Declining participation and ARU plans for the future

[barbarian]

Not really comparing apples with apples there ILTW.

I'm fine with them doing this stuff for the top 1% of players/coaches that want this. It's clear it's user pays so not much if any ARU cash is going into it.

There is no real evidence that it comes at the expense of DOs or other grassroots initiatives.

 

[I like to watch]

What other code spends its time organising camps for the very wealthy?

this just serves to validate the negative stereotype that Rugby is for the elite.

Good on the ARU for the Viva program.
But again,it's available for any Schools that register.
They need to compete with AFL and knock on doors trying to get into Schools,not just servicing those that choose to register.

 

[half]

That's pretty disingenuous ILTW considering the below link seems to imply that the ARU are rolling out the Game On Program at primary level to any school that is interested:

http://www.aru.com.au/news/newsarti...n-rugby-launches-new-national-schools-program

Very very true and the link reads well.

As the link reads on 6/12/15 at the school was shown with plans in place to grow the game. BTW nothing wrong with whats being done and who is doing it. Further better than nothing and without doubt a step in the right direction.

The following is part of a soccer article on the same program. You may see a difference. One code embraced the idea even developing their development programs and aliened them to the education curriculum and it doing so soccer has become the "sport of choice among teachers"

I know I go on and on and on and on and on and on about this stuff but I am sick to death about being out managed and soccer at this time had a far smaller budget per team than rugby and runs 9 national teams.

Part of the article so nothing wrong with what we are doing but do we even come close to putting in the effort at this very basic grassroots level that soccer did. This program came out and Pulver and the ARU seem not on the same page as others.

The snapshot from the report reveals Football is the most popular choice among teachers of all the codes and is officially the most participated team sport in the Sporting Schools program with some 700 schools and 50,000 primary students participating in a Hyundai A-League or Westfield W-League branded program in the last 12 months.

FFA’s schools strategy was launched just two years ago with the primary objective to deliver quality, safe and enjoyable experiences to students. The Football program is delivered by trained coaches representing the Hyundai A-League or Westfield W-League clubs and schools receive a free AIA Vitality MiniRoos equipment pack. Teachers also have access to the classroom resource which feature 8-12 lessons mapped against the Australian Curriculum for English, Maths, Art and Physical Education.


https://sportingschools.gov.au

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au...ice-among-teachers/18g44pe9lncm31kbea4kqzqa9k

 

[Rugbynutter39]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/t...g/news-story/3c1c29c338b72c5d3d5df6c0d8dd84b7

The concept of Super Rugby as heinken cup type thing would work. A domestic professional competition with new Zealand below super rugby perhaps.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

For ty

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/t...g/news-story/3c1c29c338b72c5d3d5df6c0d8dd84b7

The concept of Super Rugby as heinken cup type thing would work. A domestic professional competition with new Zealand below super rugby perhaps.

For a TT competition to occur you would first have to overcome the NZRU's excuses centering around wanting to maintain contact with SA. I personally think that's bullshit. The fear is they do the TT comp and it proves popular here and we start to unlock the commercial potential for that SANZAAR has ignored for the entiriety of Super Rugby.

Il

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I am slightly nervous if we see the Force cut from Super Rugby from 2018 leaving us with only 4 professional teams without a plan b that involves more professional teams and WA's continued involvement.

I think the reality is the push for a national professional domestic competition becomes more critical and an easier path for that would be a trans tasman professional completion but yes I can't see NZ necessarily on board with that.

 

[p.Tah]

The following is part of a soccer article on the same program. You may see a difference. One code embraced the idea even developing their development programs and aliened them to the education curriculum and it doing so soccer has become the "sport of choice among teachers"

They're also teaching them multisports such as diving to help facilitate a career in the A-League.
Friday night's game showed this forward thinking it's coming to fruition

http://www.foxsports.com.au/video/football/a-league/kilkennys-pathetic-flop!572827

 

[half]

They're also teaching them multisports such as diving to help facilitate a career in the A-League.
Friday night's game showed this forward thinking it's coming to fruition

http://www.foxsports.com.au/video/football/a-league/kilkennys-pathetic-flop!572827

Childish response, very interesting on this site and akin to the Roar, we defend the ARU, always making excuses for why and why not.

When demonstrative evidence showing not only the ARU board being totally out managed there are no replies except lets mock the game.

Both codes with similar budgets, Gallop and Pulver both in place for some time and the government releases a new program aimed at primary aged school children across Australia.

Roughly 18 months later rugby promotes via the TWAS link that we have now gone to a private school and have a program in place to do more.

Soccer / Football identified breaking into schools is a major part of the slow burn they have as they move towards a FTA space for some of there matches.

They branded it via their A & W Leagues [clever me thinks], within two years so roughly six months after our school they had run the program in 700 schools with 50, 000 kids. Beyond that they mapped their courses against the Australian school curriculum in maths, english, arts and phy ed, resulting across Australia teachers even in the southern states saying this was their sport of choice to run and teach.

My reaction is one of extreme disappointment, by the time our board and management recognised the potential the other codes had reacted.

We are I guess playing catch up and no doubt those delivering will do an excellent job. But again the branding as always is for the Wallaby's where as soccer is for there national competitions.

What this clearly demonstrates to me is soccer as it has done for as long as I can remember knows how to connect to kids and how to get people involved. We don't we simply do not have an understanding at the level of the other codes when it comes to developing grassroots structures.

 

[p.Tah]

Childish response, very interesting on this site and akin to the Roar, we defend the ARU, always making excuses for why and why not.

Childish, Yep deliberately so.
We have a choice. Grassroots rugby development and support isn't the protected domain of the ARU (thankfully!) We can all contribute.

It can stem from putting out the ropes at junior rugby on the weekend. Donating time or money to the local club. Organising a day/night out for family, friends and their kids to attend a club rugby game, NRC or even Super rugby games when they usually don't go. Helping get a rugby program set up in a local school or connecting a school to a local club and ensure its has key supporters within the club and school to maintain its continued success.

Could the ARU do more. I'm sure they could. Do they want to do more? Absolutely they do. Viva 7s is their beachhead. Is it the right strategy? Not sure, but time will tell but I would guess that what the current Governing body is doing a lot more now than what they've done in the past and its certainly not restricted to private schools.

I admire your passion, but there is something that doesn't sit right. 95% of your posts are in this thread or TV ratings criticising the game's position. Usually a red flag for trolling. There are many others here that lament the games position but they comment on the games and player selection too.
If you are genuinely interested in helping the game find a way to make a small contribution to help it. As great as this forum is, our posting doesn't help grassroots rugby.

 

[Train Without a Station]

p.Tah the ARU are also rolling out Game On into primary schools.

There is no focus on private schools or unwillingness to roll this out to public schools.

But the fact is as many have noted, soccer is more popular with schools as it's much easier for them to implement.

As a result of this the Game On program has received less interest from schools.

This is really not a fault of the ARU that rugby itself is a more difficult game for educators to include in their schools. It's certainly not good, but sometimes the product you are selling is just less desirable.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

p.Tah the ARU are also rolling out Game On into primary schools.

There is no focus on private schools or unwillingness to roll this out to public schools.

But the fact is as many have noted, soccer is more popular with schools as it's much easier for them to implement.

As a result of this the Game On program has received less interest from schools.

This is really not a fault of the ARU that rugby itself is a more difficult game for educators to include in their schools. It's certainly not good, but sometimes the product you are selling is just less desirable.

I personally think part of the difficulty is that Soccer is easier for a novice to run and administer. You little to no training to effectively ref a schoolyard Soccer game. Rugby is a little different.

I think the ARU should be targeting primary schools while linking woth local village clubs. Using the Viva format. Work with clubs to create open, inclusive environments and foster community. Try to channel as many primary age children to these clubs.

However, a big part of that needs to be education for both teachers and coaches. For the ARU to successfully crack schools their needs to be an effort to first educate those who will be central to its success and that's teachers.

 

[I like to watch]

.........However, a big part of that needs to be education for both teachers and coaches. For the ARU to successfully crack schools their needs to be an effort to first educate those who will be central to its success and that's teachers.

Or you could follow the AFL practise, of providing everything,so it's so easy for the teacher.
They have removed the obstacles by providing everything.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Or you could follow the AFL practise, of providing everything,so it's so easy for the teacher.
They have removed the obstacles by providing everything.

I have previously suggested that the ARU should set up school starter kits that include everything a school needs to participate. I agree. Truth is we need to present a comprehensive program that 1) provides all the necessary resources required to schools and 2) provides the necessary training to teachers in order to run the program.

 

[I like to watch]

My point was,that with the AFL, the teacher is required to do nothing, it's free time for them.No stress,no effort required.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

My point was,that with the AFL, the teacher is required to do nothing, it's free time for them.No stress,no effort required.

Yes, but the AFL also has an army of DO's in comparison to Rugby.

 

[Dave Beat]

What other code spends its time organising camps for the very wealthy?

this just serves to validate the negative stereotype that Rugby is for the elite.

Good on the ARU for the Viva program.
But again,it's available for any Schools that register.
They need to compete with AFL and knock on doors trying to get into Schools,not just servicing those that choose to register.

That is so very true.
Sending a spam email out - in some cases 5 in the space of 10 minutes results in emails not being read and being deleted.
Then not sending another email out for a couple of weeks, and then why not reference an event that has less than 2 weeks notice to prep and prepare.
Then why not have Tah's camps run at the private school Riverview or elsewhere on the Northshore.

Primary Schools.
NSW need to work closely (not send email) with the various PSSA's, build a relationship, get the green light when approaching schools, bring a staged program - whilst Game On is a Program and can receive government funding for the schools - an email to introduce it simply does not cut it.

Senior schools,
Yeah 65% of kids go through the public high school system.
And I can almost guarantee the number of kids attending has increase on previous years due to population growth.
Give these kids opportunity;
having researched this area directly over the last 12 months and having had some success with a couple of others-

the feedback received from public high schools was - "sending emails is a waste of time, they need to come and visit."

 

[Dave Beat]

Or you could follow the AFL practise, of providing everything,so it's so easy for the teacher.
They have removed the obstacles by providing everything.

That would work, but the Game On program provides that and government funding as well for the Primary Schools.
These schools still look for excuses not to do things, we see far to much of this at all sorts of levels - excuses.
So as above a serious effort needs to go into PSSA's. Our school does not play rugby, gives me the shits when I'd say there are close to 150 rugby players at the school. NSW Captain goes to our school, NSW one the state comp, the school loved the lime light but do nothing about it.

 

[Dave Beat]

Yes, but the AFL also has an army of DO's in comparison to Rugby.

Yes they do, but instead our boards above chose to focus on the elite and not the grass roots - the part that really matters.

We have 12 clubs that operate on an oily rag, and volunteers, wouldn't it be great if an incentive structure was applied so these clubs could to roles comparable to the DO's in AFL.

I am confident that as exposure grows whether it be AFL or Union it impacts the bottom line financially and that may assist in funding.

Who knows it may also even result in more kids having fun, being active, playing rugby through school and spitting out into the various tiers.

65% of our kids are at public schools - that is the market we have to be touching.

Thing that shits me is POLITICS - our game comes first.

 

[wamberal]

Thing that shits me is POLITICS - our game comes first.

The thing is, Dave, we either have politics or a dictatorship. I doubt that a dictatorship is acceptable to very many of us, and we are stuck with the political necessity to make choices between different sets of priorities.


Everybody wants the game to come first, I hope. The differences of opinion are all about how to achieve better outcomes for the game.

 

[Dave Beat]

The thing is, Dave, we either have politics or a dictatorship. I doubt that a dictatorship is acceptable to very many of us, and we are stuck with the political necessity to make choices between different sets of priorities.


Everybody wants the game to come first, I hope. The differences of opinion are all about how to achieve better outcomes for the game.

I agree with that.

However politics in the way i have referenced it is unfortunately far to prevelant in the most important areas of our game. If i share examples i become apart of it - so in lieu get more kids playing and having fun.