Rugby Coaching: IRB Launches a New Online Coaching Resource

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has launched an exciting new online coaching resource for use by trainers and coaches of Rugby at introductory levels around the world.

The new tool, accessed at www.irbcoaching.com , or from the re-vamped Education & Training channel on www.irb.com , has been developed for the IRB by Sportplan and gives coaches access to a suite of interactive tools for coaching all aspects of the game of Rugby.

The initiative addresses the need to help amateur volunteers at all levels approach key areas of the game with confidence, for example instructing on exactly how to introduce the tackle or coach the scrum.

With hundreds of drills and practices either documented, animated or offered in video format, the tangible benefits of the system include the ability to:

· View animations and videos of practice drills
· Design bespoke animated sessions or download ready-made sessions
· Save sessions to a personal calendar
· Print out session plans to take to training

"This new development is a huge step forward towards supporting the diverse needs of coaches around the world,” said IRB Training Manager Mark Harrington.

“By taking the combined abilities of some great coaches and coupling them with the technical expertise of Sportplan, we’ve been able to build a tool which should give immediate and real benefit to coaches at all levels and across all the continents, including in the developing countries where coaching resources are often scarce,” Harrington added.

The IRB is sponsoring access to the full online library for coaches from emerging countries. Some of the activities have been developed in a unique partnership with the RFU in England.

The initiative coincides with phase one of the redevelopment of the Education & Training channel of the IRB website. As well as offering access to this new library resource, there is specific information on:

· IRB-accredited courses available for coaches, officials, coaches of officials and trainers and educators
· Anti-doping information, cases, papers and regulations
· Match official panels
· Game analysis of all recent tournaments
· Free downloads e.g. Dragons Trust Play the Game cards