Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Mini-Mako get makeover
Creating confident coaches and keen kids at training is at the heart of a Tasman Rugby Union initiative to help grow junior rugby in the top of the south.
Chief executive Tony Lewis said in planning for its 2018 coach development programme, the union’s community rugby team identified some ideals they believed were vital to the future success of its junior grades.
In particular, TRU rugby development officer Mark Cochrane said he had identified gaps in coach education that, if addressed, would benefit both the longtime servant of the game or the volunteer parent with no previous experience.
‘‘It became apparent to me when we were going to [coaching] courses, you’d get a booklet which gives them all the key factors but the guys had to do the planning themselves, so they’d go back to what they knew but often wouldn’t have any new ideas.’’
‘‘What they wanted was fresh ideas, so we’ve basically taken the initiative and done that.’’
As a result a number of new concepts were introduced designed to ensure the game was enjoyed at training and on the playing field.
The union has developed 30 sessions that incorporate fundamental skills for rugby, with 10 sessions each for the Mini Mako (6-7), Hammerheads (8-10) and Great White (11-13) age groups.
Using a ‘‘game-sense’’ approach to facilitate learning, the sessions aimed to develop the Mako 5 skills - catching and passing off both hands, breakdown, decision-making, tackling and body position in contact.
Coaches have access to the session plans on the Tasman Rugby Union website.
Lewis said the sessions had already proved beneficial last year when used on several representative teams.
The session plans would also be used in junior coaching programmes at Motueka, Nelson and Stoke over the holidays.
‘‘If we can educate the coaches and they feel comfortable, the kids will have a better experience and if they do that they’ll keep playing rugby – aligning it to the Mako brand gives that feel that they’re part of that programme.’’
Community rugby manager Kahu Marfell said the game-based methods of the programme provided a necessary step away from the ‘‘Hennie Mullers and four corners’’ drill-based methods often employed.
‘‘It’s easy to catch the ball and run with it from an early age, but the focus on trying to use the ball is one of those things that I don’t think with the current resources that it is being focused on.’’
‘‘Ultimately some coaches will take their time to build the confidence to deliver this, but it’s about giving them the tools to come up with their own plan.’’
Marfell said creating confident coaches at junior level would be useful in encouraging involvement at a higher level.
‘‘There is a bit off a drop there, but generally it’s pretty good in the JAB years.’’
‘‘Things change when they go to college - there is a huge change in focus and attitudes for teenagers and ultimately those coaches who’ve been there from age 6 to 13 go, ‘we’ll step back now’ although they might step back later if no-one steps up.’’
TRU board member Scott Gibbons said the initiative’s focus on the Mako 5 skill set and upskilling of coaches offered ‘‘a progressive learning process’’ which would have a flow on effect to the young players and wider community.
‘‘In the end a vast majority of coaches are volunteers who either do it because they’ve got a kid in the game or they’ve got an interest or passion for it, so it’s extremely important that we give something to them so they can put that back into the community.’’
‘‘We’ve already seen an impact from last year’s introduction – with careful delivery and the use of resources, the coaches will be in a much better position to pass that enjoyment onto the kids.’’