The NSW Positive Rugby Foundation will launch a new ‘Classic Coaches’ mentoring program this year at the Country Junior and State Junior Championships in a bid to assist coaches at the coalface of the sport.
The initiative is designed to utilise the wealth of knowledge that exists with Australian Rugby Coaches to mentor volunteer coaches that will benefit the next generation of grassroots participants.
Club coaches will have the opportunity to learn from former Wallabies coach Bob Dwywer, renowned international and club coach Alan Gaffney, former NSW Waratahs coach Chris Hickey and former NSW Rugby schoolboys coach John Warr.
Each of the ‘Classic Coaches’ will spend one half of a game providing one-on-one mentoring to volunteer coaches on the ‘Why and How’ of coaching, allowing volunteer coaches to ask any questions of these great mentors.
It’s just one of the initiatives the Positive Rugby Foundation has launched to better support coaching in New South Wales and support grassroots rugby. Additionally the Positive Rugby Foundation will be the naming rights sponsor of the of Junior Championships.
Head of the NSW Positive Rugby Foundation Greg Mumm said this will be another great opportunity to support our State’s coaches.
“The Positive Rugby Foundation is about supporting the game at the grassroots level, specifically in areas like coach education where the community have told us they need support. Supporting and developing our coaches is a key priority for the Foundation,” Mumm said.
“Classic Coaches will build on the Positive Coaching Platform App, that will be released in early March, which will provide free online coaching support to all volunteer coaches across the state.
“To have the calibre of coaches like Bob, Alan, Chris and John involved demonstrates the passion for rugby and willingness to give back expressed by so many in the game,” he said.
Former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer said it’s a great opportunity to invest in coach education.
“Australia used to be world leaders in coach education and development, and utilising the experiences and knowledge of past coaches is a great way to help up and coming coaches and players,” Dwyer said.
“Donating our time is a small way we can give back to the game in a way that can advance the understanding and skills of those starting their coaching journey,” he said.
NSW Junior Rugby Union President, Ben Gregory, said he was thrilled to have the Positive Rugby Foundation back on board as the naming rights partner for the second consecutive year.
“We appreciate and respect everything that the Positive Rugby Foundation is doing for rugby, and our rugby community, and we are happy to have them on board again this year,” Gregory said.
“It’s not just about rugby for them. They’ve got programs that are helping people in our community in their everyday lives and this partnership means we can spread that throughout our state, regions and zones.”
The Positive Rugby Foundation are looking for an additional 20-25 high caliber coaches to join the Classic Coaches concept, who can volunteer for a minimum of one half day. For any Level 3 or Level 4 Coaches who would like to be a ‘Classic Coach’, please contact Greg Mumm here .
