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Introducing children to rugby: Shaping the game, retaining players and developing talent
Gethin Thomas
Introducing children to rugby: Shaping the game, retaining players and developing talent
Gethin Thomas
Research Partner
• Rugby Football Union (RFU)
• Gary Townsend, Player Development Manager
• AIM: To increase the number of children playing rugby
Overview
• Focus– The game played from U7 through to U11 – Its impact on the development and retention of players.
• Aim – Evaluate and compare on-pitch performance of the current games
played (continuum) with the games played under the proposed new rules (pilot).
– Examine the attitudes of key ‘users’ to the continuum game and pilot game.
• Methods– Quantitative and qualitative methods.
Interdisciplinary Approach • Player/child development cannot be adequately understood in a
narrow, mono-disciplinary approach (Bailey et al., 2010).
• Interdisciplinary approach driven by an empirically/theoretically justified ‘balance’ between the bio-psycho-social domains (Bailey et al., 2010).
• Interdisciplinary– Biological: Motor Development between 7 - 11.– Psychological: Cognitive Development. – Social: Participation / attitudes of parents and coaches.
Year 1: U7 and U9
• 3 pilot areas– Durham, Hampshire, Warwickshire.
• 3 continuum areas– Cheshire, Devon, Gloucestershire.
• Methods– Filmed matches at festivals in all areas.– Parents’ questionnaire.– Player feedback.– Online coaches questionnaire.
Under 7 – Key Rule Changes
Continuum Pilot
Pitch Size 60m x 30m 20m x 12m
Number of players 7 v 7 4 v 4
“Knock-On” by a player No offence – play on. Offence – opposition ball.
Observations U7
• Children are very egocentric at this age.
• Significant difference in physical and psychological development.
• Parents and coaches play a key role in all aspects of player development.• Key observations
– More players are ‘involved’ in the pilot game.
– Increase in opportunities to develop their skills and tactical understanding.
– Feedback from players say that they enjoy both games.• LINK TO SHORT VIDEO IF TIME
Under 9 – Key Rule ChangesContinuum Pilot
Number of players 9 v 9 6 v 6
Scrums and Lineouts Yes None
Rucks and Mauls Yes None
Tackling Yes Yes1 defender only. Grasp allowed.
Observations U9
• Children are beginning to develop the ability to play in a team.
• Difference in physical and psychological development continues.
• Negative impact of competitive tournaments on the behaviour. • Key observations
– The pilot game is fast paced with only short breaks in play.
– Simplifying the game allows the players to focus on developing game skills.
– Physically smaller players have more success when tackling.
• LINK TO SHORT VIDEO IF TIME
What’s next?
• Analysis of Yr 1 data
• Year 2: U8 and U10
• Year 3: U11
• Should allow for a (brief) longitudinal comparison
Thank you – any questions?
• Research presented here was conducted during an ESRC Studentship under its Capacity Building Clusters Award (RES-187-24-0002) in partnership with the Rugby Football Union.
• For more information about this project and the work of the Centre for Sport, Leisure and Tourism research, see www.ex.ac.uk/slt [adjust URL to direct to your project space of the site].
• Gethin Thomas, glt201@exeter.ac.uk, 07866 140723.
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