Harlequins Elite Player Development Centre
CONGRATULATIONS to CRAIG HOLLAND and HARRY LEONARD (Brighton Under 16s) who have been selected from the Harlequins Elite Player Development Centre to join the HARLEQUINS ELITE PLAYER DEVELOPMENT GROUP
Brighton Rugby Club is very proud to host the Elite Player Development Centre (EPDC) for Harlequins.
A number of Brighton Rugby Club Youth Players have qualified as EPDC Academy Players.
The EPDC at NEC Harlequins is the first stage of the national academy put in place as part of the RFUs strategic plan aimed at winning the World Cup in 2007.
The role of the EPDC is to work closely with county coaches and development officers to identify players considered to have the talent to benefit from, and progress through, the programme. It is important to recognise that this is not just another squad. The EPDC provides an entry into a long term development programme which in some cases will lead towards the very highest level of the game.
During the final years of the EPDC programme certain players are selected into the Diamond GroupGroup. These are the players considered to be likely to be offered regional academy places on leaving school. A more personalised programme is developed for these players who will usually be playing international schools rugby at this stage.
The next stage after the Diamond Group is the regional academy and the role of the Diamond Group is to identify and prepare for transition into the regional academy which can happen from the age of sixteen onwards.
The EPDCis not a team. It provides personalised and individual training programmes for each player and monitors the progress being made by each player. EPDC players will continue to play for their clubs, school and counties.
What can parents expect of us?
- Individual interest in and attention to each player
- Excellent communication
- Involvement of parents in the planning process
- High performance coaching
- Fitness and strength testing and training programmes under the direction and supervision of qualified personnel
- Performance analysis and a supervised development programme
- Dietary advice / support
- Outstanding medical support at EPDG sessions
What do we expect from parents?
- Keeping winning in perspective
- Encouraging a healthy life style
- Encouraging fair play
- Helping boys to make their own decisions and communicate for themselves
- Setting realistic targets
- Providing transport
- Being supportive and encouraging after bad performances
What do we expect from boys?
- Work towards the attainment of full potential in Rugby Union
- Work effectively at school
- Occupy time in a manner expected by the Academy
- Comply with the training requirements of the Academy and respond in a positive manner to constructive criticism
- Maintain personal habits of health conducive to sporting excellence
- Abide by the spirit as well as the letter of the laws of rugby
- Accept victory and defeat with dignity and grace
- Behave and dress in a dignified manner
- Neither use nor possess prohibited drugs nor participate in any other practice prohibited by the Academy
How does the programme work?
Members of the EPDC are all still at school and so there is limited opportunity for regular contact time with players spread over a large area. The programme is based around a series of Monday evening sessions which take place at either Brighton Rugby Club for Sussex players or tat Esher Rugby Club for Surrey boys. Day camps for both groups will take place at Esher Rugby Club during each school holiday or half term. Dates for all sessions are published at the start of each programme. It is appreciated that not all school half term dates coincide - the dates selected reflect when the majority of players are available.
In addition to these sessions the players are expected to attend one of three centres for instruction in weight training technique. These venues and times will be clearly identified to players and parents. Later in the programme players will be expected to put these techniques into practice, performing two additional strength sessions per week using school or local facilities. These are not to be attempted until programmes are issued by the Academy staff.
Medical Matters
Physiotherapy will be available at all EPDC sessions and ongoing support will be available for any player injured during the EPDC programme. Other than this, although advice will still be available through the academy staff, treatment for rugby injuries will need to be provided locally in the normal manner.
