2010 THSR COACHES CONVENTION

THSR COACHES CONVENTION – Sponsored by Rugby Imports

January 23-24, 2010

Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Tennessee High School Rugby (THSR) shall host the Fifth Annual Coaches Convention, an event designed to directly assist High School & Middle School coaches in both the technical aspects of the game and how to better organize high school programs for long term success.

SATURDAY, 23rd

9:00 AM (CST) – Check-In. 5:30 PM Conclusion. This year we will be using the same customized Coaches Manual from last year, however new aspects will be covered. Saturday is dedicated to the technical aspects of coaching young athletes fundamental rugby skills.  We welcome all levels of coaches and encourage positive interaction between coaches and program development. Every team should send at least one coach.

7:00 PM – THSR Social -- informal (TBD)

SUNDAY, 24th

8:30 AM – 2:00 PM (CST) Sunday shall include ideas on how the THSR organizational structure can be modified to meet future needs of the programs. There will be round table discussions regarding all-star programs, TSSAA and Middle School development.  We will have speakers on how to organize a club, sample club bylaws and how to involve and manage parent volunteers designed to help new and existing programs. Coach Apprenticeship concepts, positive coaching principles and codes of conduct .

Course Leaders

Mark Williams – THSR State Commissioner.

Marty Bradley – Current Coach at UT and Conference Director SMAC

Richard Ashfield – Special Guest (see biography on following page).

Fee for first coach $75 (walk-ins $100)

Additional Coaches from same team $50 in advance ($75 walk-ins)

Anyone not involved with a THSR Program ------ $150

Fee includes lunch on Saturday, Coffee and Brunch on Sunday and a THSR

t-shirt for those that register by January 18th.

To register send a check or money order made payable to THSR. It is important that we have advance registration no later than January 18 th to order t-shirts and plan meals accordingly. Please include shirt size, correct spelling of all names. While we will accept walk-ins at a higher rate some may not get printed materials, t-shirts etc.

Mail : Teresa Sadler

1505 Woodward Court

Brentwood, TN  37027 lukeps1@comcast.net

Special Requests

In an effort to make sure we address any specific concerns or requests send an e-mail to Mark Williams mwilliams@rsucontractors.com .

Certification

THSR shall provide a certificate of course completion for everyone who attends and completes course requirements.

Richard Ashfield -- Bio

1999-2001 Worked for the Irish Rugby Football union (Ulster Branch) as a youth development officer, promoting and developing rugby programs in Northern Ireland.

2001 – Moved to the USA to play rugby for 3 months!!

Employed initially by Rugby imports as a rugby development officer and in this time led many coaching clinics throughout the USA. Lead instructor at the East Stroudsburg player development camp (approx 100 kids) for the past 3 years

Coached at Providence college and currently the backs coach of Brown university (finished 3 rd in the Ivy league). Summer 2009 --Assistant coach to the USA development 7s squad

NRU U23 coach for 3 years.

IRFU level 1 and 2 qualified USA level 2 and recently accepted into the ACC.

Played flyhalf/Fullback for Providence RFC and played for Lisburn Rugby club in N Ireland and University of Dundee in Scotland. Played for Scottish universities U19 and Ulster Juniors.

Directions:

From airport and east: Take I-40 west. Take the Broadway exit (209a) and turn left. Get in right lane and take the West End split to the right at the second light. After approximately 1.2 miles, turn left onto Natchez Trace just past Borders Bookstore. The Rec Center is about .3 mile on the left. Park in lots to the right.

From north: Take I-65 south to I-40 east. Take the Broadway exit (209a) and turn right. Get in right lane and take the West End split to the right at the second light. After approximately 1.2 miles, turn left onto Natchez Trace just past Borders Bookstore. The Rec Center is about .3 mile on the left. Park in lots to the right.

From south: Take I-65 north to I-440 west. Take the West End exit (1) heading east. After approximately 1 mile, turn right onto Natchez Trace just past Wendy’s. The Rec Center is about .3 mile on the left. Park in lots to the right.

From west: Take I-40 east to I-440 east. Take the West End exit (1) heading east. Turn left on Murphy Road and then left on West End. After approximately 1 mile, turn right onto Natchez Trace just past Wendy’s. The Rec Center is about .3 mile on the left. Park in lots to the right.