Accies Minis Curriculum
Purpose
The purpose of the Accies Minis Curriculum is to give players a consistent, engaging and enjoyable rugby development pathway that can be delivered in keeping with our values and ensure players graduate from minis with a love of the game, many lasting friendships and skills that will support their ongoing development within and outside rugby.
It should be used as a guideline to help coaches plan sessions over the season and identify areas of focus but important to recognise that all players and year groups will develop at different stages and priority is always to ensure everyone has fun!
WHAT’S INVOLVED?
The curriculum looks at two key areas in order to develop a players rugby ability:
Rugby Pillars - The technical ability to run, catch and pass, tackle and compete at a breakdown
Rugby Understanding/Education - Understanding the game in order to make good decisions but also learning laws, positions and players or clubs
WHAT does that look like?
The below outlines what we should expect/aim for from each player at the end of each year. We have tried to highlight areas of progress between years with an underline. Useful to recognize this curriculum will follow Scottish Rugby Age Grade Law Variations (AGLVs) which tend to introduce new laws in each year to support development.
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Comfortable holding and running with a rugby ball and can evade others and identify space.
Can catch and pass while standing (P1) and in motion (P2) and play games like end ball, rob the nest or simplified rugby.
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Can identify space and follow the play in games.
Catch and pass the ball in motion and make 2-handed touches around waist.
Can wrestle/grapple through contact activities but not games.
Know the rugby laws for P3 and have a general awareness of senior rugby i.e. positions, international players etc.
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Catch the ball away from body, look before passing and finish with hands to target. Be able to pass 3m off both hands.
Get to the correct height to make a tackle, make contact with shoulder first, wrap arms and fall on the correct side. Complete stationary tackles off both shoulders.
Land safely and present the ball on the correct side when tackled.
Understand the importance of running forwards and holding the ball in 2 hands. Understand the importance of depth in a attack and a flat line in defense. Execute a 2-on-1 in a drill.
Know the rugby laws for P4 and have a general awareness of senior rugby i.e. positions, international players etc.
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Catch the ball away from body, look before passing on the move, finish with hands to target. Be able to pass 3-5m off both hands.
Get to the correct height to make a tackle, with lead foot close to attacker, make contact with shoulder first, wrap arms, use leg drive to complete the tackle and fall on the correct side. Complete dynamic passive tackles off both shoulders.
Land safely and present the ball on the correct side when tackled.
Understand the importance of running forwards, holding the ball in 2 hands and can use footwork to move into space. Understand the importance of depth in a attack and a flat line in defense. Execute a 2-on-1s and 4-on-2s in a drill.
Know the rugby laws for P5 and have a general awareness of senior rugby i.e. positions, international players etc.
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Catch the ball away from body, look before passing on the move with hips square, finish with hands to target. Be able to pass (incl. spin pass) 3-5m off both hands.
Get to the correct height to make a tackle, with lead foot close to attacker, make contact with shoulder first, wrap arms, use leg drive to complete the tackle and fall on the correct side. Complete dynamic passive and positive tackles off both shoulders.
Land safely and present the ball on the correct side when tackled.
Get into a safe starting position to clear a breakdown, ready to use shoulder first and leg drive to clear.
Understand the importance of running forwards, holding the ball in 2 hands, can use footwork to move into space and create space for my team. Understand the importance of depth in a attack and a flat line in defense. Execute 2-on-1s and 4-on-2s in a drill and in games.
Understand when to make a tackle and when to clear a breakdown.
Know the rugby laws for P6 and have a general awareness of senior rugby i.e. positions, international players etc.
Understand the execution and impact of scrums and kicking within the game.
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Catch the ball away from body, look before passing on the move with hips square, finish with hands to target. Be able to pass (incl. spin pass) 3-5m off both hands.
Get to the correct height to make a tackle, with lead foot close to attacker, make contact with shoulder first, wrap arms, use leg drive to complete the tackle and fall on the correct side. Complete dynamic passive and offensive tackles off both shoulders.
Land safely and present the ball on the correct side when tackled.
Get into a safe starting position to clear a breakdown (alongside a team-mate, ready to use shoulder first. Use leg drive to clear.
Understand the importance of running forwards, holding the ball in 2 hands, can use footwork to move into space and create space for my team. Understand the importance of depth in a attack and a flat line and moving forwards in defense. Execute 2-on-1s and 4-on-2s in a drill and in games.
Understand when to make a tackle and when to clear a breakdown.
Know the rugby laws for P7 and have a general awareness of senior rugby i.e. positions, international players etc.
Understand the execution and impact of scrums and kicking within the game and demonstrate this consistently.
DELIVERY
We deliver this curriculum with a player-centred approach and this handbook will go into best practice and how we do this at Accies in more depth . We plan sessions following a games-based approach aligned to Scottish Rugby’s BLUEPRINT as we believe this is the best way for kids to learn and for coaches to coach.
Let’s the kids play!
We promote an environment for kids to have fun, explore, make mistakes and figure out how to make good decisions themselves and encourage a growth mindset. We support kids clearly and positively and avoid telling kids exactly what to do - steer them rather than give them the answers!
The following videos align fairly well with our approach to coaching and particular how we coach during games at training and tournaments.
WHAT NEXT?
Take a look through the rest of this handbook to help you plan and deliver fun sessions in line with this curriculum. Think we have missed something? Just let us know at minis@edinburghaccies.com.