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andy dixon
- andydixon@rfu.com
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Thu, 14 November 02 21:27 GMT
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Whilst I’d be delighted to continue advising anyone on their best route for further Coach Education, I’ve been reminded that these questions are best directed to Mark Harrington, the RFU’s recently appointed Coach Development Manager who can be contacted at markharrington@rfu.com or 07740 565056.
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Andy Dixon
andydixon@rfu.com |
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andy dixon
- andydixon@rfu.com
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Tue, 12 November 02 10:28 GMT
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A bit of history. The coaching structure used to be, as many will know, Preliminary, Intermediate, Coach and Senior Coach but, as this was not age specific, it was considered that this did not properly reflect the requirements for coaches who were coaching mainly minis, midis or youth and the different methods and considerations required to do so. This lead to the formation of three strands of coaching; Mini/Midi, Youth and Senior, each with grades of Foundation, Level 1, Level 2, etc to bring the RFU into line with other sports, the Foundation course being a non-assessed introduction. The concept of having three strands was logical as it was intended to show that a Level 2 Mini Coach was just as important as a Level 2 Senior Coach to try and get away from the, unfortunately still existing, idea that only coaches who coach senior sides are of any use or importance. The concept was solid but, in practice the courses turned out to be the same basic course with a different Laws or Rules section and maybe a little extra on Child Protection here and there. Many courses were actually delivered at the same time and a group could contain coaches for all three strands so it was clear that the original idea of specially tailored courses was not really working. Coaches with “Senior” qualifications still ‘looked down their noses’ at coaches with “Youth” or “Mini/Midi” qualifications so, although they were actually comparable, this was not really working either.
When Evan Crawford was appointed as Head of Coach Development, he toured the country, meeting professional and volunteer staff and discussed the pros and cons of the existing system and asked what they actually wanted. Evan put together a Coaching Course Task Group and, based on the feedback received, a new structure was planned as shown on the Coaching Home Page on www.rfu.com where more background history can also be found. The new structure recognises that there is still a requirement for some coaches to be trained in Mini Tag and Mini/Midi but that some may only coach adults so can enter the structure at Level 1 if so required. The Mini Tag and Mini/Midi courses are now formal qualifications and reflect the special requirements of coaches working with young players between the U7 and U12 age grades.
Back to your question Jeff. If you are currently a Level 1 Mini /Midi Coach, much of the coaching course you did reflects the full 15-a-side game anyway, the main differences being you would have covered the Rugby Continuum Rules rather than the Laws of the Game and U15 variations. If you are moving to the U13’s next season, you will be firmly in the 15-a-side game and being level 1 already, you should be looking for a Level 2 qualification next but at Youth not Mini /Midi. The new Level 2 qualification will not be ready for some time but when it comes in there will be some mechanism that transfers existing qualifications to the new system. If you cannot get on a Youth Level 2, get on a Senior Level 2 and do not wait for the Youth one to be organised. The course is pretty much the same but you will have to read up on the U15 variations for your own coaching. You would have to be assessed using adult players which may be a bit daunting if you have not done this before but if you go this route try and use your Colts side for assessments.
With respect to your Mini/Midi qualification expiring when you move out of the Rugby Continuum age grades, the answer is no, it doesn’t. You are still a qualified Level 1 Coach but, like the rest of us, you must do some personal research to ensure you remain in date. In your case, this would mainly involve reading and understanding the Laws of the Game and the U15 variations pertaining to the U13’s. You already have the knowledge and ability to coach all individual techniques, contact, scrummaging, lineouts, etc what you need to know is how these are applied in the different Laws.
Regarding my involvement in the Coaching Task Group, I was asked if I was interested in being a volunteer member of this group by virtue of the work I have already done with the Rugby Continuum over the past years. Being semi-retired after 24 years in the Royal Navy, I have the time to help out in this role and am delighted to be doing so as, being an RFU Tutor/Assessor myself, I am very interested in the whole Coach Education process. To date, I have been heavily involved with the production of the new Mini Tag resource and wrote a great majority of it, including the script and storyboard for the video, something I’d never done before. We are currently putting together the modules for the new Level 1 course which, hopefully, will be available early next year, and will then start work on Level 2 and beyond.
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Andy Dixon
andydixon@rfu.com |
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jeffrey hume
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Tue, 12 November 02 09:15 GMT
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Andy
A similar set of 'stances. But I took The Prelim course at Mini/Midi level and I am now coaching at U12 level. So its 15 a side next year. Do I go to Level 1 Youth or Level 2?
Also do these qualifications expire in terms of the Continuum etc ?
PS "Coaching Task Group" - Is there anything you are not involved in???
Thanks
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Jeff Hume |
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andy dixon
- andydixon@rfu.com
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Fri, 08 November 02 19:42 GMT
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The Preliminary Coaching Course was updated and rebadged the Level 1 course to bring RFU courses in line with other sports. The courses are interchangeable but there might have been some worry if your Preliminary was several years ago or you had not continued to coach. Your experience and current qualification enable you to go for the Level 2 course direct, you do not need to do a Level 1. Contact your RDO for information about the next course dates.
Andy Dixon
RFU Coach Course Task Group
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Andy Dixon
andydixon@rfu.com |
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chrismurgs
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Fri, 08 November 02 19:28 GMT
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I took the Preliminary Coaching course in 1997 and the Development course in the same year. I've continued coaching every year since and would now like to take the Level 2 course. Does anyone out there know if I can get straight onto this one or do I have to take the Level 1? (I hope not, it seems very similar to the Preliminary!)
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