Students from Swansea University have completed a WRU/UKCC Level One Coaching Children in Rugby Union award course in conjunction with the region’s WRU Coach Development team.
Hosted at the University Sports Centre complex on Sketty Lane in Swansea, the students spent three days being put through their paces by Dan Owens (WRU Coach Development Officer for the Ospreys Region) and Mark Fitzgerald (WRU volunteer Tutor).
They carried out four competency based coaching assessments in both coaching and refereeing to earn their Level 1 Coaching Certificate and their Pathway Referee Licence, qualifying them to coach and referee WRU Minis to Millennium pathway players up to under 13s.
All students enrolled in the course were successful in their studies and are now looking to continue their education by attending the WRU Level 2 Bridging Workshop also being hosted by the University this spring. This workshop will up skill their current knowledge and qualification to be able to coach Youth and Adult players of age 14+.
The students have planned to engage in the local community of Swansea in various community clubs and university intramural teams, in order to develop their coaching experience alongside their academic studies.
Dan Owens, commented:
"The Coach Development Department has had a long standing relationship with the University's sports development department, just as the Ospreys region and the University are also long term partners on and off the field.
“We regularly make use of the first class facilities in order to deliver workshops and courses and in return, we are more than happy to offer training opportunities to the universities student populous. This Children's Level One is just one event offered to the University throughout the academic year and through my relationship with Nick Bowen, Student Sports Development Officer, we are looking to expand the opportunities for the 2015/16 academic year, increasing the number of active coaches operating within the regional community."
Nick Bowen, Student Sports Development Officer, added:
"Sport Swansea/Swansea University are keen supporters of schemes to increase the employment opportunities for their students. Our relationship with the Ospreys, the WRU, and Dan in particular, has allowed us to facilitate these courses tailoring them to meet our needs. Being able to attain these qualifications during their time at University, can hopefully give our students the edge when applying for future jobs and courses.
“We hope our students can give back to the wider rugby community at some stage, and it’s exciting to think that this could be the start of their journey. This relationship can not only develop Rugby within the area, but also improve our student experience."
Reflecting on the success of the course, Dan Owens said:
"The lads were extremely receptive to both Mark and I and quickly assimilated the methods and knowledge we were seeking to impart; they are a credit to Swansea University.
“They are now looking to progress on their individual paths, and I'm hoping that they will continue the development and look to join the crowds that attend CPD workshops within the region and more recently further afield.
“For the future of Coach Development, we are reviewing the programme with Ospreys regional staff, the regional age grade programme and I am now finalising the logistics of the 2015/16 Coach Education programme ans hope to announce this programme shortly.”
For more information on WRU Coaching Courses and CPD Workshops in the Ospreys region and across Wales, visit www.wrucoaching.co.uk. Keep posted to www.ospreysrugby.com for future Coach Development news and announcements.