Applied Coaching Research Journal Research Journal 4 | Page 22

APPLIED COACHING RESEARCH JOURNAL 2019, Vol. 4 APPLIED COACHING RESEARCH JOURNAL 2019, Vol. 4 At present, 15 players have been recruited to the 1. The number of players accessing the programme later maturing programme. The programme for the could be increased to provide more player later maturing players group includes a fortnightly development opportunities. This would impact training session providing rugby player development upon participation and player development across and high-quality coaching, strength and conditioning a larger group of players. coaching and home programme, player and parent education sessions (eg nutrition, psychology), 2. Although the programme runs fortnightly, there is fitness testing, individual player feedback and an opportunity for increased training (ie once per regular monitoring and feedback with parents and week) and possible competition opportunities for community clubs. players. However, resourcing the programme (eg staff time, facility availability) would require some Reflections and feedback consideration. The reflections on the current later maturing player development programme are positive and this is 3. The effectiveness of the programme should viewed as a step forward in the club’s TIDS as an be evaluated in relation to whether players attempt to address some of the potential challenges are recruited into a scholarship or academy associated with talent identification and development programme (at Leeds Rhinos or another in UK rugby league. Overall, 15 players are receiving professional club). Monitoring the development of player development opportunities that would not players over a set time period is another factor have been possible without the later maturing to consider and whether players develop at an programme. Alongside the benefits to players, the accelerated rate as a result of the programme. Leeds Rhinos emerging coaches are also benefiting from leading on the planning, delivery and reflections 4. Although data is used to identify players, these of their own programme rather than assisting the processes can evolve. The application of valid scholarship head coach. This has benefits for the and reliable data for informing decision making club’s coach development pathway and individual is important and whether flexibility should progression of coaches. be offered for inclusion/exclusion within the programme needs further discussion. The feedback from players and parents involved on the programme has been positive. Players and Conclusion parents have appreciated the opportunity to be TIDS are common practice within youth rugby part of the programme as they were not originally league, but there are challenges. This article has selected. They acknowledge that the later maturing summarised the research evidence and the practices status may have impacted upon their chances that have been implemented to overcome these of selection. Players and parents have enjoyed challenges, including maturity testing, multiple the developmental opportunities provided, the identification observations and the development access to facilities, higher-quality coaching and the of a later maturing talent development programme. multidisciplinary support services available (eg This programme is providing later maturing players strength and conditioning). Players and parents further development opportunities whilst still suggested that they would like more training and working within the national governing body’s policies potential competition opportunities in the future. and structures. Further research is required to Although the programme is in its early stages, based evaluate and refine the later maturing development upon the feedback and reflections of key staff, there programme and provide further opportunities are a number of areas for future development for the within the sport that may increase participation later maturing programme. These include: and development opportunities for more players. Considering the success of the later maturing programme to date, it might be worthwhile to test a similar approach in other sports and professional clubs, thereby providing more developmental opportunities to more players in the future. References Baker, J., Schorer, J., and Wattie, N. (2018) Compromising talent: issues in identifying and selecting talent in sport, Quest, 70 (1): 48-63. Cobley, S., and Till, K. (2015) Talent identification, development, and the young rugby player, in Twist, C. and Worsfold, P. (eds). The Science of Rugby. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 237–252. Cobley, S. and Till, K. (2017) Participation trends according to relative age across UK youth Rugby League, International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 12 (3): 339–343. Cupples, B. and O'Connor, D. (2011) The development of position-specific performance indicators in elite youth rugby league: A coach's perspective, International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 6 (1): 125–141. Malina, R. M., Bouchard, C. and Bar-Or, O. (2004) Growth, Maturation, and Physical Activity: Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Noon, M. R., James, R. S., Clarke, N. D., Akubat, I. and Thake, C. D. (2015) Perceptions of well-being and physical performance in English elite youth footballers across a season, Journal of Sports Sciences, 33 (20): 2106–2115. Till, K., Cobley, S. O'Hara, J. Chapman, C. and Cooke, C. (2013) A Longitudinal Evaluation of Anthropometric & Fitness Characteristics in Junior Rugby League Players, Journal of Science & Medicine in Sport, 16 (5): 438-443. Till, K., Cobley, S., Wattie, N., O'Hara, J., Cooke, C. and Chapman, C. (2010b) The prevalence, influential factors and mechanisms of relative age effects in UK Rugby League, Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 20 (2): 320–329. Till, K., and Jones, B. (2015) Monitoring anthropometry and fitness using maturity groups within youth rugby league, The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 29 (3): 730–736. Till, K., Jones, B., Darrall-Jones, J., Emmonds, S. and Cooke, C. (2015) Longitudinal development of anthropometric and physical characteristics within academy rugby league players, The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 29 (6): 1713–1722. Contact Kevin Till – [email protected] Reilly, T., Williams, A. M., Nevill, A. and Franks, A. (2000) A multidisciplinary approach to talent identification in soccer, Journal of Sports Sciences, 18 (9): 695–702. Rongen, F., McKenna, J., Cobley, S. and Till, K. (2018) Are youth sport talent identification and development systems necessary and healthy?, Sports Medicine-Open, 4 (1): 18. Rugby Football League (2016) RFL Parent's Handbook. London: RFL. Till, K., Cobley, S., Morley, D., O’Hara, J., Chapman, C. and Cooke, C. (2016) The influence of age, playing position, anthropometry and fitness on career attainment outcomes in rugby league, Journal of Sports Sciences, 34 (13): 1240–1245. Till, K., Cobley, S., O’Hara, J., Chapman, C. and Cooke, C. (2010a) Anthropometric, physiological & selection characteristics in high performance UK junior rugby league players, Talent Development & Excellence, 2 (2): 193–207. 22 23