On July 6, 2024, the Cornwall Rugby Football Union, in collaboration with Jon Bates from Coaching Centered, Gavin Cattle, Alan Paver, and Joe Walsh from local Rugby Championship side Cornish Pirates, hosted a Coaching Development Day for community coaches in Cornwall.

At the coaching conference hosted at Truro School, more than 30 coaches were welcomed. The facilities were fantastic, and the team was incredibly helpful and supportive of the event. The day included practical skills, video reviews, and professional discussions. Each coaching session was divided into three parts and the activities were expertly delivered and managed by Gavin, Alan, and Joe. Each session offered options to either ramp up the intensity or focus on fundamental skills.

Following the conclusion of the conference, Anne’s Pasties provided a pasty lunch, allowing the coaches to reflect and consolidate their knowledge over a delicious pasty.

The county is fortunate to have a championship-level rugby team that is dedicated to supporting community rugby. Neil Smith, the Pirates’ Community Engagement Manager, has played a crucial role in making this event possible. The coaching team at Pirates has been incredibly supportive, dedicating their free time to providing guidance to community coaches across the county. During the conference, Alan, Gavin, and Joe were incredibly approachable and supportive, generously sharing their knowledge and challenging coaches’ perceptions about clarity and simplicity.

We would also like to thank Jon Bates and the team at Coaching Centred for their support in bringing a coaching conference to Cornwall after a several-year hiatus. His support and knowledge working through the logistics of the conference and running of the event has been fantastic.

Thank you to all the coaching coordinators’ secretaries who shared updates on this event and supported their coaches so that they could attend the conference on the day. Thank you to the coaches who came and took part in the active sessions, asked questions, and shared knowledge with their peers. I sincerely hope this knowledge helps support your coaching journey within the county.

Game Development Team