Rugby League Development

Rugby League Whole Sport Plan

The 2010-2012 Community Strategy is the outcome of the RFL's Whole Sport Plan. The focus is on five main areas.

1. Competitions: improving the competition framework, increasing school, FE and HE activity and development of a strong Match Official team, and offering our sport through the League For All program.
2. Clubs: helping clubs to operate at a high standard through development of its volunteer workforce, improving its facilties and environments and creating education club links.
3. Player Development: Implement a player support system that allows playing opportunities throughout the performance pathway giving every player the opportunity to play to the highest standard they wish to compete and ensuring that this support system is offered to all players from grassroots beginners to international players.
4. Coaching: Deploy a dedicated team of Talent Id Officers who are tasked with supporting coaches through courses, workshops, performance pathway signposting and other forms of continued professional development.
5. Visibility & Profile: Implementation of the Community Strategy itself and the marketing of the sport, high standard events and identify new commercial partners.

Plans/Targets for Norfolk/East of England

The RFL will be supporting Norwich City Saxons in the development of a junior section that will tie in with other large centres of population with Rugby League activity.

Funding Opportunties

The RFL has massively subsidised the cost of its Coaching and Match Official Course costs. There is also a reduction in further CPD courses like assesment training, tutor training, coaching workshops.

Club Development Support including Club Accreditation

The RFL fully supports new and exisitng clubs with help in sourcing funding and facilities, implementing volunteer recruitment strategies, developing players and coaches through courses, CPD and the performance pathway. There is a team of RFL staff with specialist knowledge to help clubs in the East. Amongst many other things this support is to ensure that clubs are working towards opperating to Clubmark standards:

• Volunteer Officer
• Student RL Officer
• League For All Officer
• Match Officials Development Officer
• Regional Development Officer

Coach Education

There are UKCC coaching courses run regularly throughout the year at:

• Level 1 (assistant)
• Level 2 (head coach)
• Coaches performing at a high standard are invited to take part in the Level 3 courses.

There are ongoing coaching workshops, regular coaching conferences, and the performance pathway allows coaches to take advantage of a number of positions that include among others Head Coach, Assistant and Team Manager for junior and senior performance and representative squads.

The RFL assesses demand through its strong relationship with local clubs. Other opportunities are publicised through the database of supporters, participants, coaches, volunteers and customers while local forums have been arranged introducing the club, its current activity and future plans to its local citizens.

There are a number of ways to get involved with coaching or officiating. Firstly their local club is the best step. In Norwich the local team are the Norwich City Saxons.

You may also get in touch with the RFL via:

• the website www.therfl.co.uk
• the Regional Development Officer Steve Davis steve.davis@rfl.uk.com  
• telephone 07703105381

Volunteering Opportunities

There is a full time Volunteer Officer who is targeted with recruiting new volunteers and offering or delivering training opportunities to develop their skills and offer further opportunities to work within the sport.

Contact Details

Steve Davis, Regional Development Officer

• E: steve.davis@rfl.uk.com
• W: www.therfl.co.uk
• T: 07703105381

Child Protection Officer

The RFL has two Regional Child Welfare Officers placed in London and the South East and details can be found:

• www.londonrl.com  or
• by contacting RDO Steve Davis
• E: steve.davis@rfl.uk.com, T: 07703105381

Other Information

The RFL are always interested in hearing from people who would like further information on activity in their local area as well as supporting any person, group, sport or social club in the creation or development of a new club. We will offer our full support in developing the club to ensure that they acheive their aims and ambitions.