Connacht Coaching Course In Castlebar

The Connacht Rugby Development department hosted a Stage 3 Coaching Course in Castlebar RFC earlier this month with 28 coaches from Ballina, Sligo, Carrick on Shannon, Dunmore, Westport and Castlebar taking part.

Connacht Rugby Provinicial Talent Coach Colm Tucker and Elite Player Development Officer Mossy Lawler presented at the coaching course which was run by Coach Development Officers Gavin Foley and JP Walsh with the main focus on life of the ball in attack and breakdown, and back play.

The course is for head coaches working with 15-a-side teams and deals with the principles of play by developing them through the use of key factor analysis, applied to the individual skills, mini-unit skills, unit and team skills.

At the end of the course the coaches are expected to identify and rectify technical deficiencies together with the ability of planning, organising, managing, communicating and developing the skills of his/her players through the implementation of sport specific and generic modules.

The course develops the coach as 'Challenger'. Each participant had proven rugby playing/coaching experience and is actively coaching a 15-a-side team.

Prior to taking the course, all attendees completed an online Concussion Awareness module and examination.

One of the coaches that attended, Paddy Pearson, said: “I thought the Stage 3 back play / Life of the ball attack and breakdown modules was of a very high standard.

“Mossy and Colm’s presentation on the fundamentals on both areas was very well thought out and left a clear understanding on the core skills that are needed from not only developing players but players at all levels.

“I really enjoyed the session and hope to learn more from them in the future.”

For more information on the Connacht Rugby coaching courses, please contact info@connachtrugby.ie.