Eastern Goldfields Coach Education
Tuesday, 18 May 2010 1:30pm
RugbyWA staged a number of Education & Development events over the week in Kalgoorlie and Boulder. At the invite of the Eastern Goldfields Rugby Union (EGRU) Brett Gallagher (Education Manager) & Mark Calverley (Development Manager) travelled to the Eastern Goldfields to run a series of education courses & development sessions for the local clubs, primary schools & high schools.
On Wednesday evening Brett & Mark put a group of 25 U12’s through their paces focusing on balance & stability, support at the tackle & decision making in contact. The evening was an enthusiastic session with all players eager to be coached.
Following school sessions during the day 25 forwards from the senior clubs of Boulder/WASM RUFC, Stormers RUFC & Bushwhackers’ RUFC participated in a scrum skills session. Whilst Brett & Mark facilitated the session on body shape it was great to receive the input from locals Laz, Wiseman & Co. who actively assisted in coaching players and freely passed on their experience to participants. The session ended with a couple of “livies” being packed, with plenty of energy involved.
Friday saw further school sessions & wrapped up with a Coaching Kids Rugby (CKR) course delivered with 10 coaches participating. It was fantastic to receive such a great turn out on a freezing cold & wet evening, particularly considering a number of Perth courses were cancelled due to a lack of numbers. All coaches toughed out the 2 ½ hour course & walked away with their CKR & SmartRugby qualifications which will put them in good stead to assist the junior players. Thank you to all the coaches who gave up their time to attend the CKR course.
The Education/Development tour wrapped up with a training session for the U14’s followed by Mark “Chippy” Calverley refereeing a game for the 20 or so players. It was fantastic to see the players putting into practise what they had learned earlier & there were some cracking tries scored in a free flowing game of rugby union. Thanks to Aiden & Dez for their active assistance coaching the group. The u14’s are assured of developing under your guidance.
Thanks also to the EGRU and President Rob Parsons for the assistance in facilitating the tour. It was fantastic to see such an enthusiastic response from all for the tour & RugbyWA hopes to be further involved in the growth of Rugby Union in the Eastern Goldfields.
Kalgoorlie schools and Junior Rugby Club received visits this week from the Smater Than Smoking Development team with the MBF Force Express creating a stir around town. Both the schools and Club enjoyed coaching sessions with the week culminated with a fantastic U14’s match at Wallace Park on Saturday. It was most impressive to see the enthusiasm for grass roots rugby and the response to the visit showed that rugby is a force in the bush.
