In the school summer term of 2011 the delivery of the project took on two strands:
1) Provision of beginner sessions within local schools
2) Delivery of Rugby development days for girls already involved in the game who would further improve from specialist coaching.
Team Northumbria’s ‘offer’ to the schools and girls development group came in the form of a high profile coaching team. Ex-England International, current Team Northumbria player and University staff member Katy Storie and Scotland International, Northumbria Graduate and current assistant S&C Coach Suzi Newton led the coaching team supported by student volunteers and club members. The project was largely coordinated by a student Community Sport intern who liaised with the schools, club contacts, other student coaches and Northumbria staff.
Phase one of the project saw the delivery of beginner’s taster sessions within local schools largely within Newcastle and North Tyneside. The coaching team delivered a combination of practical ‘introduction to rugby’ sessions along with classroom based workshops highlighting the coaches ‘athlete story’ including discussions based upon body image and confidence. The age of the school pupils the coaches worked with ranged between 14 and 18, delivering to an average of 20 girls at each school session. The schools the project engaged with at this phase were Church High, Sacred Heart, St.Roberts, Emanuel, Thomas Moore, Excelsior, Kenton High, Monkseaton High, Heaton Manor, Academy 360 and Central High.
Phase two saw the delivery of ‘rugby development days’ offering tailored specialised coaching for girls already involved in the game but also for those that the coaches had worked with in schools who had shown interest or potential for the game. Phase two was delivered in partnership with the RFU Northumberland Community Rugby Coach along with the Northumberland Under 15’s and Under 18’s county coaches. Delivered at Team Northumbria’s home of rugby, Bullocksteads the sessions brought together girls from clubs and schools across the county.
“May I express my thanks for a very well run couple of days. The feedback I have received from the girls was that they all enjoyed the training sessions as well as the advice and company of the coaches”
Dave Chatterway, Morpeth Coach
