RUGBY DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY 2nd Form to Senior School Rugby
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Discover what our Rugby Development Pathway can do for you
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Aim High Push harder, think faster
Each stage of the Fettes Rugby Pathway has been designed to help our players reach their full potential.
Sporting Values At Fettes College, our rugby mission is to foster a passion for the game in a supportive and inclusive environment, where all players can thrive and reach their full potential. We are committed to promoting every player’s welfare, encouraging healthy competition and ensuring that every individual enjoys their rugby experience, regardless of ability. Through competitive fixtures and teamwork, we develop both the skills and character of our students, creating a fun and respectful rugby culture for all. Page 3
Pathway Timeline A place to develop and be the best version of you The Fettes Rugby Pathway:
TRANSITION
SKILL DEVELOPMENT
GAME DEVELOPMENT
PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT
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PROBLEM SOLVING
STAGE 1
Rugby Transition 2nd Form into 3rd Form Alignment and confidence building in preparation for Senior School rugby. In February, provide an opportunity for our current and future Fettesians to come together for skill development session.
Transition Day into the Senior School A discussion about the rugby pathway and athletics development at Fettes College, leading into a rugby skills session. Pre-season overnight stay to prepare for the start of the season and development as a team.
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STAGE 2
Skill Development 3rd Form - Junior Colts There is a significant emphasis on fundamental skill development - skill curriculum to fundamental skills deliberately built for long-term development. Attack Quality hand catch and pass - identify and attack best space – 15 attackers on the pitch. Defence Effective and safe tacklers - understanding of space and integrity in defence - excited defenders to get the ball back. Contact Skills Beat and offload – speed to support – relentless in contact. Physical Development Athletic development built into each games session but supplemented with rugby-specific strength and conditioning plans from our Head of Athletic Development.
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How will the fundamental skills be deliberately built for long-term development? •
High quality, experienced coaching
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Wednesday skills session with Director of Rugby
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Two video analyses per term
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A GPS data analysis session
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3rd Form 7s tournament in the Spring Term
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Supplementary club partnerships
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Open specialist skills session pre-session on Tuesday and Thursday
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At the end of the Autumn term, highlighted players with high performance potential will get an individual development plan with the Director of Rugby. They will be invited to the performance skills activity with Director of Rugby/Jonny Jones.
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STAGE 3
Problem Solving 4th Form – Colts Skill development will remain an integral part of the coaching as it underpins the game. There is a significant emphasis on decision making and problem solving in the Colts. Attack Quality hand catch and pass - identify and attack best space – ambition is hand to hand attack under different pressures - the role of passer and receiver. Defence Effective and safe tacklers - understanding of space and integrity in defence - excited defenders to get the ball back – assess threats and numbers. Contact Skill Beat and offload – speed to support – pace on the ball – ABCD contact - relentless in contact. Physical Development Athletics development is built into each game's sessions but supplemented with rugby-specific strength and conditioning plans from our Head of Athletic Development.
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How do we develop fundamental skills into smart rugby? •
High quality, experienced coaching
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A skills session in an activity slot with Jonny Jones
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First stage of SRU player development hub selection, where our talented athletes will be nominated for this SRU pathway programme
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Those who have been nominated will be mentored by our Director of Rugby
What are we doing to support those students? •
Part of the Sports Scholarship programme – Strength and Conditioning – personalised programme
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Individual development plan with Director of Rugby
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Performance skills activity with Director of Rugby or skills coach
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This is the first opportunity for our talented players to play in the SRU U16 Cup competition
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Two video analyses per term
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A GPS data analysis session per term
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4th Form 7s tournament in the Spring Term
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Supplementary club partnerships
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Open specialist skills session pre-session on Tuesday and Thursday
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STAGE 4
Game Development 5th Form - Senior Colts Players with vision, intelligence, and an understanding of the whole game skill development, decision-making, and problem-solving will remain an integral part of coaching, as they underpin the game. There is a significant emphasis on game development in the Senior Colts. Attack Strike launches from set piece - identify and attack best space – triple threat attack - attack off 9 and 10. Defence Defend in chains of 3 - understanding of space including back field- excited defenders to get the ball back – line speed. Contact Skill Beat and offload – speed to support – pace on the ball – ABCD contact – airstrike and ground strikes – physicality – defensive contact. Set Piece Roles with scrums and lineouts.
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Aim High
Push harder, think faster
How will we develop players with vision, intelligence and an understanding of the whole game? •
Experienced coaching
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A skills session in an activity slot
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SRU player development hub selection: our talented athletes will be nominated for this SRU pathway programme
•
Those that have been nominated will be mentored by our Director of Rugby
•
If they’re not already part of the Sports Scholarship programme, they will be invited to a strength and conditioning session with the Head of Athletic Development and receive a personalised programme
•
Individual development plan with Director of Rugby
•
Performance skills activity with Director of Rugby or Skills coach
•
At least two video analyses per term
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Two GPS data analysis sessions per term
•
Athletic development is built into each game’s sessions but supplemented with rugby-specific strength and conditioning plans from our Head of Athletic Development
•
Supplementary club partnerships
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STAGE 5
Performance Development Senior School
Turning rugby thinkers into high-performance players Skill curriculum to turn rugby thinkers into highperformance players. Attack Strike launches from set piece - identify and attack best space – triple threat attack - multi phase attack attack off 9 and 10 – edge and middle field attack. Defence Defend in chains of 3 - understanding of space, including back field- excited defenders to get the ball back – line speed – defending efficient attack. Contact Skill Beat and offload – speed to support – pace on the ball – ABCD contact – airstrike and ground strikes – physicality – defensive contact. Set Piece Specialist skills within scrum and lineout. Strong confident lifters and jumper.
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Aim High How do we turn rugby thinkers into high-performance players? Careful consideration of the 2nd Form transition point for integrating any new Fettesians •
Pre-season
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Paired with a ‘buddy’
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Team building task
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Rugby-specific Strength and Conditioning programme for all players before the summer holidays
SRU player development hub selection: our talented athletes will be nominated for this SRU pathway programme. •
Those that have been nominated will be mentored by our Director of Rugby
•
At least two video analyses per term
•
Two GPS data analysis sessions per term
•
Athletic development is built into each game’s sessions but supplemented with rugby-specific strength and conditioning plans from our Head of Athletic Development
•
Supplementary club partnerships
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