Photo Credit: International Rugby Institute
In our search to find the perfect rugby academy, we created our criteria. This was loosely based on a SARU checklist from five or six years ago.
Parents must, and I repeat must visit the academies and with their kids future in mind evaluate that academy.
Our assessment is definately not the Alfa and Omega. However, I do believe that our views could be that of the average parent who is looking for the best opportunity for their children.
Audit on Academies: Three Main questions to answer:
1. Does this Academy adhere to the minimum requirements? (Compulsory Criteria)
2. Does this Academy provide the required professional player pathway? (Category 1)
3. Does this Academy provide the provincial, regional and club representation pathway (Category 2)
4. Does the Academy or institution only provide in High Performance and/or skills education and training? (Cat 3)
CATEGORY 1: “Provincial Professional player academy”:
CATEGORY 2: “Regional and club player academy”
CATEGORY 3: “Regional and club player academy”
Categories to be audited for Academy accreditation: Category 2 Harlequin International Rugby Factory
1. Facilities and Staff
COMPULSORY CRITERIA:
1 Full time Academy Manager
2 Qualified Head Coach
3 Qualified Strength and Conditioning Trainer
4 Coaches and trainers to be aligned with the Provincial teams in that Union
5 Coaches to have at least World Rugby Level 2 Accreditation
6 Minimum of one coach for every 15 players at each rugby session
7 Minimum of one Trainer/Intern for every 10 players at each S&C Session
8 Training facilities should be of good quality and as per SARU Standard
9 Trainig facilities/home club should be within 10km/15 minutes driving range from main Academy activities
10 Daily access to a Gym which should be equipped as per SARU Standard
11 Offices for staff
12 Team Room/Lecture room/Technical room
RECOMMENDED:
1 Administrator
2 Technical Analyst
3 Academy facilities should be in a maximum radius of 15 minutes by car for day athletes.
4 If the Academy provides accommodation, then these facilities should meet SARU Standard
2. Academy Programme Offering
COMPULSORY:
1 The content of the Rugby Programme should be aligned with SARU Skills Programs and accessible to coaches
2 Annual Periodization Plan in place for Rugby and Physical Conditioning
3 Seasonal-, weekly-, and daily planning schedules to be recorded
4 The S & C programme should adhere to the SARU Guidelines
5 Each player to be provided with opportunities to play minimum of 12 matches in season
6 S & C Training schedules (monthly, weekly and daily) should be available
7 Studies must be timetabled and assistance provided to players in drawing up rosters
8 Players to follow BokSmart Courses
RECOMMENDED:
1 Players to follow World Rugby Coaches courses
2 Players to follow World Rugby Referee Courses
3 Players to follow Technical Analysis courses
3. Players
COMPULSORY:
1 Preference to high quality Provincial, School First Team or Club player (Max age: 23)
2 Between 34 and 45 players max in broad Academy Squad
3 Academy offers realistic pathway to the provincial teams of the Union or alternative higher structures
4 Must be a visible and documented player pathway spanning at least 3 years for each player on file
5 Must be an active and documented communication pathway with clubs, provincial unions and placement agencies
6 Players to participate in club rugby fixtures
7 Players should play between 12 to 26 matches per season
RECOMMENDED:
1 At least 2 players per position in the Squad
2 All Academy Players to be 23 or younger
3 There should be an official and documented relationship with local schools
4. Transformation
COMPULSORY:
1 Adhere to Transformation Charter for SA Sport
2 Adhere to the SARU Transformation Development Plan of 2019. New Academy to show transformation plan.
3 At least one person on management should be generic black (manager, head coach, trainer)
RECOMMENDED: Cat 2 (Compulsory Cat 1)
1 At least 50 % of players should be generic black
2 At least 50% of staff should be generic black with strategy to increase to 60% by 2021
5. Education & Player Welfare
COMPULSORY:
1 At least 80% of the players should conduct formal accredited education courses or learnerships
2 Life Skills modules must be offered as per SARU Guidelines
3 Mentorship Programme as per SARU guidelines and standard format
4 Medical Services aligned with SARU Medical Protocol
5 Daily treatment available from Physiotherapist
6 Tutors provided for players within the weekly timetable
7 Nutrition Program and Planning
8 Basic nutritional information based on gender, age group and skill level
9 Basic Mental Skills Program accessible to all players
10 Biokineticist available daily to rehabilitation and injured players
RECOMMENDED:
1 Players to conduct career assessment tests prior to entering Academy recorded and on file
2 Tutors provided for players within the weekly timetable
3 Nutrition Program and Planning recorded and available on file
4 Psychologist to be available for consultation
6. Operations
COMPULSORY:
1 Internet facilities available
2 Rugby equipment to meet SARU minimum criteria
3 Strength and Conditioning equipment to meet SARU minimum criteria
4 Weekly timetable and programme provided
5 Regular (quarterly) reporting on programme and on player progress available to unions and SARU
6 Administration of the programme must be up to required SARU standard and verified
7 The Fees per player should be market related and in line with “SARU Fees Formula” (60/30/10)
8 Annual Budget, quarterly YTD Financials as well as the Annual Financial Statements must be available
9 Full player analysis must be done, recorded and documented in video profiling for CV purposes
10 Marketing brochures, advertizing and websites should reflect full service offering and school/club/union links
RECOMMENDED
1 Use Analysis programme approved by SARU Stratus or similar
2 The Academy should be run cost effective and should not make a loss
3 Questionaires, parent, player and independent feedback must be facilitated for the public