Make your club an exciting place for young players.

Time to ramp up the under-16 club academies.

On Saturday, England saw Northampton’s value in providing young talent from a vibrant Academy. Clubs from the premiership down to the lowest junior levels benefit from running their academies, under 20s or 18 colts’ teams.

The time is right to ramp up under 16 club academies. Do with the 16s what we do with under 20s and colts. The flow-through of talent is so important for clubs. Financially a junior club can minimise the money it spends buying in players. Loyalty a fading aspect of club life is re-generated. Players want to play with their mates. The standard of play improves as players respond to an increase in attention. They learn more at sessions. Coach’s will welcome the new expectation on quality.

?I have no doubt the talent is out there. I recently observed an Under-8s football match and was highly impressed by the level of skill demonstrated. Go to your local tennis club and look at U 8 tennis players. OR go down to your local rugby club on a Sunday morning and watch future Internationals at mini and junior sessions.

Clubs should look closely at the pool of coaches working with players from 14 upwards. Coaches should be included in discussions about age group coaching content. What is the club's playing motto?

"We play a running, passing, and support-focused style of rugby." He who dares wins.

Creating an environment where the rugby club is the focus of attention at weekends for young players, boys and girls is healthy. Parents would be far more relaxed knowing their son or daughter is down at the rugby club rather than hanging around the local shopping centre.

I don’t think we survey our players enough. Let’s find out what they want. Competition for the hearts and minds of young players is broadening. Why not have evenings where we invite our parents to come and listen to a speaker on, nutrition, S & C, and sports psychology? I’m sure there are lots of parents who would welcome the insight.

In all my years coaching I haven’t met a player who doesn’t want to improve in all aspects of performance, technical, technical, physical, and mental. Let’s make sure we cater for their needs.

Above all coaching must be an enjoyable experience. It may be tough and emotional, but it must be enjoyable.

Make the Under 16 Academy a vibrant new area at your club for players, coaches and parents.

Mike Penistone

[email protected]

WhatsApp +61 488 116849