Rugby Development Officer

From January 2012, Hillfoots has employed its own full time Rugby Development Officer.  JP Ward from Dollar has taken up the newly created post to recruit, retain and develop players, coaches & other volunteers for the Club.

What a beautiful smile!

 

 Hillfoots has experienced considerable growth in the last two years to over 400 playing members.  In addition, it has ambitions to continue growing over the coming years.  The Rugby Development Officer (RDO) position has been created by Hillfoots RFC Committee to help the club grow, but also to professionally manage the growth and all its associated organisational and administrative challenges.

About JP Ward

JP (aged 22) grew up in Dollar and played his school rugby at Dollar Academy where he was 1st XV Captain.  He then attended Edinburgh Napier University where he gained a BSc in Sports & Exercise Science and a UKCC Level 1 Rugby Union sports coaching qualification.  JP played rugby during his University years for Heriots RFC, making his way to the 1st XV as a prop.  Consequently he has experience of Premier 1 Club rugby as well as British & Irish Cup rugby.  Whilst at Edinburgh Napier, JP completed a student placement working as assistant rugby coach at Trinity Academy, Edinburgh. 

Since leaving University JP, has been coaching rugby part time for Clackmannanshire Council in local primary and secondary schools as well as for Heriots RFC Junior Section & Hillfoots Junior Section.  JP continues to play for Heriots RFC 1st XV, but will transfer his playing allegience to Hillfoots in 2012. 

JP is continuing his rugby education by attending a UKCC Level 2 training course in January 2012 and a rugby refereeing course in March.

JP’s priorities as Hillfoot’s new RDO

These will change as he settles in to the new role, but here’s what has been agreed to start him off:-

  • introduce himself to the Club members by getting around to meet as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time
  • attend all the Adult & Junior Section training sessions in January to get a feel for the coaching, players & training style of the club
  • take over the maintenance of the Club membership database – this will allow contact with any lapsed members to see whether he can persuade them to come back
  • organise the RBS 6 Nations Trophy Tour event
  • develop a recruitment plan for local primary & secondary schools with U15 – U16 as a priority
  • prepare the Club S1/S2s & U16s for possible selection by the SRU Caledonia Pathway coaches in 2012
  • organise more frequent coach meetings
  • devise a Club communication plan & social media strategy

Phew……that will keep him busy!

Read ** JP’s regular weekly blog **on the website & on Club Facebook pages.

Here is JP in January 2012 at Alva Academy catching up with Bosman Du Plesis, the SRU’s Positive Coaching Manager.

JP & Bosman Du Plessis talking about Positive Coaching

….and here he is as a wee boy with the 6 Nations Trophy!  What goes around, comes around!

A big trophy for a big lad!