The aim of the course is to improve the player in four aspects technical, physical, mental, tactical.
Technically the course will aim to improve the player’s generic skills such as tackling & passing but also the course will provide specialist positional technical coaching provided through course-based coaches and guest coaches with specific skill sets focused on the players needs.
Physically the players, depending on age, will be tested and measured against Premiership Academy fitness criteria. They will be educated on the use of strength and conditioning to improve their rugby ability going forward. They will all leave with an individually tailored program for the season ahead.
Tactically the players will be taken through game understanding sessions on the field and in the classroom. They will be set tasks of preparing their own groups to tactically outwit the opposition. They will be shown how video analysis has become part of the modern game and set homework and analysing matches using the skills they have learnt.
Mentally they will be put in situations where their concentration is tested and asked to perform their core skills under external pressures. This area is probably the least coached in the game but is where players can make the most gains. The players will undertake goal setting long and short term and leave the course with specific key performance indicators and goals for the forthcoming season.
The course will take on a unique structure, based around a pre-season camp of a professional club culminating at the end of the week in a conditioned game that parents are invited to attend and view the improvement the players have made.
The scene will be set early on Tuesday afternoon when all players will be briefed on the make-up of the week and its outcomes and goals. The players will be encouraged to work within their teams to improve as individuals but also to create their own team ethos and culture and to positively embrace the team environment.
The players will be taken to a professional rugby club to view how it is done at the top level and will be encouraged to make comparisons on what they are doing on the course in relation to what they have seen.
As the week builds the course will turn from coach led to player led with the responsibility for rugby decision making becoming the players responsibility and ultimately empowering them to think for themselves.
Guest coach Ryan Jones, Wales and British Lions, will attend during the week to coach and offer guidance to the players. He will host a question and answer session and will talk about his many experiences from his unique rugby career.
The course will offer a totally unique experience that will improve the individually as a rugby player and a person. It will prepare the player for the season ahead and give him an outstanding head start in helping him to achieve his rugby goals.
LEAD COACHES
Matt Salter
Played professional rugby 10 years with Bristol Rugby and captain for 4 years.
Captain of 2004/5 ‘Guinness Premiership Dream Team‘
Assistant Academy Manger at Bristol Rugby RFU Academy
Bristol Rugby forwards coach 2009/10
Level 3 RFU Coach
Currently Head Coach of Bristol University rugby & Sports Performance Manager.
Head Coach of Clifton Rugby
Head Coach of Gloucestershire Rugby
Rob Higgitt
Played professional rugby for 12 years with Bristol, Scarlets and Worcester Warriors.
Currently embarking on RFC Level 4 coaching qualification
Back Coach at Bristol University
Assistant coach at Thornbury RFC
GUEST COACHES
Ryan Jones
131 appearances for Ospreys
One of a small group of Welsh players to have won three Grand Slams
3 British & Irish Lions appearances
Wales most capped captain having led the team on 33 occasions
Andrew Petts
Former Head Conditioner of Bristol Premiership Academy and now Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach with Bristol Rugby 1st XV
Andrew graduated from UWIC with a BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Health. He is also a certified by the NSCA.
