The Vismin Rugby Football Union graciously hosted the yearly IRB Level 1 and Level 2 Coaching Course on Saturday and Sunday, August 28-29, 2013, at the Cebu International School in Pit-os, Cebu. PRFU Director of Rugby and national team coach, Matt Cullen, led the coaching course that weekend. Level 1 was held on Saturday and Level 2 was held on Saturday to Sunday. The IRB require all Rugby coaches to update their certification every three years and it is essential that the PRFU offer these courses to further improve the current development programs that exist here in the Philippines. The courses allow for all participants to learn, understand and coach the content that the IRB consider to be crucial when developing the sport of rugby union at all levels throughout the world. Great work and congratulations all the new PRFU and IRB Level 1 and Level 2 Coaches who attended the course:
As part of the build-up for the past Volcanoes vs Hong Kong game, the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) sent two coaches, Deano Herewini and Ismail Kadir to the Philippines. The two coaches arrived to run an HSBC Asian Grassroots Rugby program as a joint effort by the ARFU and the PRFU. HSBC Asian Grassroots Tour – Day 1 The program began on a very hot Wednesday morning, May 1st, at the QC Circle. Despite the scorching sun, coaches Deano Herewini and Ismail Kadir tackled training 40 boys and girls from House of Refuge. This orphanage is one of the many orphanages that PRFU supports. Boys and girls ranging from ages four to 16 participated in the program. It was the task of the assisting coaches Acee San Juan, Kaye Llanie Honoras, and Juan Engelbrecht to sort the participants into groups to receive their free T-shirts before training. Training kicked off with some handling skill drills and progressed with added running lines and rucking techniques. Even though the coaches were faced with a big language barrier, the kids understood the language of rugby and grasped the fine concepts fairly quickly. The kids enjoyed each drill oblivious to the heat of the summer sun. At the end of the day, the coaches completed training with a game of modified touch involving all the participants in an exciting, fun game. Afterwards, everyone finished the day with some merienda and pictures with the coaches, who they so very much appreciated for coaching them. HSBC Asian Grassroots Tour – Day 2 The following day, the HSBC Asian Grassroots Rugby program kicked off bright and early at the Bulacan Sports Complex. Forty kids from Bulacan Rugby Club, with an age range of five to 18 years old, gathered at the complex, eager to learn new rugby skills under the guidance of coaches Izzy and Deano. The kids were divided into 2 age groups: Under 10s with coach Izzy and those aged 11 and above with Coach Deano. The session began with a warm up game involving quick running, alertness, communication, and training to move as a team. At training, the younger group was taught ball familiarization, running with the ball, evasion, as well as the basics of catch and pass. Meanwhile, the older children began with basic catch and pass skills, and quickly progressed to more advanced rugby moves like switches, wraps, scrum half passes, and reloads. The session, which lasted for an hour and a half, ended with a modified rugby game for both groups. Despite the hot weather condition, all the kids had fun and were eager to learn more of the sport they had just picked up a few months ago. Later in the day, the Grassroots group travelled up north to head for City of Angeles in Pampanga with Clark Freeport Zone (Clark Jets Rugby Club) as the point of destination. The Clark session was scheduled at 4 pm at the Grand Parade grounds of the Freeport Zone. As they arrived, a total of 240 enthusiastic kids, with an age range of 4 to 20 years old, were waiting patiently for the coaches. Due to the larger number of participants, the ARFU coaches were assisted by local and regional coaches of PRFU. Local coaches Juan, Acee, Aye, Lito, and Joemari helped out Izzy and Deano in coaching the different age groups. The kids were divided into 7 groups: girls U10s, girls 11 up, boys 8-10, boys 11-13, boys 14-16, boys 17-18, and boys 19 up. All the participants were taught the basic skills needed in rugby like passing, catching, and running with the ball. At the end of the session, a modified game of rugby was played by all the groups. What made the session even more special was the participation of the kids from a correctional institute based in the province, as well as a large group of Aeta kids who had come to join the session. The day was a huge success because of the large turnout of participants, as well as the great sessions. It can truly be said that the future of rugby in our country is bright. HSBC Asian Grassroots Tour – Day 3 On Friday, May 3, the third leg of the tour took the group to Ayala Alabang Village Cuenca Field, where several Tuloy sa Don Bosco Foundation boys and Eagles Juniors boys were waiting for the coaching team. Everyone was once again ready and excited to start one of coach Deano’s fun coaching sessions when the heavens suddenly decided to open up on and shower the city with wind, rain and lightning. With quick thinking, the session was moved into the roof covered basketball court and the session continued as the elements were drowning everyone’s ears. Nevertheless, nothing stopped the kids, the PRFU staff, and coach Deano from accomplishing what was nothing less than an inspiring coaching session which everyone enjoyed. Every person was keen to learn from the international coach and easily absorbed the new patterns being taught to them. The boys were very agile and receptive and before we knew it, the session and thunderstorm was over. Everyone had a great time and had huge smiles on their face as they thanked us before leaving the drenched Cuenca field. HSBC Asian Grassroots Tour – Day 4 Finally on May 4th, the big day, just hours before the main game kick off, HSBC Asian Grassroots Rugby together with the PRFU ran a grassroots rugby clinic at Rizal Memorial Stadium with an attendance of 500 kids from all over the Philippines. Youth from different clubs, schools and children’s homes, all came together for this joyous moment. The HSBC Asian Grassroots Rugby clinic played host to more than 300 orphaned kids from different foundations. Coach Deano and Ismial from ARFU and 8 more coaches from the PRFU took on this daunting task of coaching 500 kids in one venue. Although one might think this was impossible, the impossible was accomplished. With 10 stations and 50 kids at each station, all the boys and girls took part in a tough coaching session from all the coaches. After the basics of touch skills were practiced well, the teams came together for some touch rugby competition. With the coaches refereeing the games and the kids testing their skills to the limits, both coach and youth alike ended the day exhausted but happy. After the big session, everyone transferred to the swimming pool for a cool down. The pool session was the icing on the cake and was fully enjoyed by the kids, much to the life guard’s horror. After a great cool down, everybody was greeted with a meal from McDonald's. With tummies full and happy faces, each and every one was ready to hit the stands and cheer on their team, the Volcanoes. The PRFU would like to thank our sponsors HSBC and Gerry’s Grill for making this event possible. It is thanks to our sponsors that we were able to get 500 kids to Rizal Memorial Stadium and feed them after a tough day at the office. We thank you HSBC and Gerry’s Grill. All videos courtesy of HSBC Asian Grassroots Rugby
The VISMIN Rugby Union certainly proved they are very focussed on developing the sport of Rugby Union in the Visayas and Mindanao with 23 coaches and 17 match officials attending the IRB courses at the Cebu International School over the weekend: Sat July 21st: IRB Level 1 Coaching Course Sun July 22nd: IRB Level 1 Match Officials Course The PRFU currently employ two Development Officers who work in Cebu, Rose Lantisce and Aiumi Ono, who were able to encourage 40 players to attend the courses that were run by PRFU/IRB representative, Matt Cullen All of the course participants currently play for either the Cebu Dragons or Pink Dragons and were all very keen to learn more about the game especially in regards to coaching and laws. To complete the IRB Level 1 courses, all the participants had to complete two online exams, attend the course and conduct a practical assessment. Course instructor, Matt Cullen was more than impressed with everything he witnessed throughout the weekend. "The young players from VisMin Rugby have certainly come a long way in the last 12 months from the last time I was in Cebu." Said Cullen. "They displayed a good knowledge of the game and were very responsive to all the course content and subject matter. They were able to analyse the situations and show the confidence to actually coach and referee in real life situations. I did not see these qualities 12 months ago and the enthusiasm to learn is infectious. We will come away from this weekend with some new coaches for further development in the VISMIN Rugby Union and hopefully some of the participants will start officiating at local leagues in schools, universities and even PRFU competitions." VisMin Rugby also held team trials at CIS on Sunday afternoon with 60 players in attendance. They were overseen by new Kiwi coach Deano Bakes and and club stalwart Phil Mounsey. The PRFU will fly the VisMin Men's and Women's 7s teams to Manila in August and October to play in the Globe 7s Leagues. The weekend was a huge success and it once again proved the Rugby Union is alive and well in Cebu and surrounding provinces. VisMin Rugby will also hold the annual Cebu 10s Rugby Tournament on Sat November 17. Teams who wish to enter the tournament can contact VisMin Rugby at [email protected]
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The Alabang Eagles graciously hosted the mid-year IRB Level 1 Coaching Course on Saturday, July 14 at the Southern Plains Clubhouse in Silangan, Laguna. The thirteen participants that enrolled for the certificate course were from the following organizations:
The day began with an early start with the course split into two main sections -- theory of coaching in the morning and practical coaching sessions in the afternoon. The course also required the participants to complete two IRB online exams before attending the Saturday session. The participants were very motivated to learn the basic principles of coaching and it was great to see the more experienced coaches and players helping the younger beginners with the course material. The IRB require all Rugby coaches to update their certification every three years and it is essential that the PRFU offer these courses to further improve the current development programs that exist here in the Philippines. The courses allow for all participants to learn, understand and coach the content that the IRB consider to be crucial when developing the sport of rugby union at all levels throughout the world. The afternoon was designed to allow the coaches to apply what they had learnt during the morning sessions and the participants split into smaller groups of four with each group required to plan and deliver a coaching session. The PRFU and Alabang Eagles had arranged to have the National Development Team and the Alabang Eagles attend the afternoon session and the course participants were able to take groups of 20 players and run them through a coaching session. The course instructor Matt Cullen was very impressed with the organisation, skill and instruction that was shown by all the course participants in the practical sessions and praised the efforts of all the coaches, especially as they had to take a large number of players aged over 18. The course concluded with the coaches analysing and providing feedback for the National Development Team trial game. Each coach was given an assignment and had to watch, record and review each teams strengths and weaknesses and report their findings back to the group. The whole course was very positive and all the participants passed the requirements to now receive their IRB Level 1 Coaching Certificate. Great work and congratulations all the new PRFU and IRB Level 1 Coaches who attended the course:
The PRFU will also be running the following courses with the VISMIN Rugby in Cebu this weekend: Sat July 21 - IRB L1 Coaching Course, Cebu International School Sun July 22 - IRB L1 Match Officials Course, Cebu International School Share this!
The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) have opened the doors to coaching and developing the sport of Rugby Union at Filipino Universities. They held the inaugural IRB Level 1 Coaches’ Course at the University of Makati (UMAK) campus last week. Fifteen UMAK PE staff members and three University Sports Directors attended the Certificate Course that was conducted by PRFU National team coach, Matt Cullen. The IRB Level 1 Course is an introductory course for all coaches to learn about the Sport of Rugby Union and how to coach this new sport in their PE classes or afterschool clubs. The PRFU are aiming at growing the sport of Rugby Union in the Philippines and will be running similar Internationally Accredited Courses at other Universities in the coming months with a vision of one day beginning a Universities Rugby Union League. Rugby 7s is now played at the South East Asian and Asian Games and will be reintroduced to the Olympics in 2016. As part of this build up, the Philippines will be creating strong teams in both Men’s and Women’s divisions and Coach Cullen states that “Rugby 7s is the perfect game for the Filipinos to play, you have to be fast, agile, have good hand-eye coordination and be able to play as a team. Rugby 7s is a game that anyone with sporting ability can play, unlike 15s, you don’t need to be big and strong. Speed and agility are essential.” He believes if we start with Universities in 2011, that by 2016 Olympics we could have a very competitive National Men’s and Women’s 7s teams competing for places at the Olympics. The program that PRFU are running at the University of Makati is to be introduced in four phases: 1. IRB and Rugby Ready coaching Certificate Courses for PE Teachers & Students 2. Touch Rugby in PE classes and club sports 3. Start a Rugby 7s University Club 4. Trial & select players for the National u18, u20 and Men’s and Women’s Teams Ultimately the PRFU would also like to run a separate Universities Rugby 7s league and involve up to 10 major universities, this would then allow students the opportunity to learn a new sport and also strive to represent their country in Rugby 7s at SEA, Asian and Olympic Games.
The PRFU are happy to provide Coaches, Resources and Kit to any University programs that would like to start Rugby 7s or Touch Rugby as part of their sports programs. You can contact Matt Cullen at the PRFU office on 02 706 4668 or mattcullen67@hotmail to find out how the PRFU can support and help your University Sport Programs grow and give students a chance at succeeding in a new sport called Rugby Union. |
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