Scots Rugby 5 Year Plan
“Enjoy Rugby, Build a
Legacy for the next man”
Contents

Executive summary

Introduction and background

Understanding our history/legacy

Understanding our stakeholders

The results

The plan

Next steps
2
“When athletes reflect on the coaches
they’ve had throughout their career, they
might not recall some of what they said or
did. But they’ll never forget how they made
them feel.”
3
Executive Summary

This plan was constructed in late 2016/early 2017

A stellar 5-6 years for Scots rugby across the board showed us we have what it
takes to foot it with the best rugby programmes in New Zealand

It makes our school proud and rugby is a key contributor to the All Round Man

We set out to deliver a plan for the next 5 years of rugby at Scots
One vision, seven themes and a detailed plan and desire to build a legacy

Our parents told us they want our young men to enjoy rugby first and
foremost and expected good communication and administration as well as all
players being able to aspire to the 1st XV if they wished

Our rugby committee told us they wished to see the standard of coaching
lifted overall, to build player numbers and ensure game time for all and to
professionalise and embed the gains that we have made

The committee set a goal that all of our teams should make the semi-finals of
the Wellington competition
“Do the things we do now, but better”
4
Introduction, background and approach

The school has a long tradition of rugby

Rugby, as with many sports, helps in creating the “all round man”

Over the past 5-6 years rugby at Scots has seen a significant improvement in
its profile and organisation

This improvement has not happened by mistake, it has happened through
sound planning and focus

The results have been better than expected but are a clear demonstration of
what can be achieved through the right planning and investment

The five year plan sets out the areas of focus from 2017-2021 and aim to build
upon the base already created

The construction of this plan involved over 100 discussions, survey responses
and interviews with players, parents, coaches, teachers and the current rugby
committee
5
Introduction, background and approach
(cont)

It captures a number of themes that emerged from the various audiences and
references a number of more detailed actions and initiatives to build a legacy
for the next 100 years

Special thanks should be extended to the over 100 people who participated,
including Graeme Yule (Headmaster), Sam Rasch (Rugby Director), parents,
coaches and the rugby committee
6
“Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions
are made from something they have deep
inside them, a desire, a dream, a vision.”
Muhammad Ali
7
Understanding our history/legacy
1916-2016
3 All Blacks:
James McCormack (1947)
Chris Tregaskis (1991)
Victor Vito (2010)
Premier 1 – 1st Equal 1989
Weltec Premier 1 Champions 2014
Hurricane Champions 2014, 2015
National Champions 2014
Moascar Cup Champions 2014, 2015
National runner up 2015
Sanix World Youth championship – 3rd place 2015
Flying Fiji – Bill Cavubati
Wellington Lions players – 10
New Zealand Secondary Schools 7
New Zealand Secondary Schools Captain 1
1939 3rd XV
unbeaten 11-11
171 for
29 against
8
The steps to producing our 5 Year Plan
for Scots Rugby
• Agree initial questions and scope
• Conduct survey with coaches
• Conduct interviews with Rugby Committee
• Send out online survey to parents
• Analyse and distil responses
• Present back to committee
• Agree key themes
• Agree key actions with Director of Rugby
• Present 5 Year Plan to committee and agree way forward
• Communicate back to parents, coaches and players
• Implement the plan
9
“A great coach will let their players see who
they can become rather than who they are. See
more in them than they see in themselves.”
“Your child's success or a coaches worth isn’t
formed in their win/loss record or in their
resume, but on the impact they had on the game
and the lives of their players.”
10
Parent Survey Summary

52 persons responded = 25% response (very high)

Experience around Rugby program/club generally seen as a very positive experience, with 86%
of parents rating 7 and above

Parents put strong emphasis of enjoyment, on playing, on being part of a team and being a
part of a bigger brotherhood and legacy

Major areas where the environment was not enjoyed:


Lack of game time – i.e. too many players

Lack of one on one feedback

Inconsistent coaching

Lack of preseason program
Generally felt well informed but again inconsistent at times and a number of hygiene areas
need improving.

Improved communication

Early exposure to the Rugby Calendar

Better information around cancellations etc

Reinstatement of match reports, 321

One on one feedback
11
Parent Survey Summary

Standard of coaching was seen as mixed with 68% rated above 5

Interestingly, most parents saw the season as successful despite the results

Improvements suggested focussed around consistent messages regarding:

Coaching

Smaller squads

Earlier startup program

Improved fitness/preseason programs

More team bonding/culture/goals

Positive comments across the board in regard to the rugby club’s role in
assisting to build the all round man

Generally positive response to obtaining more parent assistance

Suggestions as to what success looks like ranged from staying in TOP 4 in all
teams through to maximum participation and enjoyment, and pride and
building better depth.
12
Parent Survey Summary

Other areas highlighted for improvement were:

All boys should be able to aspire to the first XV if you are good enough and put in
the work. The pathway should never be blocked.

More fixtures and traditionals

More support from senior players

Putting the fun back in the game

More investment in coaches

Improving engagement from the start

Meet and greet session for coaches and parents early on, preseason especially
making scholarship parents welcome

Open days

Clear expectations for all players

Improved organisation and communication.
13
“When you base your life on principles most
of your decisions are made before you
encounter them.”
14
Rugby Committee Summary

Interviews or replies from most members of the committee

Positive forward looking discussion albeit a little clouded by our results from
2016. However, there was general acknowledgement that we have the basics
to more forward. “All is not lost”

There was a clear set of objectives needed for the rugby club over the next 5
years. Examples are highlighted below:

Be recognised as a top rugby school in Wellington, developing the all round man

To assist our boys and coaches to be the best they can be

Ensure rugby contributes to the aim of the all round man

Strong and consistent coaching program

Create the right mind set and culture to ensure we achieve the best results we can

Build player numbers

All our teams make the semi finals of the Wellington competition

Enjoy rugby and ensure game time for all.
15
Rugby Committee Summary

There was a clear and consistent message for the aims and objectives of the 1 st XV

Make the finals every year

Build a strong culture for the team every year

Build depth and competition across the school

Build the Scots brand of Rugby and create great opportunities for our young men

Win the Wellington competition at least once in the next five years.

It was acknowledged that the club has built some great momentum and we should not lose
that, and that the school is now on the map as a sporting school. We are only at the start of
building a rugby legacy, but the next 2-3 years were critical to get right.

A number of areas were raised as to what has not gone well. The key areas were:

We rely too heavily on recruitment

3 Directors of Rugby in 3 years is not healthy

Lack of preseason for all teams

Lack of consistency in communication and administration

We haven’t embedded the legacy

Our coaching systems are inconsistent.
16
Rugby Committee Summary

It was acknowledged that we need to retain much of what we have built, including our:

Player recruitment

Staff involvement

Financial stability

A strong culture and bond of family and school

Our reputation that we have built and an expectation of winning

Our supporters club

There are, however, a number of things we need to get right in relation to improving and
professionalising what we do now in most cases

While there was strong support for recruitment it was acknowledged it was getting
harder to find the talent

It was acknowledged that we have to be clear on our expectations to keep working on
the need to integrate the new boys into the rugby club to give them the best
opportunity to enjoy and succeed

We also need to plan ahead for the recruitment we need where possible. There was a
17
view it takes 3 years in the school to become a Scots boy.
Rugby Committee Summary

Growing the player base was a common objective and a number of
suggestions were made, ranging from better engagement early with our
existing potential pool of players, through to co-opting players from
surrounding schools

But it was clear if we were to give all players the right opportunities and
game time, we need to grow our player base

Building on the legacy was important given we are very early in that journey
an many of the ways outlined by the committee responses were based upon
“doing the things we do now, better!”

It was agreed we need to focus on a plan to grow this legacy and that we
need to understand the framework we used in 2014 to achieve success.
18
There will come a day when your child is the
same age as you are right now. Will they look
back on their youth sport experience and
smile? It’s up to you!
19
Seven Key Themes Emerged
A.
Raising the level of coaching
B.
Improving player depth and development
C.
Building legacy and tradition
D.
Enjoying a sense of belonging
E.
Purpose, planning and direction
F.
Building culture
G.
Communications and administration
20
Theme B – Improving player depth and
legacy&and
Theme C – Building
Strategy
Governance
development
tradition
Theme A Reform
– Raising the Level of
Coaching
Scots College Rugby Five Year Roadmap
Season -2017
Season - 2018
Season - 2020
Season 2019
Season - 2021
Coaching 1 on 1 feedback for all players
All teams using the
same key calls
All coaches to complete L1DRC
UK/Sth America tour
April Camp
coaches/players
Coaching senior
mentors (F
Tiatia/D Larsen
Earl Va’a is
mgr/mentor for
Wgtn Rep Teams
(U18/7s)
Create International Rugby
Academy
Ask community for
coaches/mgrs
Set roles & responsibilities for
coaches/mgrs. (weekly
reports, 321)
Rugby
RugbyOld
OldBoy
BoyAssn.
Assn.
All teams/players/IPP
forms
Speed & running mechanics
with G Henley-Smith
100 yrs Scots
rugby book
Australian Tour
Establishing another team
S&C training Sessions
with P Downes (off
season programmes
Leadership group
Under
Underplayer/pipeline
player/pipeline4-5
4-5yrs
yrs
out
out
Est. clear guidelines on
player recruitment
Sunday pre-season skills sessions for
coaches/parents/kids
Trials for U15,U65,U55
Enjoy Rugby –
Build a Legacy
Set traditionals have
something for all teams
Recruitment/
scholarships/scouting
program in place
Renew sponsorship
plan
Club
Clubframework/aims
framework/aims&&
objectives
objectives
Rugby
Rugbybd/photo
bd/photorm/archive
rm/archive
Est. under 85
team
Adopt a charity for rugby
Est. Open Days by
end Feb/March
The importance of traditional
games revived
Annual Event to celebrate our former
players
Establish buddy system
Establish a rugby club day
Allocation of roles for rugby
Committee
Celebrate former players
Encourage after-match functions for
Sponsors renewed
all teams after home games
Pre-season timetable publish –
TJ Va’a talk – what it
FB, email, open day
means to be part t of
Pre-season
games for all teams
Scots rugby)
Recruitment of scholarships
(Fiji/Samoa/SA/NZ) clear
programme
Meet regularly with all scholarship
families (check points)
Set expectations early (meet
with all families
All of directors working
together and sharing ideas
(HPG)
Agree Committee roles
Establish standard template for rugby calendar
Creating leadership group
for all teams
Bldg rugby club visibility in the
school & the community
Setting clear leadership
expectations for all teams
Set expectations early, meet
Reporting
with parents and families
framework
Working with other codes
Reduce the
Compulsory match
for rugby
within school
administration
reports for all teams
club Dir.
DOL workshops – J Bouzaid
Leadership workshop –
Online registrations to go
April Camp
Open registration day
B Sigmund
live 2017
Planning
Theme D – Enjoying a sense of belonging to the
Rugby Club
Theme E – Purpose, Planning and Direction
Theme F – Building culture
Theme G – Communication and Administration
= key
milestones
Appendices
22
Scots College Five Year Plan
2017
• All teams using same key calls
• April Camp (coaches/players)
• Coaching senior mentors (Filo Tiatia/Darren
Larsen) Earl Va’a is HP manger/mentor for
Wellington Rep Teams (U18’/7s)
• Sunday pre-season skills session for
coaches/parents/kids
• Trials for U15,U65, U55
• S&C training sessions with Paul Downes (off
season programmes)
• Speed and running mechanics with Gary
Henley-Smith
• Leadership group
• April Camp
• Establish open days by end of Feb/March
• Annual event to celebrate our former
players
• Set expectations early (meet with families)
• Meet regularly with all scholarship families
• Leadership workshop (Ben Sigmund)
• DOL workshops (Joel Bouzaid)
• Online registrations go live early 2017
• Open registration day
2018
• As community for coaches/managers
• Set roles and responsibilities for coaches/managers
(weekly reports, 321)
• Establishing another team
• All teams/players IPP forms
• Recruitment/scholarships/scouting
• Rugby board/photos room/archive
• Traditional games revived
• Celebrate former players
• Encourage after match functions for all teams after
home games
• Establish a rugby club day
• TJ Va’a talk (what it means to be a part of Scots rugby
• Pre-season timetable publish (FB, email, open day)
• Pre-season games for all teams
• Recruitment of scholarships (Fiji, Samoa/SA/NZ) clear
programme
• Set expectations early–Meet with parents & families
• Working with other codes within school & having same
values & culture
• Setting clear leadership expectations for all teams
• Reduce the administration overhead for Director of
Rugby
• Compulsory match reports published for all teams
• Reporting framework for Rugby Director
Scots College Five Year Plan (cont)
2019
2020
• All coaches to complete L1 DRC
• Establish clear guidelines for player
recruitment
• Set traditionals have something for all
teams
• Club framework/aims and objectives
• Adopt a charity for rugby club – Eat my
lunch?
• Establish a buddy player system
• Allocation of roles for rugby committee
• All of Directors working together and
sharing ideas (High Performance Group)
• Creating leadership group for all teams
• Building the rugby club visibility in the
school and the community
• Under player/pipeline 4-5 years out
• Rugby old boy association
2021
• Coaching one on one feedback for all players
• Create international rugby academy
• 100 years of Scots rugby book
24
Key Themes – A: Raising the level of
coaching
Year Est.
A. Raising the level of coaching
3
All coaches to complete L1 DRC
1/2
Ask community for coaches/managers
1/2
Set roles and responsibilities for coaches/managers (weekly reports, 321)
1
All teams using same key calls
1
April Camp (coaches/players)
1
Coaching senior mentors (Filo Tiatia/Darren Larsen) Earl Va’a is HP manager/mentor for
Wellington Rep Teams (U18/7s)
5
Coaching one on one feedback for all players
25
Key Themes – B: Improving player depth
and development
Year Est.
B. Improving player depth and development
1/2
Establishing another team
1
Sunday preseason skills session for coaches/parents/kids
1
Trials forU15,U65,U55
1
S&C training sessions with Pauls Downes (Off season Program’s)
1
Speed and running mechanics with Gary Henley-Smith
1
Leadership Group
1
April Camp
1
Establish open days by end of Feb/March
3
Establish clean guidelines player recruitment
4
Under player/pipeline 4-5 years out
4/5
Create international rugby academy
1/2
All teams/players IPP forms
1/2
Recruitment/scholarships/Scouting programme in place
26
Key Themes – C: Building legacy and
tradition
Year Est.
C. Building legacy and tradition
3
Set Traditionals have something for all teams
5
100 years of Scots rugby book
2
Rugby Board/photos room/archive
2/3
Club framework/aims and objectives
1
Annual event to celebrate our former players
3/4
Rugby old boy association
1/2
Traditional games revived
27
Key Themes – D: Enjoying a sense of
belonging
Year Est.
D. Enjoying a sense of belonging
1/2
Celebrate former players
1
Set expectations early (Meet with all families)
1
Meet regularly with all Scholarship families (check points)
1/2
Encourage after match functions for all teams after home games
2/3
Adopt a charity for rugby club - Eat my lunch?
2
Establish a rugby club day
2/3
Establish player buddy system
1/2
TJ Va’a talk (what it means to be part of Scots Rugby)
28
Key Themes – E: Purpose, planning and
direction
Year Est.
E. Purpose, planning and direction
1
Establish standard template for rugby calendar.
1/2
Pre-season timetable publish – (FB, email and open day)
2/3
Allocation of roles for rugby committee
1/2
Pre-season games for all teams
1/2
Recruitment of Scholarships (Fiji/Samoa/SA/NZ) clear programme
3
All of Directors working together and sharing ideas (High Performance Group)
29
Key Themes – F: Building culture
Year Est.
F. Building Culture
2/3
Creating leadership group for all teams
1/2
Set expectations early. Meet with parents and families
1
Leadership workshop (Ben Sigmund)
1
DOL workshops (Joel Bouzaid)
1
April Camp
1/2
Working with other codes within school and having same Values and Culture
2
Setting clear leadership expectations for all teams
2/3
Building the rugby club visibility in the School and Community
30
Key Themes – G: Communications and
administration
Year Est.
G. Communications and Administration
1/2
Reduce the administration overhead for Director of Rugby
1
Online registrations go live early 2017
1
Open Registration day
1/2
Compulsory match reports published for all teams
1/2
Reporting framework for rugby club Director
31
Next Steps

Rugby Committee to finalise plan in next month

Rugby Director to base monthly report on plan

Committee to use plan to assess performance and progress and end of year.
32