A host of delegates will begin arriving in St Helens and Leeds today, in preparation for six days of seminars and practical work on match officiating and coaching. In all, 18 nations will be represented, as part of the RLEF training and education portal courses in support of the `European Week of Sport.’
The intention, ahead of next year’s educator courses which will be held in six mentor nations (Wales, Ukraine, France, Czech Republic, Italy and Serbia), is to launch RLEF Level 2.
Delegates will be hosted by two Super League Clubs, St Helens and Leeds Rhinos. St Helens will be working in partnership with the local referees society and Cowley International College.
“The work we will be doing can only bode well for the future of the game,” said St Helens and Merseyside Rugby League Development Manager, Steve Leonard. “It is a true reflection of the commitment of the RLEF. During their stay here, delegates will be using our state of the art training facilities at Cowley International College and I’m sure they will enjoy their time, within an institution that is steeped in rugby league history.”
The MO delegates, who will also take in Super League games at Saints and Warrington, will study modules including team work and decision making, game management, applied laws and player management.
“I was lucky enough to work with the RLEF in the Czech Republic,” added Leonard, “and I saw how much these kinds of workshops and training camps engage and enthuse both new and old participants.”
Leeds Rhinos Foundation, set to welcome 34 visitors from across Europe, will be offering work on advanced core skills, team organisation and strategies, game sense skills and winning the ruck in attack and defence.
Leon Crick, Rugby League Development Manager at Leeds Rugby Foundation, commented: “We take great pride in our coach development programme. We are delighted to welcome coaches from Europe on a regular basis. As part of an ongoing partnership with the RLEF, it allows us to support, to share best practice, and to give access to the latest training techniques and methods across the whole continent.
“We are very fortunate to have the full support of Brian McDermott and his coaching team,” Crick continued. “They will be delivering sessions to the delegates throughout their stay at the Kirkstall Academy home of Leeds Rhinos. There is great potential for rugby league in Europe and we are determined to play our part in its growth,” he said.
As well as observing a full Rhinos training session during their stay, match tickets provided by the Foundation will see the visitors watching this Friday’s, Leeds Rhinos v Batley Bulldogs, Super 8s Qualifiers game, at Headingley Carnegie stadium.
