Coaching & Officiating E-News: Dec 2004
New Foundation Course
For almost thirty years, the National Coaching Plan has underpinned the education and accreditation of Rugby coaches across Australia. Similarly, National Referee accreditation programs have formed the basis for refereeing for more than 10 years.
Recently, the ARU, in consultation with affiliate member unions designed a new course that provides education and training for coaches and referees at the entry level of the game. This is a significant change to the programs previously in place.
The reasoning behind these proposed changes is:
- There is a need to improve the quality of coaching and refereeing, thereby improving the number of coaches and referees. This was one of the major issues identified in the development of the ARU's 5 Year Plan.
- Player numbers in Australia have risen dramatically over the last five years. However, according to "accredited" coach and referee data, there has not been a corresponding rise in coaching and refereeing numbers. This needs to be addressed to ensure that players are provided with coaches and referees who are appropriately "trained".
- Due to a changing social environment, accreditation, which was previously the 'goal' of our national programs, is now less of a priority and the focus has shifted to education. Thus, fulltime (State Union) coaching and refereeing staff face the dilemma of whether to get coaches/referees "through the door", which is more meaningful, or to "accredit", which is far more labour intensive.
- There is a need to bridge the gap between coaching and refereeing.
- Our courses have always been reviewed internally or against other sports within Australia. The 2004 review looked closely at information gathered through overseas study tours that investigated what other major Rugby playing nations were doing.
As a result of these proposed changes, the coaching and refereeing pathway is now better defined and will allow greater flexibility for entry level participants.
The proposed new structure is as follows:
Telstra Smart Rugby
2 hours | Compulsory program that must be complete every 2 years. Minimum qualification required. |
Pathway Course
Walla/Mini/Midi
3 hours | Certificate course - coaching and refereeing combined |
Foundation
1 Day | Certificate course - coaching and refereeing combined |
| Level 1 Coach/Referee Assessment | Seperate process leading to ASC Accreditation |
| Level 2 & 3 Coach/Referee Assessment | Seperate process leading to ASC Accreditation - status quo for 2005 |
| Touch Judge Assessment | No Change
|
| Referee Coach Assessment | ASC accreditation - stautus quo for 2005 |
The development of the Foundation Course follows the logic of:
It should be noted that safety remains the underlying priority in all units, so that the game can at all times be played in a safe environment. This is also emphasised by the Telstra SmartRugby program being a compulsory pre-requisite for the Foundation Course (as well as for accreditation).
The Unit headings for the Foundation course include:
- Rugby - The Game
- Attack
- Defence
- Tackle/Ruck/Maul
- Game Elements
- Scrum
- Restarts
- Lineouts
- Coaching
- Role of the Referee
More information about the Foundation Course, including course dates can be found on your
State Union's website.
MyRugbyAdmin
MyRugbyAdmin (MRA), the ARU intranet that registers all Rugby participants, is being upgraded so that qualifications for all registered players, coaches and referees can be viewed. For example, once a participant has attended a Telstra SmartRugby, Certificate or accreditation course, their record will be updated on MRA with this new information.
MRA registered participants can already log on to the database (through www.rugby.com.au) and change their personal details, including their residential address, phone numbers and email address. It is important that coaches and officials keep their details up to date so that the ARU and State Unions can maintain contact with them and update them on coaching and
officiating news.
IRB Update
IRB Laws Update
At its November meeting, the IRB approved a number of Law changes that will come into effect on 1 January 2005. Many of the changes reflect a 'tidying up' of the Law Book, however, those that impact on the playing of the game are:
- Tightening of the process for dealing with players who intentionally and repeatedly infringe the laws, including a mandatory sin bin where a Penalty Try is awarded because of Foul Play.
- Provision of a FREE KICK for players who charge over the 22m line and prevent a drop out being taken.
- Redefinition of a Maul to clarify that players can be 'caught up' in a maul or bound to it.
State Union coaching and refereeing staff have been provided with the full details of the law amendments.
Game Management Guidelines
The ARU will again be issuing Game Management Guidelines for use in domestic 'Community Rugby' competitions in 2005. These guidelines are applicable to the playing, coaching and refereeing of the game and will be distributed to State Union coaching and refereeing staff in early 2005.
Telstra SmartRugby
Telstra SmartRugby, the ARU national program designed to inform coaches and match officials of best practice techniques in the contact elements of Rugby Union, has been running for the last three years. Every club or school across Australia has had to have a SmartRugby Coordinator, to ensure that every player is trained in the contact elements of Rugby before playing their first match for the season.
A proposal has been put to the ARU Board that recommends that from the start of the 2006 season, every coach and referee attend the SmartRugby program every two years. In other words, Telstra SmartRugby will become the mandatory, minimum requirement for a game to commence.
Therefore, it is in everyone's interest to become SmartRugby compliant as soon as possible. State Unions will be holding SmartRugby sessions throughout 2005, with some even enforcing SmartRugby compliance prior to attending a coaching or refereeing course in 2005.
Christmas Wishes
The staff in the ARU Community Rugby Department wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and a great Rugby season for 2005.
Remember, Santa only comes to those who have been good during the past 12 months, or is this necessarily the case!
We look forward to providing with you with continuing education and updates throughout 2005.
