"WHERE THE PASSION BEGINS"
The Rugby Union Academy is an academy aimed at educating and developing players and coaches at all ages and levels of the game. The Rugby Union Academy is owned and run by Shaun Killian, an experienced and knowledgeable coach that is passionate about rugby and developing the game. Shaun have been coached by a number of world class coaches and no doubt can help you, your coaches and your players improve.
Shaun Killian is an experienced rugby player, coach and physical education teacher. He grew up playing rugby in South Africa, where he attended Maritzburg College, (a rugby nursery in Pietermaritzburg). He represented the Natal Sharks u16’s and u19’s, College Rovers Rugby Club, and the Durban Marlins u20’s and Men’s teams. After immigrating to Australia, he played in the Sydney Premier Rugby Competition with the Warringah Rugby Club. Shaun currently holds a World Level 3 Coaching Accreditation, an Australian Rugby Union Level 3 Coaching Accreditation, a Bachelor of Physical & Health Education, a Bachelor of Education (Physical Health), and has over 20 years of coaching experience and 15 years teaching experience.
The Rugby Union Academy has 5 different options available:
- Holiday Programs
- Development Programs
- International Coaching Experience Camp
- International Coaching Clinic
- International Coaching Seminar
- Coaching The Coach
HOLIDAY PROGRAM
The Holiday Program is a 2-day coaching clinic run during the school holidays. The Holiday Program caters for players from ages
7 – 18 years old and is split into two categories: Introduction Into Rugby and The Academy.
Introduction Into Rugby
Introduction Into Rugby is a fun, active and game orientated program aimed to introduce, educate and improve the skills of young rugby players in age groups u7's - u12's. Skill development is essential for young players to learn about rugby, however, it can be boring. Young players want to play games, be involved and have fun. That is why in the Introduction Into Rugby Program, we focus on game orientated learning and skill development. This way, players are learning and developing the essential skills of rugby, while still enjoying themselves in the company of others and having fun.
The Holiday Program is a 2-day coaching clinic run during the school holidays. The Holiday Program caters for players from ages
7 – 18 years old and is split into two categories: Introduction Into Rugby and The Academy.
Introduction Into Rugby
Introduction Into Rugby is a fun, active and game orientated program aimed to introduce, educate and improve the skills of young rugby players in age groups u7's - u12's. Skill development is essential for young players to learn about rugby, however, it can be boring. Young players want to play games, be involved and have fun. That is why in the Introduction Into Rugby Program, we focus on game orientated learning and skill development. This way, players are learning and developing the essential skills of rugby, while still enjoying themselves in the company of others and having fun.
The Academy
The Academy is aimed towards rugby players age groups of u13's and older who are looking to get the edge over their competitors. Training's are drill, skill and technique based sessions developed to help improve player’s knowledge and skills, who are coached by experienced and accredited rugby coaches.
The Academy is aimed towards rugby players age groups of u13's and older who are looking to get the edge over their competitors. Training's are drill, skill and technique based sessions developed to help improve player’s knowledge and skills, who are coached by experienced and accredited rugby coaches.
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
The Rugby Union Academy offers two levels of player development:
Both, the PDP and APDP offer weekly face to face contact with academy staff. Rugby sessions are held in Term 1 & Term 2 on Monday’s & Wednesday evenings. Players are educated and upskilled through the process of theory & practical coaching sessions.
These programs consist of the following:
All players will have pre and post testing to ensure that their development is logged and tracked. Players also have the option of purchasing a Specialised Sports Performance GPS Package to assist them with their tracking their training.
Specialised Sports Performance (SSP) is a unique data analysis and holistic well-being software system. It has a GPS tracker and heart rate monitor for data analysis and well-being of the athlete. SSP has been designed by Mark Steele (more background information attached) who has successfully worked with the Springboks, Super Rugby Sharks, AmaZulu Soccer and many leading South African teams, clubs and sporting schools including Maritzburg College.
The Rugby Union Academy offers two levels of player development:
- The Player Development Program (PDP)
- The Advanced Player Development Program (APDP)
Both, the PDP and APDP offer weekly face to face contact with academy staff. Rugby sessions are held in Term 1 & Term 2 on Monday’s & Wednesday evenings. Players are educated and upskilled through the process of theory & practical coaching sessions.
These programs consist of the following:
- Strength & Conditioning
- Speed & Agility
- Skills Coaching
- Technical Coaching
- Game Sense
- Education (such as Nutrition)
All players will have pre and post testing to ensure that their development is logged and tracked. Players also have the option of purchasing a Specialised Sports Performance GPS Package to assist them with their tracking their training.
Specialised Sports Performance (SSP) is a unique data analysis and holistic well-being software system. It has a GPS tracker and heart rate monitor for data analysis and well-being of the athlete. SSP has been designed by Mark Steele (more background information attached) who has successfully worked with the Springboks, Super Rugby Sharks, AmaZulu Soccer and many leading South African teams, clubs and sporting schools including Maritzburg College.
For more information on SSP, please click on the link below:
The Player Development Program
The Player Development Program (PDP) is the entry level into the pathway development for junior rugby players at The Rugby Union Academy. This is aimed at developing players in age groups from u15’s - u18’s that are either new to rugby, or are passionate about the game and want the opportunity to improve on their rugby.
The Advanced Player Development Program
The Advanced Player Development Program (APDP) is top level in the pathway development program for junior rugby players at The Rugby Union Academy. These players have been selected through a talent identification process, and is aimed at players in age groups from u15’s - u18’s that have been identified as players with high potential, that are passionate about the game and wish to be extended.
The Player Development Program
The Player Development Program (PDP) is the entry level into the pathway development for junior rugby players at The Rugby Union Academy. This is aimed at developing players in age groups from u15’s - u18’s that are either new to rugby, or are passionate about the game and want the opportunity to improve on their rugby.
The Advanced Player Development Program
The Advanced Player Development Program (APDP) is top level in the pathway development program for junior rugby players at The Rugby Union Academy. These players have been selected through a talent identification process, and is aimed at players in age groups from u15’s - u18’s that have been identified as players with high potential, that are passionate about the game and wish to be extended.
INTERNATIONAL COACHING EXPERIENCE CAMP
The International Coaching Experience Camp comprises of a number of consecutive days/weeks of training's aimed at educating and building on skills and techniques whereby players attend a camp. Whilst on the camp, players will also get to explore and experience Tasmania by attending a number of excursions. The International Coaching Experience Camp can be tailored to your needs based on your players age and ability.
The International Coaching Experience Camp comprises of a number of consecutive days/weeks of training's aimed at educating and building on skills and techniques whereby players attend a camp. Whilst on the camp, players will also get to explore and experience Tasmania by attending a number of excursions. The International Coaching Experience Camp can be tailored to your needs based on your players age and ability.
INTERNATIONAL COACHING CLINIC
The International Coaching Clinic comprises of The Rugby Union Academy coming to you, and coaching your players/team at your venue. The International Coaching Clinic can be tailored to your players/teams needs based on their age and ability. You tell us what your focus areas are, and we will plan the training's accordingly. Options include training sessions on skills, techniques, speed, agility, fitness, nutrition, position specific and kicking coaching.
The International Coaching Clinic comprises of The Rugby Union Academy coming to you, and coaching your players/team at your venue. The International Coaching Clinic can be tailored to your players/teams needs based on their age and ability. You tell us what your focus areas are, and we will plan the training's accordingly. Options include training sessions on skills, techniques, speed, agility, fitness, nutrition, position specific and kicking coaching.
INTERNATIONAL COACHING SEMINAR
The International Coaching Seminar comprises of The Rugby Union Academy coming to you, and holding a coaching seminar at your venue.
We can run:
All of these seminars are run by experienced and accredited rugby coaches.
The International Coaching Seminar comprises of The Rugby Union Academy coming to you, and holding a coaching seminar at your venue.
We can run:
- Beginner Coaches Coaching Seminars focussing on educating new coaches to the game of rugby, giving them the tools on how to plan and implement quality coaching sessions.
- Junior Players Coaching Seminars whereby we educate coaches to run fun, active and game orientated programs aimed to introduce, educate and improve the skills of young rugby players aged 6 – 11 years old. This way, players learn and develop the essential skills of rugby, while still enjoying themselves in the company of others and have fun.
- Intermediate/Senior Players Coaching Seminars whereby we educate coaches aimed towards coaching rugby players age groups of 12 years and older, focussing on drill, skill and technique based sessions.
- Advanced Coaching Seminars focussing on developing the coaches coaching philosophy, knowledge of drills, techniques, tactics, game plan and even help build a season plan.
All of these seminars are run by experienced and accredited rugby coaches.
COACHING THE COACH
Coaching The Coach comprises of The Rugby Union Academy coming to you, observing your coaching, and then working with you to become a better coach.
There’s an old saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”.
This may be true for some things, but when it comes to coaching, it IS what you do and it IS how you do it.
That’s why at The Rugby Union Academy, we want to help you with your coaching so that you know WHAT TO DO and HOW TO DO IT.
Coaching rugby is not an easy task. Many people think that if you have the following, then you can coach:
⁃ Knowledge of the laws
⁃ Knowledge of techniques
⁃ Knowledge of drills
But there’s a lot more to coaching than just that. Just because you know a fair bit about rugby, it doesn’t mean you can coach it. And even then, we don’t just want to be able to coach rugby, we want to be a successful coach that has a positive influence on our players.
Luke Burgess is an ex-Wallaby rugby player who has played under a number of world class coaches. Luke can share with you some of his experiences and insight into some of the different ways of coaching to help you become a better coach.
Shaun Killian is a physical education teacher and rugby coach who teaches both practical and theory lessons and coaches rugby on an average of 5 days per week. He has been teaching for over 10 years and coaching for over 15 years. Shaun has taught in primary schools and high schools, taught special needs and mainstream classes, and coached players from ages 5 - 35 years old.
As a senior teacher, for many years he has been a supervising teacher for university students that have worked on practical’s at his school and in his classes, to observe his teaching, and then participate under Shaun’s guidance so that they can learn to be quality teachers. Shaun also has the experience of having been the Player Development and Coaching Development Coordinator at Narrabeen Rugby Club in Sydney.
Like teaching, coaching can be difficult. Coaching different players and different ages, requires different coaching techniques and player management. Shaun too can share his knowledge, techniques and tricks of the trade from his experiences from teaching, supervising, coaching and coordinating a variety of students and players.
Let us attend one of your training's and help you become a better coach. We can observe your coaching, give you constructive feedback on what you do well and ways to improve, as well as give you new drills that you can put into your very next training. You will be given the opportunity to reflect on your training while sitting down with us to discuss your results and ask questions.