Ospreys Coach Development Officer Dan Owens visited Bridgend Athletic RFC last week to host a presentation and discussion around the tackle contest in mini and junior rugby, which was attended by 17 coaches from the club.
The presentation was well received, with the discussion revolving heavily around the implications this vital facet of the game has on the individual age groups at the club.
With the introduction of the Minis to Millennium player development pathway at the start of the current season, coaches are coming to grips with laws of the game and their role in the development of young players and how their coaching practices have implications on the future of the game.
Speaking about the welcome he received at Bridgend Athletic, and the importance of the coaches positive attitude to continued development, Dan Owens said:
“It is always great to visit the local clubs and engage with those at the coal-face of Ospreylia's rugby world. The coaches at Bridgend Athletic are passionate about their rugby, and you can see the enthusiasm they hold for developing young players at the club. They have one of the most vibrant junior sections within Ospreylia so it is important that they keep themselves up skilled and up to date with their coaching information.
“We are now seeing a quicker, cleaner and more expansive game at junior level with the developmental law variations being progressive to meet the player needs at each age group within the contact areas of the game. This all adds up to the players having more opportunity to run with and handle the ball with greater continuity options.
“For coaches to fully thrive within the pathway, we are encouraging them to embrace a developmental attitude. With it comes more opportunity for players to participate in a more enjoyable environment. The coaches at Bridgend Athletic are now looking more closely at their respective areas of the game with a view of how they fit into the bigger picture of providing the future players, supporting the Ospreys development structures by focusing on the fundamental skills of catch, pass, run, tackle and kick within the M2M pathway.”