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Sale SharksRugby Academy

Table of Contents

Vision..............................................................................................................................................................................................................2

Mission Statement..........................................................................................................................................................................................2

Sale Sharks Academy Landscape......................................................................................................................................................................3Purpose.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................3

Audit Fundamentals............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3

Internal and External Governance...................................................................................................................................................................6Internal..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................6External.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................7

Academy Management & Staffing...................................................................................................................................................................8Sale Sharks Academy Developing Player Programme (DPP)............................................................................................................................................9Sharks Development Group (SDG)..................................................................................................................................................................................9Junior Academy (U16-U18)...........................................................................................................................................................................................10Senior Academy (18-24 years)......................................................................................................................................................................................10Partner College & Northern Academy Site....................................................................................................................................................................11

Pathways & Programmes..............................................................................................................................................................................14

Operational Plan: Short Term (1 Year), Medium Term (3 Years), Long Term (5 years)....................................................................................16Aims:...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................16Introduction.................................................................................................................................................................................................................16

Talent Development........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19Talent Confirmation........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 21Academy Operations.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22

Sale Sharks Strategic Plan 1

Sale Sharks Rugby Academy

Vision

“To ensure a pathway for regional talent to play first class rugby”

“Committed to excellence by working together in a player centered environment of equality, integrity and openness”

Mission Statement

"To consistently identify, develop and confirm the best players regionally."

"To maximise player potential by the delivery of bespoke technical, tactical, physical, psychological and educational programmes."

Purpose"In order to provide Sale Sharks and England with the best possible players for its future growth and development."


Sale Sharks Academy Landscape

The background of this document is to outline the vision and objectives for the Sale Sharks (England) Rugby Academy in line with the terms & conditions of the new Academy License Agreement 2016.

The academy is one of the 14 regionally based centers across the country. Each are governed by the Elite Department of the RFU in partnership with Premier Rugby and are delivered locally by the professional clubs. The programme sits alongside the representative playing pathway in England, it is athlete centered, development driven and competition supported. Each regional academy is accredited with an Academy License and is assessed via an RFU/Premier Rugby annual appraisal.

Purpose

The Academy’s purpose is to achieve excellence in all the identified audit fundamentals (below) across the age range of 12 – 24 years, thus maximising each player’s opportunity to:

a) Represent Sale Sharks 1st Team b) England representative sides

Audit Fundamentals

1. Leadership and Strategic Planning2. Staffing3. Coaching4. Player Development Pathways and Programs5. Individual Athlete Support6. Lifestyle and Education7. Financial Management


Sale Sharks Academy Region

The catchment area for Sale Sharks Academy encompasses Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside & the Isle of Man.


Strategic Objectives

Short term (1 year):1. Fully achieve the (7) audit fundamentals ratings to receive 100% of performance related Academy funding. 2. Target (1) audit fundamental for gold standard award.3. Achieve a minimum of (2) first team contracts for “Home Grown” academy players and (3) Senior Academy contracts for “Home

Grown” academy players previously involved in the junior academy process.4. Achieve 65% EQP minimum quota.5. Achieve a minimum of (2) players per age group in each England training squad.6. Plan and agree a consolidated pathway throughout the region.7. Plan and agree a robust stakeholder engagement and communication programme.

Medium term (3 years):1. Fully achieve the (7) audit fundamentals ratings to receive 100% of performance related Academy funding. 2. Target (2) audit fundamentals for gold standard award.3. Achieve a minimum of (6) first team contracts for “Home Grown” academy players and (3) Senior Academy contracts for “Home

Grown” academy players previously involved in the junior academy process.4. Achieve an EQP increase to (70%).5. Achieve a minimum of (3) players per age group in each England training squad6. Implement and roll-out the consolidated pathway throughout the region.7. Implement and roll-out the robust stakeholder engagement and communication programme.

Long term (5 years):1. Fully achieve the (7) audit fundamentals ratings to receive 100% of performance related Academy funding. 2. Target (3) audit fundamentals for gold standard award.3. Achieve a minimum of (10) first team contracts for “Home Grown” academy players and (3) Senior Academy contracts for “Home

Grown” academy players previously involved in the junior academy process.4. Achieve an EQP increase to (75%).5. Achieve a minimum of (4) players per age group in each England training squad6. Review and refine the consolidated pathway throughout the region.7. Review and refine the robust stakeholder engagement and communication programme.


Internal and External Governance

Internal

In order for the academy to impact, advance and influence the overall club and regional rugby landscape it is imperative that there is a management group comprising of the key decision makers at different levels of the business plan.The Sale Sharks academy management group comprises of the following people:

Director of Rugby (Steve Diamond)Operations Manager (Paul Smith)Academy Consultant (Ray Unsworth)Academy Manager (Brendan Thomas)Chairman (Fran Cotton)

The group will meet on a quarterly basis to monitor and review Academy strategic direction and progress. All decisions surrounding the promotion of the academy athletes onto full-time professional contracts and other key issues will be made via this forum.

External


RFU representativesPremier Rugby RepresentativesIndependent verification

In line with the strategic internal review process there will be an annual Academy Performance Review lead by the RFU in partnership with Premier rugby. This is an evidence based assessment of the academy leading to a ‘performance score’. The purpose of this is to ensure that the academy abides by the regulations set out within the academy licensing agreement.

The Academy is assessed against 7 Criteria:

1. Leadership and Strategic Planning2. Staffing3. Coaching4. Player Development Pathways and Programs5. Individual Athlete Support6. Lifestyle and Education7. Financial Management

Academy Management & Staffing


In order for the academy strategic objectives to be met and components of the license agreement delivered there needs to be clarity on the programme and management processes.

Sale Sharks Strategic Plan

Compliance, Support &

Administration (PT) R.U

Manager (FT) B.T

Transition Manager & Coach

(FT) PA

Transition Coach (FT) DB

Junior Academy Manager (FT) N.S

Coach (PT) S.G

Coach Development

Officer (PT) S.O

Education Manager (PT) A.W

DPP Community Coaches x7

Assistant Manager (FT) A.J

Assistant S&C (sessional)

S&C/Coach (FT) W.S

Assistant S&C (FT) L.I

Analyst (FT) R.H

Intern (PT) J.W

Physio (FT) T.C

Assistant Physio (sessional) M.S

8

Sale Sharks Player Development Pathways & Programmes:

Sale Sharks Academy Developing Player Programme (DPP)

This programme is for players aged 12-15 years and is run across six centers regionally:

A development-led programme that provides a longitudinal identification opportunity

The engagement of broad numbers of players who’s potential will emerge at different stages of development

A programme of coach recruitment, development and retention

A structured and managed player transition process for players entering and exiting the programme , especially to ensure those players who do not join the pathway i.e. the majority, are retained in the Community Game to arrive at the ultimate destination - "involvement in the game for life"

Programme Lead: Simon Ogdon ([email protected]) Contact time is monthly (48/50 hours over a two year period)

Sharks Development Group (SDG)

The Sharks Player Development Group (SDG) is for identified young players aged 14yrs - 16yrs. The majority of SDG players are selected through the DPP, along with identified players of potential throughout the season. The SDG players train at both club sites during the playing season on a Monday evening, following a curriculum that addresses the holistic development of physical, technical, psychological, educational and life skills. The 15s prepare for specific RFU tournaments whilst the 16s main focus is the National Academies Wellington Festival and the transition into the Junior Academy.

Programme Lead Noel Speed ([email protected]) Contact time; the 16s train weekly from August - April excluding December whilst the 15s preparation is January - April Exclusively


Junior Academy (U16-U18)

The Junior Academy is for graduates of the SDG and other identified players of potential. Training is at both sites & focuses on core, positional and situational game skills, complimented by additional physical literacy, nutritional advice, mental preparatory skills and team preparation for a small number of competitive fixtures.

Programme Lead: Brendan Thomas ([email protected]) Contact Time: for the 18s squad begins with pre-season preparation June - August leading to an RFU tournament, resumes in October to prepare for the 18s competition and continues until February and the culmination of the Academy playing competition. There is a further transitional programme (Feb- April) for identified players graduating from the SDG to join the junior academy programme.

Senior Academy (18-24 years)

The Senior Academy is representative of the Sharks young professional players and consists of players that are identified from a number of sources, including Junior Academy graduates, players from senior club sides, universities, schools and through the club’s scouting system. These players train with and follow the first team training roster at the Sharks and receive additional individual coaching and development in addition to regular feedback and analysis from the coaching team. Most of the Senior Academy will play in our Jets team in the A League with a view to challenging for first team selection. Away from the club players will also be dual registered to continue their development at an appropriate level with clubs in National Leagues.

Programme Lead: Peter Anglesea ([email protected])

Contact Time: This is a full time programme with all signed academy players adhering to the first team training schedule


Partner College & Northern Academy Site

Sale Sharks are linked with Myerscough College as a second Academy site for the delivery and administration of programmes in the Northern area of the region, including current programmes through all stages of the Academy pathways. Sale Sharks also supports Myerscough in the delivery of a holistic rugby programme to students aged 16 years to 18 years who have the opportunity to play in the RFU AASE league whilst completing a Level 3 Sport course which allows progression to many University sport courses. The competition provides a good standard of Rugby and affords the opportunity to assess and monitor academic and rugby development of all the young players involved.

Second Academy Site Lead: Warren Spragg ([email protected])AASE Programme Lead: Steve Gough ([email protected] )

Contact Time: This runs through college term time with days being split to accommodate academic and rugby development. A typical week includes 3 x rugby sessions, 2 x S&C sessions and fixture.


Individual Athlete Support (EAP)

“A Player who is: (i) of at least 15 years of age; (ii) Who is a member of one of the fourteen RFU licensed Club Academies; (iii) whose name is on the England Academy Players list held and approved by the RFU (and notified to Premier Rugby Limited); and (iv) who is qualified to play for England and/or an England U20 Player in the season for whom consent has been given by the RFU to play under licence for a Club other than that for whom the player has an Effective Registration. For the avoidance of doubt, an England Academy Player will not include a member of an RFU licensed Club Academy whose name is not on the list of England Academy Players held and approved by the RFU.”

Every England Academy Player can expect to receive an Individualised Development Programme which will consist of:

1. A case conference review meeting will take place three times a season, which will include all full time academy staff that will performance profile and agree the Individual Development Plan (IDP) with the player.

2. The IDP will transfer into a weekly / monthly agreed list of actions that will determine the quantity of skills and practices that the player should be focusing on. This action plan will be shared with all key stakeholders (e.g. Master i/c Rugby at school).

3. Planned seasonal competitive programme with input and agreement from all key stakeholders.

4. Technical skill development

Core skills – catch/pass/contact skills Position specific skills Unit skills

5. Tactical skill development

One to one post-match reviews Match analysis Analysis assignments on specified games Match preview analysis and reports or presentations


6. Physical development – progressive curriculum designed to develop:

Functional movement and control Aerobic and anaerobic fitness Speed Strength and power

7. Psychology support and interventions when required

8. Nutrition education and advice

9. Medical provision from the Academy physiotherapist and access to the club doctor if necessary. The physiotherapist will provide information on injury prevention as well as assessing and treating any injuries sustained.

10. Medical insurance will be provided [if applicable]

11. Career / education advice will be offered after discussions with the player and parents to ascertain the future ambitions of the player, post their rugby playing career.

12. Training and playing kit will be supplied for as necessary along with some leisurewear as deemed appropriate.

13. Remuneration [if applicable] will be offered to the player in the form of a bursary.


Pathways & Programmes


Finance and Accounting

Licence Start Date [1 July 2016]

Licence End Date 30 June 2024

Performance Related Funding (in first four

Contract Years)

Contract Year One: £320,000

Contract Year Two: £320,000

Contract Year Three: £320,000

Contract Year Four: £320,000

(subject to, and payable in accordance with,

Clause 10)

Conditional Funding (in first four Contract

Years)

Contract Year One: £30,000

Contract Year Two: £30,000

Contract Year Three: £30,000

Contract Year Four: £30,000

(subject to, and payable in accordance with,

Clause 10)

Minimum Club Investment £200,000 per Contract Year.


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