2009 SmartRugby Program
SmartRugby is an occupational health and safety program for Australia's Rugby participants. It is a compulsory minimum requirement for every coach and referee participating in Rugby where there is a tackling component. SmartRugby is mandatory requiring qualification every two years. To be fully effective it requires ongoing commitment rather than just occasional attention.
How to Qualify, face-to-face or online?
If you are qualifying for the first time, you are required to attend the 2.5 hour face-to-face course. If you are re-qualifying, ie. you have attended a face-to-face course previously and your qualification expired on 31 December of last year, you can either attend a face-to-face course or complete the 30-45 min online re-qualification course.
How to Register
You can register online for both face to face and online courses here from 30 January 2009.
Face-to-Face Course
The face-to-face course ensures that all coaches and referees are upskilled in the correct techniques to develop confidence in contact amongst their participants. Coaches are required to cover this material in on-field sessions to players prior to the commencement of each season. Referees are required to understand the material and apply to the management of all games.
The techniques learnt are built into regular training and playing throughout the season, so that SmartRugby becomes an integral part of coaching and refereeing at your club, school or association. A typical face-to-face course of 2.5 hours includes the following:
Component | Time |
Introduction to Playing Smart | | 10-15 mins |
Technical Program | Balance and Stability | 20-25 mins |
| Tackle and Tackle Support | 30-35 mins |
| Support at the Ruck and Maul | 10-15 mins |
| Scrum - Basic Safety | 10-20 mins |
| Mayday Procedure | 5-10 mins |
| Lineouts and Restarts | 10-15 mins |
| Foul Play | 5 mins |
| | Pre Match Safety | 5 mins |
Injury Management | 5 mins |
Conclusion and Question Time | 5 mins |
Sign Off and Administration | 10 mins |
Sessions are FREE to attend and are run by State and Territory Union Coach Education departments.
Online Course
There are two SmartRugby online re-qualification courses available - Coach and Referee. They are refresher courses and aim to emphasise the key safety aspects within the game and the preventative measures you can apply to reduce the risk of injury to players.
You are eligible to complete an online course if you have attended a face-to-face course previously and your qualification has expired on 31 December of last year.
Click here from 30 January to register and complete a SmartRugby Requalification Course. It will keep you upto date with changes to both the SmartRugby program and game laws and only takes 30-45 mins to complete.
What are the Benefits?
SmartRugby will only really have an impact if coaches and referees get behind it by learning about it, following its training techniques and 'transferring the knowledge' to players. The benefits are many - not just fewer injuries, which makes for happier parents and players, and fewer coaching selection crisis, but more effective tackles and scrums, and a greater focus of team effort at the breakdown, lineouts and restarts.
Qualification Details
Your SmartRugby qualification lasts for two whole seasons. If you complete the course in the first half of the year, your expiry is at the end of the next season (eg. 02/02/2009 course, expiry 31/12/2010). If you complete the course in the second half of the year, your expiry is at the end of the next season after that (eg. 08/08/2009 course, expiry 31/12/2011).
All participants will receive a free booklet and CD-Rom (face-to-face upon attendance, and online by post) and also a MyRugbyCard which outlines current coach and match official qualifications and accreditations (this will arrive by post 4-6 weeks after the course).
If you have a query regarding the SmartRugby program, your qualification or re-qualification, contact your State or Territory Union or email: smartrugby@rugby.com.au
