10 th March 2015 Dear Coach Thank you for taking the time to come - PDF document

10 th March 2015 Dear Coach Thank you for taking the time to come and support the introduction to kids first at Bromsgrove. We appreciate how busy you all are and hope that you found the morning to be of use? My role on the Worcestershire and Herefordshire county rugby committee ,is to try and support all county clubs through coaching experiences and plan to try and support you all at least once a season. As this engagement between the county and clubs is in its early stages, I would welcome any feedback from you on how you think the last session went, what we can do better next time and any ideas that you think we can work on? In this World Cup year, we all have a great chance to enhance the participation of our great sport and all the fabulous values that it brings to our children and each other and I hope that this bit of support from the county can assist you in some way when coaching the kids. Quality coaching at an early age will help the kids improve & enhance all round skills , forming a base that will enable them to grow into better players. I wish you all success with the new techniques and will be in touch with a follow up date later in the summer. Kind regards Matthew Elwell W&H County Rugby

An introduction to Kids First philosophy Bromsgrove RFC Sat 28 Feb 2015 Chris Hargreaves & Jon Critchlow

A different approach Kids First ; is coaching that:- • puts the child at the centre of everything • develops good young people by using rugby as the delivery method • focusses on the personal and social development needs of children first; the tactical and technical needs are secondary

Your sphere of influence… ……..Is significant Coaches are role models; pecking order?

What Children want? • Fun, fun, fun • Being with friends • Playing time • Lots of action

What children enjoy most…… at a festival… • Hot dogs! • Receiving a medal….all children • Scoring tries • Running with the ball • Tagging ………and what did they rarely mention ………winning

What is success to children ? “ Competition is great if children see it to be successful. Success does not mean winning. Instead it means enjoying the experience and learning…” Kidman 2005

Putting Kids First – Coaches philosophy – and under pressure Coaching Philosophy – Child- … and under pressure centred • INVOLVE all of the children • You have to pick your best team • INCLUSIVE • The children want to win • FUN • They understand that they might not • Equality play Remember their age They don’t mind as long as they win • • • Praise effort • We pick A & B teams • Help them to feel and be successful • It is a cup – it’s different • Encouragement • As long as you explain why…… • Positive feedback • Players know they might not be picked Find something positive in all You have to leave out some of the less • • • Learn to listen to them able players • Respect them – expect respect from • Some children don’t want to play team mates They know if they’ve lost the team the • • Role Model game • Ask the children for feedback • You can’t give them equal game time the parents will complain if you lose

Among the studies conducted to ascertain why children drop out of sport: “ …the reasons for dropping out tend to be that children had other interests, the coach was too demanding, it was no longer fun, and the children did not get enough chance to play/participate. Interestingly, children seldom say that their desire ‘to win’ is a reason for participating’ (Gould & Petchlichkoff,1988).

Coaching tips • Look like a coach • Arrive early • Prepare for the session….. A.P.E.S. • Activity….. S.T.E.P.S. • S pace .T ime .E quipment .P eople .S peed . • Voice • Interventions …..less is more!!

Coaching format • Provide instruction and explanation • Combined with a demonstration • Observe and analyse • Questioning approach- open, the second • Provide meaningful succinct feedback • Listen Estimate time on each ………..less is more

Coaching delivery…. • players HEAR …they FORGET • Players SEE…they REMEMBER • Players DO…they LEARN ?? Time percentage ??

KIDS FIRST - c oaching through games Why small sided games? Games are a coaching tool to: • guide players to discover and develop the game • increase motivation and enjoyment for the players • develop their tactical awareness • improve individual skills • Develop Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character and Creativity of each player

KIDS FIRST - c oaching through games Why small side games? Specific player benefits: • Players are more focused and active • Each player has more touches of the ball • Each player makes more decisions • Each player has more opportunities for practicing skills • More enjoyment

Warm Skill development Up when neede d and Game then game modification Challenges Challenges Game and and Modification Questioning Questioning

KIDS FIRST - suggested playing areas

KIDS FIRST - d evelopment area(s) Objectives of DA’s – to develop: • whole group maximising the learning for all players – new skill • a group – unit • player / players with work ons • and Integrate new players • and challenge the more capable players – move them on quicker

KIDS FIRST – Variations; What can we change? • Varying the playing area in which the game takes place. Longer or shorter, narrower or wider, orientation • Changing the starting space and time between attack and defence , closer, further away, wider, unstructured, conditioning • Varying the size/shape/positioning of the attack and defence , bunched, spread, single file, various groupings (2s, 3s, 4s),overload • Different starting positions contesting the ball, sprint starts, lying down, back turned, kneeling, tackling • Introducing the ball in a variety of ways, pass, high ball, kick, roll, bounce, second ball • Dynamic starts (moving) to the game no static situations, always moving,

KIDS FIRST – Variations; What can we change? • STEPS • Specific roles • Momentum/ turnover/ orientation/ second ball • Where to score • Where to attack – bibs/drop off • How to defend- narrow, wide, drift, blitz • Realistic game situation restarts/ counter attack/imbalance • Breakdowns- un/contested/numbers • Create chaos/ create space • Include conditioning • Kicking / not kicking • Number of passes • Fusion with other sports, aussie rules, kabaddi

KIDS FIRST - practical outcomes

The next steps…. • If you like it and can you see the benefits, how might you be a KF “ambassador” within your club? • Putting Kids First workshop

Summary Overview Before, during and after sessions: • All children treated equally • Reward effort not outcome • Reward creativity, co-operation, teamwork , caring and character • Development and skills preferred to short term results

Feedback welcomed; stueades@rfu.com chrishargreaves@rfu.com joncritchlow@rfu.com