of this structure and to manage the risk to players, coaches and clubs. This is not placing barriers in the way of Colts rugby, it is the opposite – ensuring that barriers imposed by existing criminal laws and RFU regulations are properly managed so they do not impact adversely on this important transition.
- Age Grades
Colts rugby is Age Grade Rugby, and has to adhere to RFU Regulation 15. http://www.englandrugby.com/mm/Document/General/General/01/31/97/52/RFURegulation152016-2017_English.pdf
Age Grade Rugby is played by players in the Under 18 age grade and below. That is, by players who are not yet 18 on the 31st August of the preceding season.
Players who are 18 or older before the start of the season cannot play in a Colts game unless they have been suitably risk assessed and have applied for and received NLD CB approval to play down. Details of this process and the application form are set out in the Playing Out Of Age Grade guidance here https://nldrfu.co.uk/resource/playing-age-grade/.
Players in the Under 16 and Under 17 age grades may play up in an Under 18 Colts team if they have been assessed as able to do so and the Playing Out Of Age Grade form has been completed, signed off by the club and submitted to the NLD office. U16 players may not play in the front row of contested scrums if playing up in a Colts game.
If the game is classed as an Under 19 game then this is Adult Rugby. In this circumstance the following apply:
- all players must have reached their 17th birthday.
- Any player under the age of 18 must have been suitably risk assessed and the club must have completed the RFU Playing Adult Rugby form for them. http://www.englandrugby.com/mm/Document/General/General/01/32/60/47/PlayingAdultRugbyForm2017_English.docx
- Any player over 17 but not yet 18 must not play in the front row of contested scrums.
- There should be a suitable mentor assigned to each player under 18.
- DBS requirements
Anyone coaching or supervising age grade rugby (including Colts rugby) is taking part in regulated activity as defined in the Children’s Act and supporting legislation and MUST have a valid DBS check. The RFU requires that this is an RFU sponsored DBS and that it is registered on the GMS system.
- Safeguarding issues when playing on a Saturday.
General
Be careful to ensure that behaviour of adults in and around the changing rooms and clubhouse sets a good example and does not exclude those U18.
Ensure that any involvement of U18 players in post match activities is age appropriate and does not expose the players, adults or club to breaches of the law.
Under 19s
If the game is an Under 19 game, that is there are no players under the age of 17 AND all those not yet 18 have been signed off to play Adult Rugby, then there are no other safeguarding issues to address.
Colts
Colts teams can include players aged 15 to 18. The following apply:
- All supervising adults must have a current DBS recorded on GMS
- Age Grade players must not share changing room or showering facilities with adult teams.
There are several simple precautions which can be put in place to ensure the changing and showering requirements are not an issue.
- Where a club has sufficient changing rooms and dedicated showers for each changing room there are few issues to address. Ensure sufficient supervision is in place to prevent accidental issues such as unauthorised access to changing rooms or showers used by age grade players.
- If there are not sufficient facilities to allow segregation of adults and colts then you could stagger the games. If shared showers is the issue, why not start the colts game 30 minutes or so before the adult games, giving time for the colts to vacate the showers before the adult game finishes?
- If there are insufficient changing rooms to avoid sharing, then the game should be played at a different time, either earlier on the same day or another day.
If you have any queries regarding the above please contact NLD Safeguarding Manager Chris Johnson.
NLD Funding Opportunties
September 19th, 2017 by NicoleWe are pleased to now invite applications from clubs to access NLD funding for the 2017-18 season.
As some of you may be aware the NLD PFR (Planning, Funding & Reporting) Plan outlines the CB’s budget for each season. The budget itself is split down into various key areas covering the RFU’s Key Drivers and is available to view in full here.
We are now inviting clubs to submit applications for access to the funding that is available to bid for, all of the details of which are available on the attached information sheet.
PFR Club Information 2017-18 v1
Please encourage your club to apply for funding by completing the attached application form and returning it to me (with all of the accompanying signatures) but Monday 9th October at the latest. Applications can be either emailed or posted to NLD RFU, Northgate Business Centre, 38 Northgate, Newark, Notts, NG24 1EZ.
Applications will be considered by each of the budget holders and the relevant committees and decisions will be made as quickly as possible.
If you have any queries regarding the process please do not hesitate to get in touch with either your local Rugby Development Officer, Jeff Mapp or Nicole Brown.
This is a fantastic opportunity for your club to access the funding to develop grassroots rugby within NLD – please make sure you take advantage of it!!
NLD Representative Coaching Opportunities
August 23rd, 2017 by NicoleNLD are very excited to invite applications for the NLD U16 & U20 Representative Squad Coaching & Management Teams.
These are fantastic opportunities to get involved with developing some of the best young players that the CB has to offer and be a part of the journey that has seen numerous players from NLD go on to represent Midlands & England.
The NLD U20 Squad play in the RFU National U20 County Championship with matches being played in the Spring of each season. The NLD U16’s Representative Programme runs from November – February with matches being played post Christmas.
Job Descriptions for each of the roles are available below, interested parties should complete and submit the application form to [email protected] by the closing date of Monday 11th September.
NLD U20 Head Coach Job Description
NLD U20 Manager Job Description
NLD U20 Forwards Coach Job Description
NLD U20 Backs Coach Job Description
NLD U16 Head Coach Job Description
NLD U16 Manager Job Description
NLD U16 Forwards Coach Job Description
NLD U16 Backs Coach Job Description
For an informal chat regarding any of the roles please contact NLD Head of Representative Rugby Lee Slack on 07739 295182.
Interviews will take place later in September.
Dronfield U15 Coaching Opportunity
August 15th, 2017 by NicoleDronfield U15 age group have gone from strength to strength over the past 12 months. However, due to assistant coach George Lewis, having to step down next season due to work commitments, Head Coach John Smalley needs help to coach this talented squad.
The squad has already produced NLD squad members and numbers about 20 players in total. The squad is just too big for John to coach on his own.
Help on Sunday’s and mid week training on either Tuesday or Thursday needed either on an ongoing basis or for the first couple of months of the 2017-18 season.
Please get in touch with either David Beynon via [email protected] / 07970042334 or John Smalley via [email protected] / 07745 658855.
Nottingham Rugby Coaches CPD
July 25th, 2017 by NicoleIan Costello and his Nottingham Rugby coaching team would like to invite all rugby coaches to attend a special, behind closed doors, Coaching CPD Session, which will be held at Lady Bay on Thursday 10th August 2017 and will form part of the team’s preparations for their pre-season fxiture against Newcastle Falcons, taking place two days later.
This is an open invitation to all coaches working at any level within the game and is being offered free of charge.
The outline of the programme is as follows:
10.00am – Arrival & Registration / Tea / Coffee in the Marquee
10.30am – Coaches Briefing & Discussion
11.00am – Watch Coaching Session from Pitchside
12.30pm – Debrief with Coaches and Senior Players in Marquee
All attendees are welcome to promote this to their fellow coaches at their schools or clubs.
To register for this event, please email [email protected] with your name, address, telephone number, email address and club/school and age group.
Ian and the team look forward to welcoming you to The Bay.
Leicester Tigers Coach Development Event
July 20th, 2017 by NicoleLeicester Tigers are offering a fantastic opportunity for Coaches to attend an Academy U18 Coach Observation Session on Saturday 12th August 2017.
For more information please see below.
DPP Coaching Opportunities
July 11th, 2017 by Nicole
Buxton RFC Seek Head Coach
July 11th, 2017 by NicoleBuxton RUFC are looking to appoint a Head Coach.
Roles & Responsibilities
- Lead Coach to the Mens Senior Section – Level 2 qualified with significant playing experience at a high level.
- Plan Deliver and Develop training strategies for mid week training, one session initially.
- Develop Buxton as an O2 Touch Centre – Summer 2017.
- Lead on University of Derby ( Buxton ) student development.
- Take charge of 1st XV match preperation mid week through to completion on Saturdays.
- Reporting to the Director of Rugby.
This is a remunerated position, fully expensed and would suit an ambitious existing player coach, operating at a semi professional level, or a retired player who has the ambition and drive to continue the clubs recent progression, alongside other like minded individuals. Applications by e mail to Director of Rugby Karl de Groot by e mail to; [email protected] alternatively call on 07787408544 for an informal chat initially.
NLD Game Development Conference
June 14th, 2017 by NicoleSunday 10th June marked an exciting day in the NLD RFU calendar, the NLD Game Development Conference which was once again kindly supported by the Sir Anthony Wharton Trust. This year, the conference was held at Samworth Church Academy in Mansfield. With over 50 coaches, referees and players, the conference was well attended with a range of different ages.
There was an exciting line-up for those who attended including Ian Costello, Head Coach of Nottingham Rugby, who delivered an inspiring talk on his coaching philosophy. James Phillips and Andy Smith who provided an insight into the Young Match Officials (YMO) programme & John Widdowson who provided a wealth of information with a development module.
James Phillips and Andy Smith delivered a presentation on the YMO programme, detailing what it involves and how to get involved. In addition to this, they provided information on the upcoming events that will be taking place in 2017. Furthermore, a round of applause for the level 1s and for the presentations that took place for the following YMOs on completion of their level 2 courses:
Level 1: Shannon Hutchinson, Keegan Orne-Boulton and Jodie Baker
Level 2: Maddie Crofts, Tom Watson, Will Shennan and James Bridle
A copy of the YMO Presentation can be downloaded here.
A copy of the Video Analysis Presentation can be downloaded here.
The next element of the conference was the delivery of a coaching module by John Widdowson who is the England Rugby Match Official Development Officer. The module delivered insightful information on the tackle, and the key talking points surrounding the tackle in the game today. This was supported by a practical session with the support of some of the attending YMOs. In addition to this, James Phillips and Andy Smith provided additional information from a referee’s perspective, which many found useful. This coupled with John’s coaching perspective allowed for a comprehensive discussion surrounding the tackle. John also provided information on video analysis and in-game analysis and how coaches, players and referees can utilise these techniques to improve their performance in the long-run.
After the break for lunch, Ian Costello Head Coach at Nottingham Rugby delivered a talk on his coaching philosophy and some of the challenges that can occur. This was coupled with an outdoor session which allowed these coaching methods and philosophy to be put into practice for all to see.
The conference was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended and provided an in-depth review of key areas of the game. Attendees were also issued with a limited edition NLD Game Development Conference 2017 sports bag as a memento for the day. Thank you to all participated, spoke and to those who put in the hard work and effort to make the day a success.
England Counties Midlands Coaching Positions
June 9th, 2017 by NicoleEngland Counties Midlands U18 Group are currently looking to fill two Coaching positions within the set up.
For more information please see the below job descriptions.
The closing date for both applications is 7th July 2017.