Introducing children to rugby: Shaping the game, retaining players and developing talent

Gethin Thomas

Introducing children to rugby: Shaping the game, retaining players and developing talent

Gethin Thomas

Research Partner

• Rugby Football Union (RFU)

• Gary Townsend, Player Development Manager

• AIM: To increase the number of children playing rugby

Overview

• Focus– The game played from U7 through to U11 – Its impact on the development and retention of players.

• Aim – Evaluate and compare on-pitch performance of the current games

played (continuum) with the games played under the proposed new rules (pilot).

– Examine the attitudes of key ‘users’ to the continuum game and pilot game.

• Methods– Quantitative and qualitative methods.

Interdisciplinary Approach • Player/child development cannot be adequately understood in a

narrow, mono-disciplinary approach (Bailey et al., 2010).

• Interdisciplinary approach driven by an empirically/theoretically justified ‘balance’ between the bio-psycho-social domains (Bailey et al., 2010).

• Interdisciplinary– Biological: Motor Development between 7 - 11.– Psychological: Cognitive Development. – Social: Participation / attitudes of parents and coaches.

Year 1: U7 and U9

• 3 pilot areas– Durham, Hampshire, Warwickshire.

• 3 continuum areas– Cheshire, Devon, Gloucestershire.

• Methods– Filmed matches at festivals in all areas.– Parents’ questionnaire.– Player feedback.– Online coaches questionnaire.

Under 7 – Key Rule Changes

Continuum Pilot

Pitch Size 60m x 30m 20m x 12m

Number of players 7 v 7 4 v 4

“Knock-On” by a player No offence – play on. Offence – opposition ball.

Observations U7

• Children are very egocentric at this age.

• Significant difference in physical and psychological development.

• Parents and coaches play a key role in all aspects of player development.• Key observations

– More players are ‘involved’ in the pilot game.

– Increase in opportunities to develop their skills and tactical understanding.

– Feedback from players say that they enjoy both games.• LINK TO SHORT VIDEO IF TIME

Under 9 – Key Rule ChangesContinuum Pilot

Number of players 9 v 9 6 v 6

Scrums and Lineouts Yes None

Rucks and Mauls Yes None

Tackling Yes Yes1 defender only. Grasp allowed.

Observations U9

• Children are beginning to develop the ability to play in a team.

• Difference in physical and psychological development continues.

• Negative impact of competitive tournaments on the behaviour. • Key observations

– The pilot game is fast paced with only short breaks in play.

– Simplifying the game allows the players to focus on developing game skills.

– Physically smaller players have more success when tackling.

• LINK TO SHORT VIDEO IF TIME

What’s next?

• Analysis of Yr 1 data

• Year 2: U8 and U10

• Year 3: U11

• Should allow for a (brief) longitudinal comparison

Thank you – any questions?

• Research presented here was conducted during an ESRC Studentship under its Capacity Building Clusters Award (RES-187-24-0002) in partnership with the Rugby Football Union.

• For more information about this project and the work of the Centre for Sport, Leisure and Tourism research, see www.ex.ac.uk/slt [adjust URL to direct to your project space of the site].

• Gethin Thomas, glt201@exeter.ac.uk, 07866 140723.