Membership 6 of 6

6. Coaches and Coaching


Ripon Rugby Club relies on volunteers to provide all its coaching needs in both Adult and Age Grade. We are extremely grateful to all the volunteer coaches for their time and commitment to the developing of the game of Rugby Union within the Ripon community.

The coaching policy is to conduct coaching at all levels with the following values being applied:-

•Clearly defined objectives and targets
•Commitment
•Responsiveness to suggestions and ideas
•Innovative approach
•Inclusivity encouraging participation by all
•Teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportmanship

In Age Grade rugby Ripon Rugby Club aims to provide at least one qualified coach for each age grade team to satisfy the RFU guidelines. The coaching coordinator for Age Grade rugby is Ian Hassall.

The coaching coordinators role is:-
•to develop and maintain good relationships with all the club’s coaches
•to provide a coaching development programme
•to annually review each individual coaches training needs,
•to maintain a coaches qualification matrix
•to coordinate and liaise with the RFU Regional Rugby Development Officer re coaching and development

Ripon Rugby Club will pay for all coaching courses. All volunteer coaches are encouraged to obtain RFU entry level coaching Rugby Ready. All Age Grade coaches are encouraged to obtain Level 1 qualification and the most promising and enthusiastic coaches are encouraged to progress to Level 2 & 3. Ripon Rugby club will always provide RFU approved coaching training. The coaching coordinators will monitor progress of coaches and identify individual coaching and training needs. Ripon Rugby club will occasionally run coaching clinics delivered by its own coaching team and other suitably trained coaches to ‘up skill’ its coaches beyond the basic Level 1 qualification.

Young players (over 16) are encouraged to gain Rugby Ready and Level 1 coaching qualifications so that they help out with coaching of the younger age grades. This will enhance the individual’s CV’s and will increase the number of coaches available to Ripon Rugby club. Adult Players are also encouraged to gain coaching qualifications. The encouragement of participation in coaching by young players strengthens community links across the ages, ensures maintenance of high coaching standards and a constant supply of players coming into Ripon Rugby club.
All Coaches of Adult Rugby and Age Grade Rugby should during training and matches and on and off the field:

•Recognize the importance of fun and enjoyment
•Appreciate the needs of the players
•Be a positive role model
•Recognize that safety is paramount
•Ensure that all equipment and facilities are safe and appropriate
•Provide verbal feedback in a constructive and encouraging way
•Keep winning and losing in perspective. Encourage dignity at all times
•Respect referees and the decisions that they make and ensure that player recognize that they must do the same
•Provide rugby experiences suitable to players ages and abilities as well as physical and behavioural development
•Avoid overplaying best players by using a squad system
•Never allow a player to train or play when injured
•Not permit players to be exposed to extremes of heat, cold or unacceptable levels of injury
•Encourage player awareness of nutrition and lifestyle management
•Ensure good supervision of players
•Not tolerate verbal abuse
•Ensure their coaching training and knowledge is up to date and consistent with RFU

**updated Nov2018**