The Ospreys hosted a special WRU Tag Leaders Award event for Swansea Active Young Peoples Department at the ELBA Sports Ground recently.
Earlier this year, the Ospreys Coach Development team was named as the best in Wales by external awarding and verification body 1st4sport, and aspart of their annual development programme for 2010/11, the team has committed to assisting the three unitary authorities within the region to help educate and develop coaches to support the growth of the game at grass roots level.
As part of the programme, each Active Young Persons Department is receiving one FUNdamentals of movement workshop, two exclusive Tag Awards and a combined UKCC Level 1 Course.
The Active Young Peoples Departments within the local councils are encouraged to invite representatives, including teachers, pupils/students and local volunteers supporting their work programme to undertake the courses and workshops, to up skill themselves and to provide a better experience for the young players they will be working with.
In total, 17 Candidates from across the Swansea area including teachers, students, 5x60 coaches and volunteers participated in the Award, which was co-ordinated by Nia Parry, Assistant Sports Development Officer, City and County of Swansea Development & Outreach Team.
Course Leader Dan Owens of the Ospreys Coach Development team, said:
“At the Ospreys, we are keen to forge strong working partnerships with the three unitary authorities in the region, and being able to work with motivated individuals on initiatives such as these, goes a long way to allowing us to do so. This is the second of our six planned unitary authority courses and it is great to work with such a vibrant group of individuals.
“Having worked now with over 60 prospective coaches it is clear the work they carry out is such a key component to the success and sustainability of the work that myself and other Sports Development Officers do. Hopefully we can now make a difference, and encourage these volunteers and the workforce of the unitary authorities to make Tag Rugby a really enjoyable experience for young players and encourage more youngsters into the game at grass roots level.”
Nia Parry from Swansea Council, said:
"Volunteers and Community Coaches play a vital role in the successful completion of our work programmes for us to achieve national targets. To be able to work alongside the Ospreys on such a worthwhile programme, not just in coach development, but player development also is great for increasing participation in sport across the Swansea area."
Riding on the coat tales of this Tag Award, Ospreys Player Development Officer for the Swansea District, Ben Rose, and his community team will be visiting a number of primary schools within the Swansea area conducting player skills and games sessions and introducing the young players they engage to local clubs and their coaches.
In addition, over the coming weeks, Dan Owens will be moving on from Swansea to the Bridgend area to carry out a further unitary authority course at Pencoed Comprehensive School with another group of up community based volunteers.