With the summer concluding and pre-season programmes coming to an end, the Academy programmes take a more remote approach to their player development principles and responsibilities.
The Senior Academy programme is heavily aligned to the Senior team’s schedule with Scott Sneddon, Phil John, Lili Antcliff and Osian Edwards accompanying those players within that environment and supporting their physical, technical, and tactical development as well as their playing programmes at varying Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC) teams and University environments.
The Junior Academy has a much more mobile feel to it’s day to day running now that players have returned to their school and college environments. Junior Academy coaches Tom Phillips and Rhodri Jones have been working hard running individual skill sessions with identified players, as well as small group skill work within some of the schools and colleges environments.
Scarlets Academy Pathway Manager Gareth Williams sees the importance of working across the region as a key part of optimising future development.
“Wherever the talent decides they want to be, it is our responsibility to reach the talent. That is something we’ve been discussing as a team within the Academy. There is a natural progression where the Senior Academy use the same schedule and facilities as our Senior squad, which is a good alignment from that point of view.
“As well as the geographical element, we need to support our young talent with career options they want to take. We will find a way of supporting young talent if they are in a school, at a college, or if they want to explore employment. A good rugby player is a good rugby player, whether they are doing A-levels or an apprenticeship for a trade.
“I’ve enjoyed the individual technical sessions the Junior Academy coaches have been carrying out in these early days of the season. Small projects with analysis support will enhance that form of coaching, and our physical development team of Liam John and Jack Rowbotham are supporting in that remote work.”
As well as supporting the players who are progressing through the pathways, coach engagement is high on the list as well. The Scarlets Academy run an open training session this week for Pembrokeshire Area Junior club coaches.
Gareth Williams undertook a session with the Narberth Youth squad with the area’s junior coaches invited to attend.
He added: “District H is a fantastic area of potential for us in the region and we need to engage on a number of levels to maximise the playing potential and talent identification opportunities that we have in West Wales.”
The session is the start of what the Scarlets hope will become a regular staple and the Academy’s ambition is to develop a community of practice for where there are opportunities to engage with coaches from different age levels, different clubs, and with different philosophies.
“Our Academy does not start when the players arrive at the Junior or Senior Academy. We have the staffing provision for those two levels of development, but our Academy starts out in the clubs and the schools around our region.
“Fantastic work goes on within our communities and pathways in starting and developing players in those early phases and through to senior levels. Our ambition is to generate a network that supports coaches and leads to continued collaboration that can help them, that will result in helping the players we are looking to unearth and bring through to be international and Scarlets players.”
The Academy works closely with Aled Parry, the WRU Coach Development Manager for the Scarlets region, on such projects and more will evolve over the coming months.
“The strength of our early player identification and development has to be our network across our pathways. We are fortunate we have a fantastic base of parents, coaches, teachers, hub officers, club officials, who are invaluable in aiding our ambition of bringing talent through from all parts of West Wales,” added Williams.
The evening was attended by representatives from Narberth, Milford Haven, Crymych and Pembroke Dock RFC, with the aim of engaging more as the season moves ahead.