Photo Credit: Speedshots.co.za
In our Episode Eight of how to plan your future star's career, we were negative regarding the role of rugby academies in developing your child to stardom.
Unfortunately, our readers saw this as a witch-hunt. This is not the case. We asked a question and the readers' response showed that we were not that far off the mark.
We had requests from a few academies to come and visit them and "evaluate" their effort and success.
To make the process fair Bart drew up a questionnaire which we will use to evaluate and which parents may also find useful when they decide on an academy.
We discuss and explain the reasons for certain questions
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 One)
3. Does this Academy provide the provincial, regional and club representation pathway (Category Two)
CATEGORY ONE: “Provincial Professional player academy”:
CATEGORY TWO: “Regional and club player academy”
Categories to be audited for Academy accreditation:
1. Facilities and Staff
COMPULSORY CRITERIA:
Full time Academy Manager
Qualified Head Coach
Qualified Strength and Conditioning Trainer
Coaches and trainers to be aligned with the Provincial teams in that Union
Coaches to have at least World Rugby Level 2 Accreditation
Minimum of one coach for every 15 players at each rugby session
Minimum of one Trainer/Intern for every 10 players at each S&C Session
Training facilities should be of good quality and as per SARU Standard
Daily access to a Gym which should be equipped as per SARU Standard
Offices for staff
Team Room/Lecture room/Technical room
RECOMMENDED:
Administrator
Technical Analyst
Academy facilities should be in a maximum radius of 15 minutes by car for day athletes.
If the Academy provides accommodation, then these facilities should meet SARU Standard
2. Academy Programme Offering
COMPULSORY:
The content of the Rugby Programme should be aligned with SARU Skills Programs and accessible to coaches
Annual Periodization Plan in place for Rugby and Physical Conditioning
Seasonal-, weekly-, and daily planning schedules to be recorded
The S & C programme should adhere to the SARU Guidelines
Each player to be provided with opportunities to play minimum of 12 matches in season
S & C Training schedules (monthly, weekly and daily) should be available
Studies must be timetabled and assistance provided to players in drawing up rosters
Players to follow BokSmart Courses
RECOMMENDED:
Players to follow World Rugby Coaches courses
Players to follow World Rugby Referee Courses
Players to follow Technical Analysis courses
3. Players
COMPULSORY:
Preference to high quality Provincial, School First Team or Club player (Max age: 23)
Between 34 and 45 players max in broad Academy Squad
Academy offers realistic pathway to the provincial teams of the Union or alternative higher structures
Players to participate in club rugby fixtures
Players should play between 12 to 26 matches per season
RECOMMENDED:
At least 2 players per position in the Squad
All Academy Players to be 23 or younger
4. Transformation
COMPULSORY:
Adhere to Transformation Charter for SA Sport
Adhere to the SARU Transformation Development Plan of 2019. New Academy to show transformation plan.
At least one person on management should be generic black (manager, head coach, trainer)
RECOMMENDED: Cat 2 (Compulsory Cat 1)
At least 50 % of players should be generic black
At least 50% of staff should be generic black with strategy to increase to 60% by 2021
5. Education & Player Welfare
COMPULSORY:
At least 80% of the players should conduct formal accredited education courses or learnerships
Life Skills modules must be offered as per SARU Guidelines
Mentorship Programme as per SARU guidelines and standard format
Medical Services aligned with SARU Medical Protocol
Daily treatment available from Physiotherapist
· Daily treatment available from Physiotherapist
· Tutors provided for players within the weekly timetable
Nutrition Program and Planning
o Basic nutritional information based on gender, age group and skill level
Basic Mental Skills Program accessible to all players
Biokineticist available daily to rehabilitation and injured players
RECOMMENDED:
Players to conduct career assessment tests prior to entering Academy
· Tutors provided for players within the weekly timetable
· Nutrition Program and Planning
o Nutritionist available for consultation
· Psychologist to be available for consultation
A Mental Skills Programme should adhere to the following:
o Structure
§ Players must be able to follow a cohesive plan day in and day out
§ Programs through apps can help
§ Multi-module courses can also be identified
§ Apps and programs must give athletes chance to transform their mindset from a
weakness to a weapon
o Consistency
§ Regular and controlled contact can be done through apps in the market
§ Services and feedback must be readily available to players daily
o Accountability
§ Accountability must be tracked and monitored
§ Use apps available to keep in touch with athletes daily and when needed
o Portability
§ Use apps and programs that are readily available and portable
o Affordability
§ Must be accessible to everyone
§ Get access through available apps in the market
§ One on one sessions must be done even at a basic level
· Biokineticist available
o Available to every player daily (Recommended)
o Available to every player minimum once a week (Strongly recommended)
6. Operations
COMPULSORY:
· Internet facilities available
· Rugby equipment to meet SARU minimum criteria
· Strength and Conditioning equipment to meet SARU minimum criteria
· Weekly timetable and programme provided
· Regular (quarterly) reporting on programme and on player progress
· Administration of the programme must be up to required SARU standard
· The Fees per player should be market related and in line with “SARU Fees Formula” (60/30/10)
RECOMMENDED
Use Analysis programme approved by SARU Stratus or similar
Have at least video camera, tripod, projector and screen to do analyses
Annual Budget, quarterly YTD Financials as well as the Annual Financial Statements of the Academy should
be audited, approved and made available to SARU
The Academy should be run cost effective and should not make a loss