Junior Rugby

Posted: March 6, 2021 by Maureen Hilyard

COOK ISLANDS JUNIOR RUGBY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

Date & Time:5pm Wednesday 3rd February
Location:CISNOC office
Attendees:Ben Koteka, Ashleigh Wihongi-Willis, Maureen Hilyard, Franky Toa, Terry Henry, Raukura Ellison, Peter Godfrey
Apologies:Robert Heather Jnr, Moana Tauraa


Action items for next meeting 3rd March 2021

No:Action Items:Owner:Remarks
4.1Monthly Rugby NewsletterAshleigh 
4.2Mentorship Programme ProposalAshleigh 
4.3Email Women’s Committee Minutes to Junior CommitteeAshleigh 
4.4Email 2020 player participation Statistics to committeeBen 
4.5Invitational Holiday programme proposal – Skills and Theory basedAshleigh 
4.6Boots and Mouthguards CampaignBen/Ashleigh 
4.7Year 13 Database – Tereora PE Students for upskillingBen 
No:Resolutions / Decisions
NIL 
  
  
Correspondence Items:Receipt date:Response Actions:
NIL  
   
   

AGENDA

  1. Opening Prayer
  2. Meeting convened and chaired by Ashleigh Wihongi Willis.
  3. Matters to be discussed
    1. Objective and Setup
    1. 2021 Strategic Workplan
    1. Junior Development – Action Plan
    1. Other Matters
  4. Closing Prayer

Discussion:

  1. Opening Prayer – Ben Koteka

2.    Objective and Setup:

2.1 The role of the Junior Subcommittee – A think tank to encourage participation and growth around Junior Rugby, engage stakeholders from the community and create initiatives to support the retention and development of players in age grade rugby.

Meetings will take place monthly and for a period of one hour, however there will be correspondence via email where applicable.

This will be a prototype template with which we will also apply to Women’s Rugby and overall at CIRU

2.2 Viable Career Pathways – Another area we would like to see succeed is in the development of viable career pathways and scholarship opportunities for our youth. Our long term goal is to create enough participation and growth to support locally based talent in National Teams wherever possible. We also will work to create initiatives that support careers in management, sports sciences, physiotherapy, sports psychology etc and campaign awareness around career pathways with our most important stakeholders – parents.

3. 2021 CIRU Strategic Workplan:

3.1 Overview of Strategic plan – Ashleigh & Ben – It would be beneficial for Action Plans going forward to be placed under one or more of the strategic goals. This not only helps to allocate funding from the CIRU but allows the ability for the CIRU to report back to Oceania Rugby on Junior Development pertaining to the aforementioned strategic goals and key performance indicators. In the future this will also help for us to gain funding for Development based initiatives.

3.2 Strategic Goals Key to Junior Development – Ashleigh –  it is beneficial for the development of age grade rugby in the Cook Islands to be based around two key strategic goals within the CIRU workplan:

Strategic Goal 3 – Enhance Player Experience of the Game of Rugby Union in the Cook Islands

Strategic Goal 4 – Enhance Community experience of the Game of Rugby in the Cook Islands

  • Action Plan
  • Monthly Newsletter – Concerns were raised by the committee about the lack of communication and updates between the club executives and the CIRU. Ashleigh will format and create an email newsletter which will be sent to executives of each club once a month. This information will also be utilised on the website and an email subscription option be added so that any and all stakeholders can be privy to the newsletter.
  • Mentorship Programme Proposal – to be proposed to the board to capture Year 13 students who have shown leadership during their time helping with various rugby initiatives through the Quick Rip programme. Ashleigh to write up proposal for subcommittee to input.
  • Women’s Committee Minutes – will be sent to the Junior Development committee so as to keep them in the loop. With many initiatives crossing over into both committees’ it is advantageous that all are kept in the loop.
  • Player Participation Statistics – Brief overview of Ben as to the growth in Rugby Union off the back of the Cook Island Games and the Raro 7’s Competition. Ben to email statistics to Raukura and the rest of the committee
  • Invitational Holiday Programme – Proposed skills and theory focus. Will look to league and touch for their support due to the crossover of skill set. Will include ability for participants to learn about career opportunities within rugby as well as rehabilitation, holistic health and nutrition, and mental fitness through talks with invited and esteemed tutors. Proposed for April. Will be a five day programme, the first three being invitation for key leaders and players aged between 13-16 and the last two being an open day for all players of this age group.
  • Boots & Mouthguard Campaign – In order to truly develop our age grades to an international standard we need to start teaching our Juniors about the tools needed to succeed. Boots and Mouthguards are an integral part of Rugby and as such should start to be used. A Marketing campaign highlighting the importance of gear will commence as well as a proposal for Dental Sponsorship and NZ Club Sponsorship for boots.
  • Other Matters:
  •  CISNOC Sport for Life Programme – Raukura Ellison – The Sport for Life programme provides an opportunity for youth to be more active in schools  and a foster a positive relationship with an active lifestyle. The need for clear and accessible pathways highlighted and discussed. Suggestion of the mentorship programme and discussion around capturing Year 13 students.
  • Next Meeting: Wednesday 3rd March 2021 at 5pm – CISNOC/CIRU offices
  • Closing Prayer – Ben Koteka

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