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Here is a bit of a summary as to the proposed Junior Gold Cup
1.0 Summary
Rugby Union faces increasing challenge from the work of other sports and the decrease in athletic pursuits of our youth demographic to recruit and retain a pool of players in the 14-19 year age group that can effectively contribute to the health of the game at participation and high performance levels. Rugby is fortunate in that it possesses a varied competition and representative system as well as advanced talent development programs coordinated nationally across the country. Many key stakeholders, both volunteer and employed, work hard to build and develop opportunities for our young players to play the game and progress to higher levels of performance. At times the current representative and talent development pathway can be confusing to players and parents as well as requiring considerable financial investment by the player/families in order to be involved at the various levels and options available.
In these challenging times, it is proposed that a new and innovative model that combines representative level rugby and talent development programming for players U15-17 be developed by the group of key stakeholders and lead by the Australian Rugby Union. The proposed model combines current national talent development programs (Junior Gold Program) and various junior rugby representative programs to create a high level development and competition model at U15 and U17 age grade level for selected metropolitan, regional and state based team involvement. It is envisaged that this ‘partnership’ approach by all key stakeholders will enable Rugby to meet the challenges currently faced and move ahead in developing the game and the player via the one united strategy.
1.1 Aim
To develop a national model of talent development and representative programs and events that evolves the current pathway, aligns programs and organisations and creates quality and attractive Rugby options for talented young players.
1.2 Objectives
To align and combine talent development and representative programs across the country and stakeholders to create a quality, attractive and sustainable initiative
To reduce the large financial costs and time commitments faced by youth players in the current player pathway
To increase the access of a larger pool of players and coaches to high level national talent development and representative rugby program opportunities
To recruit and retain rugby players at the U15-17 year age group
To select players with the attributes and development potential to progress to higher levels of rugby
To build opportunities and the capacity of coaches, referees and other management
3.1 JUNIOR Gold Cup – U15 & U17 National Talent Development & Competition Model
By drawing together the Junior Gold Program currently operating across Australia and various Junior Rugby representative programs it is possible to combine a major talent development program with a representative competition to achieve many of the key outcomes listed earlier in this paper. The JUNIOR Gold Cup model would be conducted from November through to the first weeks of April, constituting off and pre-season periods and concluding prior to the commencement of Junior and School Rugby seasons
3.1.1 What?
The model involves selected U15 and U17 talent squads across twenty four teams throughout Australia competing for respective JUNIOR Gold Cups. A match program involving a minimum of five quality competition pool games and 1-2 finals games would be conducted at the end of the program period (ie late February/March/early April).
3.1.2 Who?
The program would predominantly run November (U17)/December (U15) through to the first weeks of April with trials for the respective squads to be conducted prior to the November start of the program. Various squad trials could use existing programs to base squad selection
Teams from the more remote/large regions (Northern Queensland, Central Queensland, and Northern Inland NSW) and Western Australia and Victoria would play all, or a majority of their Cup pool matches over weekends or in the case of WA within a 10-12 day period (tour).
Progressive entry programs would be designed and implemented for other regions/states such as NT and Tasmania to enable future inclusion in the competition. Match schedules would form part of the progressive entry program.
3.1.5 Cost
Re-directing Current ARU Budgets
The following program expenditure would be used to re-direct into funding the JUNIOR Gold Cup model:
1. National U16 Championships
o The National U16 Championships has been an important program and large investment over the past 12 years. The JUNIOR Gold Cup model would supersede the U16 Championships in many areas whilst providing other significant gains especially in the areas of player numbers (access and opportunity) and duration of involvement.
2. Junior Gold Program
o The program elements of the current Junior Gold Program (JGP) and corresponding budget would be re-directed in the JUNIOR Gold Cup model.
3. Junior Gold U15 High Performance Camp
o As above, the aims and objectives of the Junior Gold U15 High Performance Camp would be matched and superseded by the JUNIOR Gold Cup model
3.1.3 How?
Whilst the model is player centred, significant resources and programming would be developed for the following key groups:
1. Coaches (including S&C coaches) & Managers
- Coach and Manager Development programs including in-servicing, workshops, resources and face-to-face support
2. Referees
- Provide quality practical development opportunities as part of the ARU’s Referee Development program
The November to April program would enable player development across three key areas:
1. Skill and Match Performance
- Core Skill (Junior Gold Player curriculum)
- Position Specific Skill
- Game Understanding and Analysis
o Decision Making
o Tactical Appreciation & Application
The ARU HPU would lead the coaching and skill development program utilising the national skill development curriculum and Junior Gold Player as well as specific coach development work and ongoing coaching support. All coaches would attend compulsory coach in-services and updates.
2. Physical Development
- Long term athletic development
- Nutrition
- Recovery
The ARU HPU would lead the physical development program providing coaches with in-servicing ad support to deliver an international quality long term player development strength and conditioning model. All S&C coaches would attend compulsory in-services and updates.
3. Off-Field Development
- ‘Life Skills’
- Illicit Drugs in Sport Education
The ARU HPU would lead the design and delivery of key ‘Life Skills’ and Personal Development modules across all teams. All layers and team staff would attend compulsory personal development sessions.
The combined talent development and representative competition model would allow genuine development across the key areas listed above achieving quality efficiencies and development outcomes. Importantly, teams (and in particular coaches) would need to deliver programs that were not just about team play development in readiness for the Cup competition. Long term development models across skill, strength and conditioning and personal development would be central to the Cup model being a world leading player development and representative model for youth Rugby players. The ARU HPU would support the delivery of education and development across these three key areas. The off field development would rate as important as the skill and physical development aspects of the program.
Fantastic can't wait to see this up and running and look forward to seeing Australian rugby reap the benefits
I wonder if it is something they could look to start from a slightly earlier age bracket?
Who's put the proposal together Pieter?
Posted via Mobile Device
looks to be BEN WHITAKER (ARU General Manager Development Pathways) & AJRU
I heard the proposal this time last year Pieter whilst I was in Sydney, I was of the understanding it was being implemented this year, which is not the case. The age brackets are about spot on and it's all makes sense. All we need is the Aust. Schools RU to make their Nationals a straight U18's (with no strings attached) and it's all ago.
Also Pieter, what's your thoughts if the WAJRU were able to restructure and take the U17 age bracket up again and the seniors reverting back to U19 and U21 (Colts) for our local comp?
Would this help player retention and participation in our local comp? (Taking into account what goes through an 17 yr old's mind and usually a high study load also)
The only way to support this proposal in WA is to revert to a U17 competition. we cannot move U20 to U21 as the U20's is aligned with the U20 World cup
The one way to do this is to combine the U16 and U17 competition. This will be a better stepping stone towards U18 and could lead to better numbers doing the transition into 18's from 16's. currently we loose around half the players in the transition from U16 to U18
there is a lot of homework ahead for the WAJRU and RugbyWA but we will have a clearer understanding after the 19th of May
the way i read this is that the 14's and 16's for 2013 would trial at the end of the curruent season to make the respective 15 and 17 squads that would play pre season 2014 in the respective 15 and 17 junior gold cup competitions which is a great pre season lead up
might drag in some other athletes from other sports along the way and allows for in form players to be selected and the players to learn how to train across the summer and prepare properly rather than just rocking up in march for a rugby season
wouldn't mind seeing the WAJRU combine the 16's and 17's but think laterally about how to blend in with PSA rather than compete against it , we want the best young players playing club rugby
u/20's comp will be lucky to last the season so why not revert back to a u/19's model . the best 20's play higher up anyway . the current 18's comp is going pretty well with good numbers in teams so these players moving to a 19's next year wil hopefully maintain that
Not 'revert' Pieter, re-introduce U17's back into the WAJRU competition i.e. U6 to U17.
YES the WARU can 're-introduce' the U19s and U21s back into the WARU competition. Aligning with the U20 JWC has nothing to do with our local competition. Believe it or not, these young men know their dates of birth and whether they are eligible and need to send a video compilation into the Aust. U20's selection board via Rugby WA Academy to achieve an invitation or not.
QLD, NSW, Rebels and New Zealand play mostly Colts U19's and U21's Competitions and haven't aligned with the IRB U20's!?!
Getting the U17’s grade back again in junior rugby keeps school kids with one another and by having 17s there would be no real need for U18s or your so called stepping stone.
The stepping stone would be complete once they leave school, are now true Seniors playing U19s and U21’s.
Currently in the U18’s we have half the boys in their last year of school studying hard and the other half a year older drinking piss and having a good time. Not a great combination.
It's about the Kids enjoying playing Rugby, not aligning with the IRB (no one else has), ask the kids what structure they would prefer as I have and it would be 17, 19 & 21s. I'm not talking the Academy or Rep' kids either, i'm talking the other 90% who play for fun and choose to have a social life etc.
I believe there is a big difference in attitudes and mindsets with the U17's compared to U18's. Currently coaching in the age group with a mix of both certainly confirms my thoughts. Also having a son thats 17 and playing rugby provides a good insight as well. U16's and U17's are certainly closer in mentality and the same can be said for
U18's and U19 years old also similar. I'd like to see and think its has merit to re introduce the 17's , 19's and 21's formate.
Together Strong, we play it hard. We'll make you earn every yard.
We'll never quit, lay down or die. So bring it on and watch us fly.
We Are The Brothers!
All very relevant points and all this will be taken into account for our local comp
I see that the Junior Gold Cup fixtures have been released - no grounds or times yet.
WA play all 5 games in 7 days.
SA play 4 games in 5 days, but we do get a home fixture versus ACT.
I'm gutted that the Ox Academy don't get the opportunity to beat WA
http://www.idru.com.au/en/gold-cup/g...s-pool-results
Quick update. The teams leave a week on Tuesday.
http://www.westernforce.com.au/NewsE...-Gold-Cup.aspx
The SA junior gold campaign begins today v ACT in Adelaide