Ulster Support Cross-Community Initiative To Help Unemployed
Ulster Rugby Coach Development Officer Brian O’Shaughnessy recently ran a Leprechaun Rugby Coaching Course for Springboard Opportunities at the Shaftsbury Recreation Centre just off the Lower Ormeau Road.
Leprechaun Rugby is a fast and exciting modified-contact game of Touch or Tag rugby designed to assist general physical development, to play an important role in ‘games concepts’ programmes and to introduce the game of rugby union to children in a very simplified form.
The course was part of an overall coaching programme entitled, ‘Springboard Opportunities Sports Coaching Course’.
This is a cross-border and cross-community training course that offers young unemployed adults aged 18 to 28-years-old the opportunity to gain qualifications and experience in a number of different sports for example IFA Level 1, IRFU Leprechaun Rugby, GAA Foundation, SAQ and Active Leadership.
The course not only provides them with the chance to enhance their CV with all the qualifications but also helps them to grow in confidence and self esteem, two qualities that are vital for a career within the sports coaching industry.
Ulster Rugby’s Brian O’Shaughnessy commented: “The course was really well received among the participants, many of whom had little or no previous rugby experience. Ulster Rugby are fully committed to developing rugby within organisations such as Springboard.”
The coaching course was made possible due to the generous support of the NI Executive and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure through the ‘Promoting Equality, Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion through Sport’ programme.