Development Unit – Coaching course
Four of our coaches, Sale Sorovaki, Alifereti Mocelutu, Bill Gadolo and Sam Domoni were accredited World Rugby Level 3 coaches after their final assessment two weeks ago in Nadi. Three WR Trainers from New Zealand Daryl Suasua, Johnny Gordon and Richard Skelly conducted the assessment where 11 coaches from Fiji attended.
The four graduates are the first lot in Fiji to reach the highest level in coaching. Sorovaki and Mocelutu both work at the FRU Development Unit. Gadolo now the FRU Academy coach and Domoni currently coaching the Naitasiri Northern Bulls.
Alivereti Mocelutu
These coaches after successfully completing the course should be able to:-
- Develop a personal coach profile
- Outline a vision for their team
- Assess current players and apply a selection process (player profile)
- Develop a team profile (strengths & weaknesses of their team)
- Develop a game profile (identifying and practising for the long-term)
- Identify and practise specific tactics (patterns of play)
- Develop a game plan based on observation and analysis of specific opponents
- Apply functional role analysis
- Coach the following elements safely: Restarts; Continuity; Defence; Counter Attack
- Identify Critical Incidents in a game
- Plan and review a season
- Manage other coaching and ancillary staff
Now, we need to use these coaches and hopefully next year, we will get more coaches to also be accredited with Level 3.
National Development Manager Sale Sorovaki was excited that three other coaches had been accredited.
“This has been a long overdue accreditation, and the fear of getting told that the diary was not right was probably the single most hurdle,” he said.
“Most of us coaches have been coaching for at least 5 years or more. The new criteria seemed to change every year so that kept us nervous.”
“The course content, however, has become clearer and clearer and as a coach, the need for all Fijian coaches to really start to coach in a certain manner. This has been a long time coming and has been delayed for far too long.”
Sorovaki also want to thank Talemo Waqa, who after coming into the Oceania RTC role really started to push for the region, and in this case Fiji, to move to the next level of coaching.
“We are indebted to his perseverance and desire to make sure that there is a consistent progression of Fijian coaches coming through.”
Meanwhile, last week the development unit also conducted a Level 1 15s coaching course and Strength and Conditioning course for the women’s. Ten ladies completed both courses. The participants spent the first part of the first day on rugby values. An area of concern that needs to be addressed especially in trying to develop and promote the sport in the country.
Participant Litea Matakibau said the course taught her a lot and now she will be able to go back to her club and assist in the development of her players.
“It was really empowering and there are so many factors to consider when coaching a rugby team,” Matakibau said. “We have a very diverse team, young and old and the course has taught me how to deal with different age grade.”
She was also excited with the fact that there are a lot of opportunities out there for women who wish to pursue coaching and match officiating if they can’t play rugby.
Another course for Level 1 7s has been organized for this Wednesday and all ladies who are interested to contact the women’s development officer at Fiji Rugby Union.