PLAYER PATHWAY GUIDANCE: U18s CB to Centres of Excellence 2017/18

RFU Women and Girls Player Pathway

CB rugby plays an integral part in the identification and development of female rugby players and is a vitally important part of the pathway. Through involvement in the CB programme not only will more players have access to the player pathway but more players will receive high quality coaching and increased playing opportunities. The CB programme should be seen as a step up from club rugby.

At this stage of the player pathway there is a large focus on potential rather than performance as it is recognized that for the vast majority of the players CB rugby will be the first selective environment and they will not be anywhere near the finished article. When coaches are nominating players for Centre of Excellence trials a players potential should be considered alongside the performance elements of the selection criteria.

Nomination of Players from U18 CB Rugby to Centre of Excellence Assessment Days

This is a very important part of the RFU Women and Girls player pathway and the CB coaches play a lead role in the nomination process. Players should be assessed during training and in matches using the Assessment Criteria on the next page.

Coaches are not expected to assess players on every aspect of the selection criteria and should use their coaching experience to make an informed decision based on the evidence they see during all sessions and matches.

The Performance Pathway Officers (PPOs) are available as support in this process but the CB coaches are expected to carry out the assessment process and final nominations should be submitted by CB managers by Friday 8th December 2017. All nominations should be emailed to [email protected]

A standardised Nomination Form is included in this email and when this form is returned nominated players should be ranked using the information gained by coaches throughout the CB programme.

It is vitally important that all nomination forms are completed fully and with the correct details for all players as RFU staff do not have the extra capacity to chase up incorrect details.

There is no limit on the number of players that can be nominated by CBs for Centre of Excellence assessment days. We are very much concentrating on potential at this stage of the pathway and support coaches who nominate the border line players rather than not doing so.

The U18s Talent Development Group (TDG) players will automatically be selected for the CoE programme and will be expected to attend these sessions in addition to the TDG camps that are planned throughout the calendar year. The TDG players should be part of CB rugby as this will help to drive the standards of the across the country.

When making your nominations please include the TDG players in your overall numbers so that we make sure we have a consistent approach across all CBs.

If a 17 year old has been given dispensation and is playing senior rugby then they will not play U18s CB rugby and as a consequence you will not be able to be nominate them for the U18 Centre of Excellence programme. If these players are part of the U18s TDG or England U20s programmes then they remain part of those.

Skill Area Detailed Breakdown of Assessment Areas  Always confident in her ability to meet the challenge  Always gives maximum effort Work Rate, Courage, Confidence and Ambition  Demonstrates a positive and receptive attitude  Shows a real drive to improve both game understanding and personal performance  Is very coachable and is receptive to advice and feedback  Shows a good understanding of the game Coachability  Will ask questions when unsure and wants to improve  Makes positive contributions during training and games  Is physically able and is capable of asserting herself during training and games  Dynamic and fit she demonstrates good speed and agility during Physical training and games  Understands the importance of conditioning and maintains a good level of general conditioning.  Is able to tackle effectively off both shoulders  Is technically competent and communicates well to others. Defence and Tackling  Shows good defensive awareness and normally picks the right player to tackle.  Contests for the ball and makes turn overs.  Is a competent passer of the ball from both hands Handling and Decision  Identifies space/mismatch in the defence and links play. Making  Can make a variety of effective passes  Can beat opponents using a variety of footwork techniques  Where relevant to playing position is a competent kicker of the ball  Shows an understanding of when to kick in open play and what Kicking and Aerial Skills variety of kick to employ  Demonstrates good catching skills and has an understanding of how to use effective aerial skills in attack and defence  Is secure with the ball in the contact and effective with ball presentation, makes sure it comes back.  Good body height, shape and leg drive. Contact  Can identify and execute offload opportunities.  Reliable in and around the contact area and understands role and responsibility.  Is a good decision maker who is able to read the game effectively.  Willing to take responsibility and understands the laws. Game Sense  Communicates effectively  Can make things happen and have an influence on others around them  Demonstrates physical or technical attributes that sets them apart from other players. X Factor  Whilst not the' finished article' - has real potential to progress in either 7s or 15s pathways

Nomination and Selection Process 2017/18

CoE Nominations [email protected] submitted by CB Premier 15s clubs U18 CB communicates to players Managers to deliver CoE Players selected for Programme Playerpathway@rfu which CoE assessment day they are to attend by Assessment Days each CoE (25-35 CoE sessions begin October - .com by Friday 8th on agreed date delivering to agreed December 2017 12th January 2018. players) whilst non December 2017 working to a selected players Minimum Operating Coaches review Performance Assessment Day lists consistent schedule return to Club and Standards players using Pathway Officers communicated to CoE CB programmes clubs from Sunday 18th assessment criteria review lists and February 2018 allocate players to [email protected] each CoE .

U18 Centre of Excellence Programme

The delivery of the Centre of Excellence programme is overseen nationally by the Player Development Manager (Women) and locally by the Performance Pathway Officers

The CoEs will be delivered at and supported by the Tyrrells Premier 15s clubs. This will enable us to make sure we have a consistent level of delivery and also will have access to the facilities and support services that will be in place at these clubs through the agreed minimum standards.

 Bristol Ladies Rugby Ltd  Darlington Mowden Park Sharks  Firwood Waterloo Ladies  Harlequins FC  Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC  Loughborough Students (Lightning)  Richmond FC  Saracens Women  Wasps FC Ladies  Worcester Valkyries

An agreed number of coaching hours will be delivered at each CoE per month and whilst in an ideal world all these sessions would be on the same days and times it is appreciated that this will not be possible due to demands on the club facilities, coach and support staff availability and players playing programmes at their own clubs. The sessions should complement the player’s development and not directly impact or compromise their ability to play for their clubs at the weekend.

There will be an option to deliver some of the monthly sessions away from the CoE sites and these will be agreed with the individual sites where applicable.

The Centre of Excellence programme is focused on individual player development and not game preparation and therefore the attending players will not become part of Premier 15s clubs U18s teams/academies and will still be fully involved in all their own clubs matches and training with the CoE programme there to complement their development.

RFU Contacts

Name Role Email Phone Andy Paton Player Development [email protected] 07841 367446 Manager (PDM) Katie Baldwin Team Operations [email protected] 07715 859639 Manager - Pathway Alex Austerberry Performance Pathway [email protected] 07971 950551 Officer (PPO) – South East and South West James Cooper Performance Pathway [email protected] 07809 512738 Officer (PPO) - Midlands and North