Sussex RFU County Under 14 Squad
Suspension of Sussex U14 Squad 2011-2012 Season
Suspension of Sussex U14 Squad for the Season 2011 - 2012
Over the last couple of season’s the Sussex U14 programme has not been as successful as we would have wanted. For a variety of reasons we have struggled to find the necessary facilities, the required numbers of suitably qualified coaches and to identify a programme that achieves all the objectives we have for this key age group and yet at the same time putting a considerable amount of pressure on our CRC support to deliver the “programme”.
After finding ourselves likely to be in a similar position for this season the decision was taken back in July that the U14 programme would be suspended for one year. A small task force has been established which is reviewing what we should be delivering in terms of an overall programme for next season including but not limited to the examples below
- will we run development centres pre Xmas - if yes how many and where
- what will be delivered in these centres - who needs to draw up the programme
- where do we source/identify enough quality coaches to deliver what we want to achieve
- how do we consolidate districts down into a county squad - district matches / trials / coach recommendation
- do we source the U14 coaching group from the district groups (if we have them) - if so we'll need a coach mentoring programme to run alongside
- should we continue to run a district programme as a development opportunity as a 2nd tier to the County squad even after the County squad has been selected - if so when / where / who / what etc
The task force is scheduled to present its recommendations to the CB Exec in December so changes and more importantly personnel and facilities can be in place as required for the start of next season.
Whilst we recognise that our decision will disappoint this year’s crop of U14 players we've been struggling for the last 2 seasons to deliver an U14 programme in a way which imparts confidence to those taking part be they coaches / players or parents and we didn’t want to go through that same challenge again.
We anticipate running some CPD activities post Christmas to which aspiring U14 players can be sent so we are identifying likely candidates for the following seasons U15 squad.
If there are any questions or concerns please get in touch with me
Alan Croucher
Chair Coaching & Playing
Sussex RFU
