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Connacht Rugby will be hosting coaching courses across the province in the coming weeks to coincide with the start of the season to help upskill coaches of all levels from the Connacht clubs and schools.
Please note that places are limited on our coaching courses, please confirm your place on a course here.
See full course details below. If you have any queries, please email coaching@connachtrugby.ie.
Stage 1 Coaching Courses
Buccaneers RFC (September 1 & 2)
Claremorris RFC (September 8 & 9)
Ballina RFC (September 15 & 16)
Galway (October 21)
Stage 2 Coaching Courses
Galway (October 9, 16 & 23, 6:30pm-10:30pm)
Castlebar RFC (October 6 & 7)
Ballinasloe RFC (October 13 & 14)
Stage 3 Coaching Course
Galway (Full day on September 23; evening on October 2; evening on November 6; evening on December 4)
Stage 1 (Mini Rugby Course)
This course is specifically designed for coaches of Mini rugby (5-12yrs old) where players are being introduced to rugby for the first time and participating in games of reduced numbers (8's, 10's and 12-a-side).
The focus is on safety & enjoyment with the coach acting as 'guide' in a player-centred process.
Developing players' all-round skills and game-understanding with an emphasis on Physical Literacy appropriate to the stages of development of each individual are the key technical, tactical & physical module objectives.
The course develops the coach as 'Guide'.
Entry criteria
- Participants must be a minimum of 16 yrs of age.
Important Note: Coaches aged 16-18 yrs old are restricted to performing in an Assistant Coach role, under the direct supervision and guidance of an Accredited Mini Rugby coach aged 18yrs or older.
- Priority (where required) will be given to participants actively involved in coaching Mini Rugby.
Stage 2 (Foundation 15-a-side)
The Stage 2 Coaching Course is an introduction to the 15 a side game for coaches and helpers with limited experience in rugby.
Safety and enjoyment are the main themes of the course, and therefore the course is suited for people working with pre/early teenage and adolescent players.
The course develops the coach as 'Teacher'.
Entry criteria
- Participants must be a minimum of 16 yrs of age.
Important Note: Coaches aged 16-18 yrs old are restricted to performing in an Assistant Coach role, under the direct supervision and guidance of an Accredited Stage 2 Rugby coach aged 18yrs or older.
- Priority (where required) will be given to participants actively involved in coaching at Stage 2.
Stage 3 (Level 1)
The Level 1 course is for Head coaches working with 15 a side teams. The course 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 coach is 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'.
Entry criteria
- Participants must be 18yrs of age.
- Participants must have proven rugby playing/coaching experience
- Actively coaching a 15-a-side team (Stage 3 LTPD)
