In January, Sport Birmingham were thrilled to bring together partners from Nechells POD, Birmingham Moseley Rugby and England Rugby to upskill budding coaches in the community. The Rugby Activator course was delivered by Street Games. The activator course is designed to provide participants with the opportunity to learn the skills to deliver coaching that introduces more young people to the game.
Participants attending the activator course included members of the Colts based at Moseley Rugby Club and staff from Nechells POD. The activator course gave participants the knowledge and confidence to go out into their community and provide opportunities to get into rugby. Participants had the opportunity to develop the skills to work adaptably in different settings with limited equipment and resources to a variety of audiences. The intention was to adopt an approach that reaches people that might not have thought that rugby was for them and those who may not be able to access appropriate coaching support due to disability, social and economic factors. The sessions were focused on fun, adaptability and inclusion. The coaching skills that have been learned will be applied by participants when they support other young people in their local community settings.
All involved were full of enthusiasm, with a genuine desire to share their passion for the game with others in an inclusive and respectful way. They demonstrated innovative ways of adapting their coaching approach to ensure that everyone was included and given the opportunity to develop their skills and confidence.