LTPDst3cover.qxd (Page 1) - Scottish Rugby Union

INTRODUCTIONFollowing the launch of Scottish Rugby’s Long Term Player Development (LTPD) Strategy andthe subsequent production of our LTPD Guide for Clubs and Schools and our Coaching Tagand Mini Rugby resource, Scottish Rugby has produced this resource to support coaches andteachers who are working with youth players in the third LTPD stage:Developing the player (Learning the game) (Males 12-16, Females 11-15)Long term player development (LTPD) is a player-centred approach to achieving a player’s fullpotential throughout their involvement in rugby.The Scottish Rugby LTPD model represents a seven stage progression, each stage relative tothe important physical, psychological and social developments in a young person’s life. LTPDis about achieving appropriate training, competition and recovery throughout a player’scareer, particularly in relation to these important growth stages.The following diagram below highlights the seven stages of our model as well as thecoaching focus:CLUBS & SCHOOLSFUNDAMENTALSLEARNINGTO PLAYDEVELOPINGTHE PLAYERLEARNINGTO COMPETETRAININGTO COMPETETRAININGTO WINRETIRE& RETRAINMALE 5 - 9FEMALE 5 - 8LEARNING TOMOVEMALE 9 - 12FEMALE 8 - 11LEARNING THEBASIC SKILLSOF THE GAMEMALE 12 - 16FEMALE 11 - 15LEARNINGTHE GAMEMALE 16 - 18FEMALE 15 - 17PLAYINGTHE GAME:DEVELOPINGPERFORMANCEMALE 18 - 20FEMALE 17 - 20OPTIMISINGPERFORMANCEMALE 20+FEMALE+MAXIMISINGPERFORMANCERE-DEPLOYEXPERIENCEFOR LIFELONGINVOLVEMENTFOCUS OF COACHINGINDIVIDUAL SKILL DEVELOPMENTTACTICAL & TEAM PERFORMANCEDEVELOPMENTARE YOU READY TO PLAY RUGBY?This resource contains guidance to enable coaches and teachers to fully develop every playerin their squad taking into consideration such factors as: physical competency, principles ofplay, attacking principles, defensive principles, open play, set piece (and play from), mentalskills, teamwork skills and lifestyle factors. It must be remembered however that this resourceis focused on developing the players over a four-year period and that a coach’s planning,content and delivery should reflect this. Players should be competent in the basics of eacharea before progressing to more advanced activities. It may be relevant for the coach toutilise activities from the Coaching Tag and Mini Rugby resource depending on theexperience and ability of their players. Focus during the first two years of the stage shouldbe on developing the ability to train and to develop good training habits and routines whichwill provide the basis for progression through this stage and into the next.2