Scottish Rugby leads way with new pathways

29 Oct 2020

​Scottish club rugby competition is currently on sabbatical due to the coronavirus but the planning to inspire the players, coaches and referees of tomorrow never stops.

Two new coaching pathways are being pioneered aimed at boosting participation in the game and enhancing on-field performance.

The two new Coach and Match Official Development Pathways for the club and school game will be delivered from next month (November), replacing the UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) framework which ended in April this year.

They are part of Scottish Rugby’s technical blueprint, “The Scottish Way”, and will be delivered both online and, when safe to do so, via practical workshops.

Neil Graham, Scottish Rugby’s Head of Training & Education, said: “It’s the people in our game who create the platform, encourage the values for which rugby is renowned, and who help others be the best they can.

Whether it is coaching age-grade rugby, running touch at your local club, or taking to the middle in a cup final at BT Murrayfield, coaches and match officials play an integral part in players’ experience, and are a key element in supporting clubs to deliver rugby.
Neil Graham, Head of Training & Education

“Scottish Rugby is committed to building a quality game for all, and this is why our development pathways have been designed with the experience of the individual in mind and will focus heavily on supporting both coaches and match officials.”

The pathways have been developed in collaboration with sportscotland, the national agency for sport, with elements aligning to new national standards outlined by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).

Discussing the development of the programmes, Ruari Davidson, Partnership Manager at sportscotland, said: “To have had Scottish Rugby’s involvement on the qualification design team was invaluable in this new approach that supports coaches to be confident at what they do.

“This collaborative approach has created a qualification that meets the needs of existing and new coaches and I’m really excited to see how Scottish Rugby’s new pathways are received by their clubs and schools.”

To find out more about the new Coach and Match Official Development Pathway, and to view upcoming training dates, click here.

In addition, please click the link below to view the webinar recording from the official launch.

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