Opportunity

ARS EDP has created a fantastic opportunity for Rugby – implementation of a structure, largely funded by Corporate Sponsors to deliver an exciting curriculum to develop skills through qualified and motivated coaches.

The outcome will be generations of well tutored and skilled rugby players, some of whom will go on to play international rugby and become full-time professional players; some of whom will play in the Community Game, driving up coaching standards and skill levels throughout the sport.

Outline of the programme

The first thing to understand about ARS (All Rugby Schools) programme is that it is about elitism and elite rugby.

We will be selecting the top players who demonstrate the potential to go on and play at the highest level at each of the three age groups (U10, U13 and U16).

The program is about skills development in young players.

It is a program to deliver a single elite development structure for the game. Therefore, the whole programme must be high quality in terms of the players development, the coaches who deliver, and the facilities and ancillary services that are available. This is essential if we are to engage the best players and coaches in the project.

It is very exciting that, for the first time, we are producing a core curriculum for elite young players. This is being devised by the ARS EDP.

Elite Development Program (EDP)

Every player who is involved in the Al Rugby School (ARS) Programme may not go on to play in the top flight of the game. But, we believe that, because of the attention they have received and skills they have developed through All Schools Program, they will stay in the sport into the adult game, and share their knowledge and understanding throughout the game, driving up standards everywhere.

ARS programme will provide coach mentoring and tutoring, physiotherapy backup, and ensuring the quality of player selection and program delivery throughout the program. The Elite Player Development Group's are selected by ARS.

Talent identification is an important part of this program – it is essential that the right players are chosen to participate in the All Rugby Schools programme. ARS programme will attempt to standardise criteria for player assessment, and engage in a process to educate coaches across the board – to implement this.

This is a long-term project. We are attempting to get the whole program up and running in a very short timescale – and we won’t get everything right in the first year. But, we must work together over the next two to three years to ensure that this is implemented as well as we can for the benefit of the Game. This is a golden opportunity toenhance the development of our talented young players of the future. This opportunity has the backing of the whole organisation, and MUST be grasped by all who have an interest in developing young players.

Vision

The implementation group has developed a vision statement, to encapsulate the essence of the All Rugby Schools (ARS) Elite Development Program (EDP).  This is:

“To develop and prepare highly skilled young players to play for the broader Game, supported by an effective, well trained workforce of coaches and other personnel, delivered within a strong partnership”

We hope this provides an easy-to understand statement of intent for ARS EDP and helps to inspire the dedication that will be needed from everyoneinvolved to establish a lasting and meaningful structure for the long-term benefit of the game.

Whilst recognising that this process is player and parent centred, the vision is not achievable unless parent support and coaching delivery is all it needs to be. This must be acknowledged be all concerned. It them commits all of us to invest in meaningful coach education.