Leicester Tigers Academy
Developing Player Programme (DPP) & Tigers Development Group (TDG) Handbook 2014-15 ‘Cubs to Tigers’
Kindly Supported by:
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction To The Leicester Tigers Academy - Programme Overview - Current Situation - Leicester Tigers Academy Vision & Mission Statement - Core Working Principles - Standards Charter
2.0 Overview of DPP Programme - Mission Statement - Regions - Venues - Head Coaches - Costs and Kit
3.0 Leicester Tigers Player & Talent Development Pathway - Players - Coaches - Talent Development Group (TDG) Programme - Trial & Assessment Process - Feedback - Exit Routes
4.0 Representative Rugby - Pathway for English Qualified players
5.0 Developing Player Programme Session Content - DPP Coaching Sessions - Catch – Pass - Tackle Technique - Contact & Breakdown Skills - Game Sense
6.0 DPP Age Structure & Playing Programme - U13’s, U14’s, U15’s and U16’s - DPP Residential Camps
7.0 Schedule of events
8.0 Leicester Tigers & RFU Contact Details
9.0 Season Structure
1.0 Introduction To The Leicester Tigers Academy
Programme Overview The Leicester Tigers Academy was established in 1998; operating within a development process in which the goal is to develop players capable of playing Premiership rugby for Leicester Tigers. A significant number of players have progressed through this system and gone on to represent Leicester Tigers and various international teams. Culminating in the British and Irish Lions 2013 squad containing 6 players from the Leicester Tigers Academy programme.
Current Situation The full time Academy programme is underpinned by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) Academy licence agreement, which was signed by all Premiership clubs in 2002 & again in 2008. The RFU contributes to the financial management of the academy and allows the Academy the ability to recruit within a designated geographical area. This recruitment process is managed through the developing player programme (Tigers DPP) that selects and identifies players from various sources from U13’s through until the U16’s age groups.
Leicester Tigers Academy Vision & Mission Statement
‘To Establish Leicester Tigers Academy as the most respected player development programme in the world’
Our focus: • Long-term athlete development principles • Identifying the most talented players • Instill an ethos of excellence through continuous development
The Process: • Development led Competition supported playing programmes • An integrated and innovative holistic approach that optimises player opportunities at the highest level.
Our Culture: • Hand up, not hand out……
The Outcome:
‘To Produce Players Capable of Playing for and Securing the Cultural Legacy of Leicester Tigers’
Leicester Tigers Core Working Principles
• Simple – Uncomplicated without decoration or ornamentation • Uncomprimising – Punishingly Hard • Intense – highly concentrated • Honest – Unpretentious, truthful and free of deceit
What we are looking for in our players……..
• Warrior – Brave Fighter • Thinker – Person who thinks deeply and seriously • Doer – Person who acts rather than merely talking
Leicester Tigers Academy Standards Charter
• Right place, right time – if you are 5 minutes early then you are 10 minutes late • Right kit at the right session – no excuses • Nothing less then 100% - 100% of the time • Recognise professional boundaries – don’t cross the line (its thin!)
• Life’s not fair………. • The goal posts change…….. • If it was easy everyone would be here……. • Our environment doesn’t build character…..it exposes it……… • We expect you to bring something everyday……
Overview of the Developing Player Programme
Mission Statement “Providing high quality player development experiences, encouraging lifelong participation in the game and enabling those with potential to be clearly identified and supported.”
Regions The Leicester Tigers Academy has responsibility for developing potential Elite players in a geographical region that covers Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire and Norfolk. The DPP’s are a step on the player development pathway, with successful players progressing into the Leicester Tigers Academy at 16 years of age
Region Venue Head Coach Leicestershire (East) Leicester Grammar School Troy Thacker Leicestershire (West) Hinckley RFC Jason Button North Derbyshire Mount St Marys College Diccon Edwards North Lincolnshire Market Rasen & Louth RFC Mike Umaga Nottinghamshire Newark RFC Peter Cook Staffordshire (North) Longton RFC Simon Robson Staffordshire (South) Walsall RFC Anthony Nixon Norfolk (East) Easton College Tim Malone Norfolk (West) West Norfolk RFC Dave Tiueti
Costs and Kit The DPP is funded by Leicester Tigers supported by the RFU and the local Constituent Body (CB’s). It is free at the point of use to all players, there are no yearly subscriptions or memberships and the physio service can be accessed free of charge.
Once fully accepted into the DPP, you will need to purchase the DPP Player Pack, which is available from our kit supplier BLK via http://www.speedonesports.com/leicester-tigers- dpp/
3.0 Leicester Tigers Player & Talent Development Pathway
Players
Identified players will be invited to attend one of the nine Tigers centres located throughout our geographical area. Selection for a Tigers DPP is through a number of pathways including trials, divisional and national age grade squads, coach observations and direct referrals through our scouting network. Our DPP’s comprise players from U13 to U16 age groups and meet regularly to work on core rugby skills and game awareness. Players continue to train and play with their club or school, as well as representing their County, Division or England if selected.
Coaches
A team of skilled coaches led by the DPP Head Coach run each centre supported by the full time Tigers Academy staff, including Strength & Conditioning, Medical and Nutritional support as well as Technical and Tactical rugby input.
Tigers Development Group (TDG) Programme
At set points throughout the year selected players from across all nine DPP’s will be invited to train with the TDG. This selection process is fluid and is not an invitation into the Academy. Players may come in and out of TDG during the season. This will apply to U16 age group until January and the U15’s post January. The group will work with Academy coaches on various components of performance including workshops for parents on lifestyle management, nutrition, psychology and education pathways. The players will continue to train at their individual DPP centre when TDG is not being held.
Trial & Assessment Process
During the season the DPP and Tigers Academy coaches will be observing games to watch potential players for the DPP and TDG selection. School, club and county coaches may recommend any player they consider would justify a place in the DPP. However, all correspondence MUST go through Matt Williams (contact details at the end) and an appropriate invitation communicated.
Throughout the year Leicester Tigers will visit each DPP centre to assess ‘Form Horses’ and to see how they compare across the region. It is essential that progress is reviewed regularly so a portfolio of evidence can be gathered for informed selection during the year.
Feedback
Through the coaching style used within the DPP, feedback is constantly given to players by the coaches commenting on what they are doing well & what can be improved upon. At any point throughout the season if a player would like more in-depth comments then please speak with the coaches at the relevant DPP centre. Unfortunately written feedback will not always be provided owing to the large number of players involved across the programme
Exit routes
Players are normally involved in the DPP for one season at a time, depending on coaching and playing performances. If players need to be released from the programme they will be given the opportunity to obtain feedback from their DPP Head Coach. The players’ parents or guardians will also be notified. We continue to monitor all players released at U16 level through the county scene over the next two years. ALL U16 DPP players will be released from the programme at the end of January, with this being the GCSE year the release from DPP allows players to fully focus on school without any additional commitments.
4.0 Representative Rugby
Below is the representative pathway for English Qualified players.
5.0 Developing Player Programme Session Content
DPP Coaching Sessions Attendance at all DPP sessions is vital for personal development on the Tigers Playing pathway. The DPP sessions will be held weekly and although the theme of every DPP field-based session will change there will be four key skill activities (The Big Four) these will focus on Catch - Pass, Tackle Technique, Contact & Breakdown Skills and Game Sense. Delivery of coaching content will be predominately via a game-sense approach.
Catch – Pass The understanding of the technique and mechanics of handling a ball for the purpose of moving it from one player to another efficiently and successfully, under the pressure of time and space.
Tackle Technique How to deal with, and make a tackle. Building awareness of the options available to deal with the contact before, during and after it occurs.
Contact & Breakdown Skills Learning all the roles required by the ball carrier and his team mates to recycle the ball as quickly and as efficiently as required at that time in the game. And as defenders to know how to counter what the attack is doing at the breakdown to make life as difficult as possible for them.
Game Sense Building an understanding of what are the best options available to a player and the team in particular scenarios and how to execute options correctly.
Players will also be exposed to movement literacy programmes to aid their physical development. A minimum of 50% of training time is dedicated to athletic development training and is mixed in to the rugby components. Therefore, developing the players into rugby athletes is the primary aim to ensure they possess the skills, athletic qualities and robustness to optimally develop as rugby players.
“The physical capacity to do the technical stuff and the technical capacity to do the tactical stuff...in that order”
All DPP players are encouraged to join a BJA judo club to further aid their development. Please visit http://www.britishjudo.org.uk/find-a-club to find your local club.
It is recommended that members of the DPP should play no more than 32 matches a season and to play no more than one match per week and certainly no more than one game within twenty four hours.
6.0 DPP Age Structure & Playing Programme
At U15 & U16 level being part of the DPP does not guarantee you match time. Individual Head Coaches will nominate the players they feel deserve the opportunity to demonstrate their talents in games and at TDG level.
U13 DPP Programme The main focus for the U13 players is to enjoy their rugby and develop as many good practices as possible. There is no pressure for achieving ‘results’ and players need to collect as much information as possible to become an elite player. There are no assessment games at this age group
U14 DPP Programme The main focus for the U14 players is to enjoy their rugby and develop as many good practices as possible. There is no pressure for achieving ‘results’ and players need to collect as much information as possible to become an elite player. There are no assessment games at this age group
U15 DPP & TDG Programme The main focus for the DPP U15 players will remain on the development of the ‘Big Four’. After Christmas there will be an opportunity for some players to demonstrate their skills in assessment games. Training & playing performances will then aid in the selection of a TDG group, culminating in us selecting a team that will represent Leicester Tigers in a National U15 festival.
U16 DPP & TDG Programme The focus for the U16 group will start in August with a National Festival, and then will involve a series of Tigers DPP and TDG assessment matches in September. By March we will have seen players in various school/club games, several TDG matches and potentially CB, Regional and England matches.
At the U16 age group an assessment, based on performances and the player evaluations during their DPP & TDG involvement, may lead to an offer of a place at the full Leicester Tigers Academy.
All the U16 DPP players will be released from the programme at the end of January. With this being the GCSE age group the release from DPP allows players to fully focus on school without any additional commitments. There may be a match in February to monitor the development of players after Christmas.
Talent Development Residential Camps At least two camps will be ran throughout the year, one at Easter that is open to all U14 & U15’s in the DPP and one in the summer when attendance is by invite only to the U15 & U16 TDG players. 7.0 Schedule of events: 2014–15 v1.0 *Subject to change throughout the season
U16 DPP Playing Programme
• Sunday 21st September 2014 (All Players)
U16 TDG Programme
• w/c 4th August 2014 (invite only week camp) • w/c 22nd September 2014 • w/c 17th November 2014
U16 TDG Playing Programme
• 20th August 2014 • 29th August 2014 • 18th October 2014 (tbc) • w/c 1st December 2014 • w/c 15th December 2014
U15 DPP Playing Programme
• Sunday 8th February 2015 (All players) • Monday 4th May 2015 (All players except those at the National Festival)
U15 TDG Programme
• w/c 9th March 2015 • w/c 27th April 2015
U15 TDG Playing Programme
• w/c 2nd March 2015 • w/c 23rd March 2015 • w/c 20th April 2015 • Monday 4th May 2015 (National Tournament)
8.0 Leicester Tigers Academy & RFU Contact Details
Academy Manager Neil McCarthy Assistant Academy Manager Tosh Askew Academy Coach Brett Deacon Academy Development Coach Matt Williams Academy Athletic Performance Manager Kev Mannion Talent Development Scientist Robin Eager Academy Physio Ryan Kehoe Education Officer Lewis Clifford RFU Area Player Development Officer Darren Gourley
Academy Address: Leicester Tigers, Oval Park, Leicester Tigers, Wigston Road, Oadby, Leicester, LE2 5QG.
Oval Park Office 0116 2171 325
For any information regarding DPP & TDG please direct your enquires to: Matt Williams [email protected] or 0779 535 1989