Swedish Rugby Union (SRF) Get Into Rugby

1. Swedish Rugby Union (SRF) Get Into Rugby Proposed Project Outline

2. Contents • Context • SRF LTPD • Alignment • Delivery • Implementation • Monitoring & Measuring • Nordic Partnership • Contacts

3. Context • Game Development Conference November 2011 identifies recruitment as the key focus for SRF • Board approves and strategic decision taken 2012 to focus on implementation of LTPD • Long Term Player Development model for Swedish Rugby – framework to be published November 2012 • Implementation focus on ”Physical Literacy” & ”Learn to Train” phase – 6 to 12 year olds • Recruitment model needed to ’kick start’ journey

4. Support for SRF LTPD and pathway structure • Gary Townsend (RFU) through TES – outcome: modified game for U8, U10, U12, U14 – develomentally appropriate competition structures • Ultan O’ Callaghan (IRFU-Munster) – facilitation of SRF conference and sharing of experience – outcome: consensus to adopt LTPD within SRF • Istvan Balyi (Sport Canada)– consultant to SRF in development (2012) and implementation of LTPD 2013 onwards (to include women’s specific and 7’s specific strands)

5. Ultan O’ Callaghan Nov ’11

6. SRF LTPD Framework Träna för att vinna 19+ BEHÅLLA Träna för att tävla 16 - 19 INVESTERING Träna för att träna 13 - 16 Lära sig att träna 9 - 12 FUNdamentals & Physical Literacy 6 - 9

7. ALIGNment

8. From GIR to SRF • Naturalprogression and alignment of rules & format from ”Stay” stage to ”rugbysamlingar” (stage 1, SRF player pathway) • Easy progression for coaches and referees – similar game format • Natural timing – school sports/project implementation in spring – SRF mini rugby summer season

9. SRF Player Pathway • First stage of SRF player pathway – regional rugbysamlingar (”rugby gatherings”) U8 – U14 non-competitive – May to September with modified rules • TAG/Non-contact U8, U10 • Modified, incremental introduction of contact U12,14 • Smaller pitches, fewer players, player centred = more time on ball, more involvement for each player, more FUN! • First stage of coach and referee pathway – specific coaching modules – alignment with sports council

10. SRF National Player Pathway Sverige XV Sverige 7’s Teknisk kontinuitet Sverige U20 Senior Rugby U20 + Nationell Akademi Akademi program Sverige U18 Klubb Rugby Regionala Utvecklings Program ”Learn to Train” Ungdoms Rugby U14 – U18 Regional mini-rugby festivals Minirugby Samlingar U6 – U12 IRB - GET INTO RUGBY POPULATION

11. Coach and Refereeing pathway • Identify coaches through ”Stay” stage for IRB coaching pathway to take IRB L1 in 2014 • Potential IRB S & C L1 and Rugby L1 delivery into schools in 2014 • Progression to referee pathway through ”Game Manager” role in mini rugby festivals in SRF pathway

12. DELIVERY

13. Overview • A minimum of 5 possible delivery models based on existing sports structures • Potential central funding available up to 200,000SEK in grant format through sports council directly to clubs/regions in projects approved by SRF • Regional basis – initally 5 target locations

14. Targeted Areas West, Skåne and Stockholm delivered Mini-Rugby festivals in 2012 Skellefteå/Norrland Stockholm/ Mälardalen area West Region Småland/Blekinge Skåne Region

15. Possible Delivery Models • Model #1 – Idrottsskola • Model #2 – Skolidrottsföreningar (SIF) • Model #3 – Direct Contact/Existing network • Model #4 – Internationella Engelska Skolan (IES) • Model #5 – Idrott utan gränser (IUG)

16. Model #1 - Idrottsskola • Idrottsskolaprojekt (“Sports School”) • One sport gets access to several schools over an 8 week period facilitated by local council • Currently; local rugby club delivers content • Issues – consistency; quality control; safety; material/equipment • Solely dependent on competency of club volunteers • Improved through: involvement of teachers, delivery of education, availability of ‘standard’ material and equipment

17. Pilot results – Idrottsskolan project 2011

18. Key outcomes • 8 week project in 4 schools in Karlstad • 350 students between age 10 and 12 played rugby • Club had an ’open day’ and invited parents along • 42 players registered over first 2 weeks • 16 months later......Karlstad Rugby Club U12 team took part in 4 mini rugby festivals in western region – no pre-existing youth structure

20. Model #2 – Skolidrottsföreningar (SIF) • School sports union • Union of representatives of PE departments in schools within a county • Meet to plan county-wide events and share ideas/professional development • SRF have dates booked with Värmland county SIF – 29 schools from around the county • Strengths • union is teacher driven and actively seek new activities and professional dev opportunities • Possible funding available for materials purchase

21. Model #3 – Direct Contact/Existing network • Club has a network of ’feeder’ schools in the local community • Strengths • relatively open access • Existing relationships to build on

22. Model #4 – Internationella Engelska Skolan (IES) • Network of 18 free schools spread througout Sweden • Agreement in place to pilot rugby in 4 schools during 2012/2013 academic year as part of PR curriculum • Strengths: • School curriculum taught in English • Rapidly expanding company (avg. 1 new school/yr)

23. Model #5 – Idrott utan gränser (IUG) • IUG non-profit community group working in 2 cities – Norrköping and Södertalje (Greater Stockholm area) • IUG uses sport as a tool to encourage active lifestyles and integration in areas with large immigrant populations • SRF and IUG discussions ongoing to add rugby as a ’core’ sport

24. IMplementation

25. Timeline • IRB RDM – TD dialogue sept/oct 2012 • Club engagement tour 29th sept. to 5th october • Invite applications to implement GIR • Development conference 10th/11th November – selection of locations/partners • Education delivery Q1 2013 • Project delivery Q2 2013 • Mini Rugby season Q2/3 2013 • Review – planning Q4 2013

26. Project plan outline

27. Proposed Structure IRB RDM TD SRF PROJECT LEADER COUNCIL/ BODY CLUB REP TEACHER EDUCATOR COURSE SCHOOL/ ORG. CLUB REP PROJECT LEADER TEACHER FESTIVAL DAY CLUB REP CLUB CLUB TRAINING CLUB OPEN DAY

28. Targets • Year 1 – Sweden • 5,000 children participating in project • 10% increase in playing numbers

29. Monitoring and measuring

30. Research Partnership Opportunity • Possible partnership with Karlstad University Sports Science department • Previous work: • Carlman, Peter (Karlstad University, Faculty of Social and Life Sciences, Department of Health and Environmental Sciences)Dropout from Organized Children’s and Youth’s Sports in Sweden. International Journal of Sport Psychology . (2012)

32. Proposed partnership • After initial discussions, Peter is keen to take on a project to look at factors affecting recruitment and retention rates through the TRY, PLAY and STAY stages of Get Into Rugby • Note: Study would be on a 50% basis and additional funding from IRB/other bodies would be required – not budgeted for in SRF 2013 budget. Wider geographical scope posssible

33. Nordic perspective

34. Co-Operation • Proposal is to initially combine Sweden, Norway and Denmark to share resources and align player pathways • Addition of Finland in phase 3 • Addition of Iceland at a later date • Combined Nordic population of 25m

35. Benefits and opportunities • Further alignment of player pathways – FIRA U17 cross border and Viking Tri Nations already in place • www.norden.org Nordic Council provides support to cross border initiatives • Pooling of educators – sharing resources • Appeal to pan-nordic commercial partners • Strengthens potential viewership for Nordic rugby TV market • Need to create aligned, periodised Nordic Rugby season to facilitate long term growth

36. SRF Contacts • Robert Persson – General Secretary • robert.persson@rugby.se • Stina Leijonhufvud – President • stina@certosoft.se • David Hanley – Technical Director • david.hanley@rugby.se • Cissi Lundin – Treasurer • treasurer@rugby.se