Cornwall RFU have partnered with Coach Centred to provide an interactive online webinar

“Quality First Coaching Through the Lens of SEND”

This session will explore inclusive coaching practices, with a specific focus on supporting neurodivergent participants through proactive, quality-first approaches.

Date: Wednesday 10th September
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
https://www.coachcentered.com/coach-development/#Webinars
Cost: £23.99
Cornwall RFU will refund 100% of the fee for all Cornwall Rugby Union coaches who attend the live session. 

On July 12th, Cornwall RFU hosted its annual high-performance Coaching Conference at Truro School. This immersive half-day event, from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM, was designed to prepare coaches for the upcoming season. Coaches from across the county attended the conference.

Jon Bates from Coaching Centred facilitated the event, and Allan, Gavin and Jo from the  Cornish Pirates coaching team delivered the practical activity. Additionally, the former Director of Rugby for the Cornish Pirates, Ian Davis, provided valuable insights into communication and the session design.

The conference included sessions focused on: 

– **Team Mindset, Strategy & Turnover Gains**: Coaches explored how to convert possession shifts into tangible advantages in the game.

– **Phase Defence Insights**: Emphasis was placed on adapting defensive principles based on pitch location and the dynamics surrounding the ruck.

– **Session Design for Decision-Making**: Interactive discussions aimed to refine techniques for session progression that enhance players’ decision-making capabilities.

These sessions were structured to translate directly into improved training designs and effective game-day strategies.

The event fostered peer-to-peer learning and reinforced the importance of continuous improvement through collaboration.

Stay tuned for further game development activities. 

Are you a coach, referee, or volunteer passionate about growing the game? The England Rugby Mentoring Award is your chance to inspire others and make a real impact!

What You’ll Gain: – The skills to mentor and support others effectively. – Insights to help develop people across all roles in the game. – A nationally recognized qualification to advance your rugby journey.

Who’s It For? Anyone involved in rugby looking to share their knowledge and support the next generation of coaches, referees, or volunteers.

How to Register: https://gms.rfu.com/GMS/coursefinder Venues Exeter Athletic RFC 25/01/2025 or Redruth RFC 02/02/2025

On July 6, 2024, the Cornwall Rugby Football Union, in collaboration with Jon Bates from Coaching Centered, Gavin Cattle, Alan Paver, and Joe Walsh from local Rugby Championship side Cornish Pirates, hosted a Coaching Development Day for community coaches in Cornwall.

At the coaching conference hosted at Truro School, more than 30 coaches were welcomed. The facilities were fantastic, and the team was incredibly helpful and supportive of the event. The day included practical skills, video reviews, and professional discussions. Each coaching session was divided into three parts and the activities were expertly delivered and managed by Gavin, Alan, and Joe. Each session offered options to either ramp up the intensity or focus on fundamental skills.

Following the conclusion of the conference, Anne’s Pasties provided a pasty lunch, allowing the coaches to reflect and consolidate their knowledge over a delicious pasty.

The county is fortunate to have a championship-level rugby team that is dedicated to supporting community rugby. Neil Smith, the Pirates’ Community Engagement Manager, has played a crucial role in making this event possible. The coaching team at Pirates has been incredibly supportive, dedicating their free time to providing guidance to community coaches across the county. During the conference, Alan, Gavin, and Joe were incredibly approachable and supportive, generously sharing their knowledge and challenging coaches’ perceptions about clarity and simplicity.

We would also like to thank Jon Bates and the team at Coaching Centred for their support in bringing a coaching conference to Cornwall after a several-year hiatus. His support and knowledge working through the logistics of the conference and running of the event has been fantastic.

Thank you to all the coaching coordinators’ secretaries who shared updates on this event and supported their coaches so that they could attend the conference on the day. Thank you to the coaches who came and took part in the active sessions, asked questions, and shared knowledge with their peers. I sincerely hope this knowledge helps support your coaching journey within the county.

Game Development Team