Regional Annual Report 2009 10 Dumfries & Galloway 1
INTRODUCTION The purpose of this document is to report on season 2009/10 and progress towards the growth targets within the Dumfries & Galloway Regional Development Strategy 2009-2012, that links into Scottish Rugby s Strategic Plan 2007 2012. This document will also highlight key successes and identifying the challenges ahead. MAIN HIGHLIGHTS 13% increase in coaches 109 female players up 211% Four clubs working in partnership with the SRU for club development officer positions Over the past 4 years there has been a 35% increase in youth numbers Dumfries U18 s made final of National Cup Wigtownshire semi final of the Bowl SUMMARY OF PROGRESS 2009-10 Through the good work of a number of volunteers at local clubs and schools, and supported by Development Officers, there has been a real growth of rugby. Their combined efforts over the past 4 years have resulted in a 35% increase in youths playing numbers at schools and clubs, and a 10% increase in adults playing numbers. Partnerships Developed All three partnerships in the area with Dumfries RFC, Stewartry RFC and Langholm RFC are proving to be very successful. All Club Development Officers are promoting rugby in the schools and supporting volunteers in the community. The partnerships with Dumfries, Stewartry and Newton Stewart all involve the council. Dumfries and Stewartry will both have a 2 nd year SVQ student. Every club in Dumfries and Galloway over the last 3 years have received 1 amount of Scottish Hydro Electric branded kit to the value of 500, those clubs are: Stewartry, Dumfries, Annan, Moffat and Newton Stewart. Schools A successful Food Standard Agency programme was delivered to 262 P5/6 students throughout Dumfries and Galloway, Schools received balls and cones, kit for teachers and the students received 6 weeks of a food hygiene and healthy eating programme through class room sessions and P.E./rugby sessions. This will be delivered again in the Dumfries and Galloway area. The second year of the Rugby Champions continues to help support teachers in secondary schools. This programme is to thank teachers who are contact point in the school and rewards them with kit for the school and teacher. The rugby champion is responsible for driving rugby in the school, so far the programme has been very well received in the schools with 9 out of 15 schools involved Mascots Mascot places for the autumn and Six Nations tests were awarded to some committed young players across the region. Youngsters from Dumfries, Stewartry and Newton Stewart had the honour of leading out the Scotland team at Murrayfield. They all received complimentary full Scotland kit, met the top international players and sang the Flower of Scotland in front of a packed Murrayfield stadium and live television audience. Street Rugby 2
Through cash back to the communities, Scottish Rugby is working in partnership with the Government to deliver free playing and coaching opportunities to more young Scots in areas of urban and rural deprivation. Street Rugby is a non-contact and portable version of rugby that can be packaged up and taken into new communities over a number of weeks. Street Rugby is simple enough to be set up in school playgrounds, local games areas, or even a car park or street corner. As well as taking rugby to young people who are unlikely to participate in structured school/club rugby, it provides them with an informal and fun activity that can divert them away from low level crime or anti social behaviour in their community. This is the first year of Street Rugby, across Dumfries & Galloway there has been 18 sessions held with over 110 youths taking part. There has been 2 Rugby Youth Coaching blocks delivered to 23 youths. Challenges for next year Secondary schools taking part in local competition. Support the clubs with the youth leagues competition. To increase the numbers of coaches who attend coach education course s next year. Delivery of Key National Themes (KNT) to coaches so players are up skilled on them. To increase the number of referees who are not only qualified but take an active part in refereeing. PERFORMANCE The Performance programme began with 8 sessions focusing totally on skill development and the core National themes of Hand catch, Ball Presentation, Offloading and 1 on 1 Tackle technique at U14 age level. Selected boys then go forward to take part in the Struan National camp; there was a selection game against Glasgow North counterparts. From these sessions five boys represented Dumfries and Galloway in this game. The under 15 Pathway side in the region, the Dumfries and Galloway Bulls, had twelve training sessions and played four games. 5 players made the Glasgow South U15 squad and played their Glasgow North counterparts in the Struan selection game at that age level. At under 16 level any boys with potential join up with South Ayrshire players and move on to the Southwest Warriors, players with more potential were selected for the Glasgow under 16 District programme, this year 4 players from Dumfries and Galloway made the Glasgow U16 squad. As players mature they can move on to the Glasgow U17 and U18 IDC squads with the potential to then go on and play for the Scotland U 17 and U18 squads. This year 3 Dumfries and Galloway boys represented the Glasgow U18 squad and one was placed on Stand by for the Scotland U18 squad. Going forward Scottish Rugby s performance structure will change, this new structure has been sent to all key partners, through this new structure the intention is that our national and performance teams will continue to have players that are able to compete on the national stage. COACH DEVELOPMENT Local development officers have run a foundation course each at either local clubs or schools. In future a new rugby ready course will be rolled out that will help make the game safer, there will be a refereeing part to the course and this will be free of charge for attendees. Glasgow South has had 219 people go through UKCC courses coach education so far. There have been four UKCC level 1 courses run in the Glasgow region this season one at Scotstoun, East Kilbride, Ayr and Wigtownshire. There was a level 2 course delivered at GHA, all courses were full. In the Dumfries & Galloway area we now have 48 UKCC Level 1 coaches and 10 UKCC Level 2 coaches A number of well attended coaching updates have been held through out the Glasgow region over the season delivered by some of the top coaches in Scotland. Development Officers have delivered local coaching updates to club and school coaches, their focus are on the national themes. All coach education information can be found on the SRU web page under coach. 3
MATCH OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT Most clubs have been very proactive in the recruitment and training of referees. Clubs have a high number of qualified referees. Level 1 course s are held at Hamilton, unless a club has five or more people and would like the course to be held at their club. A slight change in the way people become qualified to foundation level for refereeing. In future Development Officers will deliver Rugby Ready courses at the start of each year, coaches who attend this will be qualified to foundation level this means they can referee mini rugby. The following clubs have had people attend a level 1 course this year: Level 1 Annan 4 Dumfries 12 There is a physical training session for referees on a Tuesday evening (TERT s) that has about 30 35 participants. We hold an annual law seminar that referees, coaches and player/coaches are invited to attend. New experimental law variations to the game this year meant there was a very good turn out. The biggest challenge is to get more club referees to become more active and referring games. SWRU Girls youth rugby in Dumfries and Galloway has taken a real step forward in the last year. There was a secondary school development day held that 95 girls attended, from that Stewartry and Newton Stewart started a girls section. For the following year there will be 3 different training days throughout Ayrshire with a central tournament for West of Scotland clubs. CONCLUSION With 4 Development Officers covering the Local Authority, there is a real opportunity to grow the game and support the schools and clubs. Working with other agencies rugby can be delivered to a wider audience than ever before. The new structure is proving to be successful, to continue the excellent growth of the past four years it is vital that key partners continue to work together. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody involved for your commitment and hard work and look forward to working with you to continue this progress next season. Glen Tippett Regional Development Manager for Glasgow South 4
Dumfries & Galloway Stats National Strategic Targets 2006 to 2011 25% increase in the number of adults (especially young adults) playing competitive rugby 2006 300 2007 +9% (323) 2008 +27% (412) 2009 ***+7 % (439) 2010 (483) +3% (455) 2011 (501) +30% increase in the number of young people playing full contact rugby 599 +4% (624) +35% (844) +5% (888) (977) ****-8% (812) (893) 50% increase in the quality & quantity of coaches working in the community game 54 +20% (65) 41* +25% (51) (56) +13% (58) +20% (70) 30% increase in Match Officials active within clubs and referee societies 60 0% (60) (76) +1% (77) (85) +28% (99) (109) 450 850 women rugby players (66% Increase) 0 0 0 0 +15% 0 210-360 girls (12-16years) 36-36% (10) ** (12) 183% (35) (39) +211% (109) (120) * New training is been delivered, 41 represents the number of people who have been through official training. 24 people completed the foundation course 17 people passed a UKCC Level 1. The 25% increase only indicates UKCC coaches, foundation numbers will be added to next years stats. ** Girls stats in the past have been incorrect due to players not being registered 2008 show registered girls who are playing. *** Adult numbers will show an increase due to clubs registering all players in the past this has not been the case **** Over the past 4 years there has been a 35% increase in youth numbers. This decrease is due to a better registration system being put in place. 5