BLUEPRINT 1 Leadership • Engagement • Achievement • Enjoyment • Respect
Boys Youth Skills Curriculum (November 2023)
Introduction
The Blueprint is the playing and coaching philosophy for Scottish Rugby, aiming to improve the standard of rugby at all levels of the game.
Developed by Scottish Rugby in conjunction with coaches from the club and school game, the Blueprint’s overriding message is ‘Change Our Game’. In order for Scottish Rugby to compete and win on the international stage, the game in Scotland needs to further develop and think differently. Our intention is to create amazing learning environments with the appropriate level of stretch and support to enable players to be more tactically adaptable.
The SCOTS principles (Selfless, Creative, Optimistic, Tenacious, Self-Organised) underpin the Blueprint, and are key behaviours, enabling players to thrive in their playing pathway.
The aim of this Blueprint Curriculum resource is to help players, coaches, referees and parents in the youth game understand the focus areas at each age and stage. The curriculum information provides clarity on what should be focussed on during training and matches.
For updates please visit the Game Development twitter account @scotrugbycoach here https://twitter.com/scotrugbycoach
Please click this link (https://bit.ly/blueprintrugby) to view more Blueprint resources or use the QR code below.
BLUEPRINT 2
Blueprint Change Our Game (COGs)
The interconnected Blueprint cogs represent all aspects of the game and need to be considered as one when developing players. The cogs impact each other and should be coached collectively.
Within this document the Rugby Skills cog is emphasised, with further resources to follow on the Physical, Brain and Life cogs.
Learning Environment
The
BLUEPRINT 3
Player Rugby Skills Physical Skills
Life Skills
Brain Skills
Learning Environment
Learning Environment
Learning Environment SCOTS
Learning Environment
Blueprint Rugby Skills
Creative Attack
Dictating Defence
Rugby Skills
Relentless Contact
BLUEPRINT 4
Boys U15 Rugby Skills
Curriculum
Run, Kick, or Pass into the best space
CREATIVE problem solve in different ways
Creative Attack
Offload and lifts
BOLT Beat Offload Lift Thrash
Relentless Contact
Decision makingJackal, Blast, Leave, Time in tackle
Scanning skills
SELFLESS help the team
U15
Explore the impossible
Smart speed to support
Focus on the finish
Individual tackle technique to dominate in the tackle
OPTIMISTIC hopeful and confident about the future
TENACIOUS persistent in pursuit of excellence SELFORGANISE use information to effectively coordinate as a team
Assess threats that include numbers up or down
Dictating Defence
Cut down options
Footwork and height into tackle
Appropriate defensive spacing
Get the ball back in different ways
BLUEPRINT 5
Boys U16 Rugby Skills Curriculum
Option from fast and slow ball
Attack
Beat the backfield Movements to disrupt the defence
CREATIVE problem solve in different ways
Pace on the ball
Metres in contact
Relentless Contact
Deception at the ruck On fire
SELFLESS help the team
OPTIMISTIC hopeful and confident about the future
TENACIOUS persistent in pursuit of excellence
Positional roles and principals from set piece
Kick chase essentials
SELFORGANISE use information to effectively coordinate as a team
Reconnect after linebreaks and turnovers
Dictating Defence
Backfield essentials
Stretching space
Awareness of Guide, Shield, Lead (GSL)
BLUEPRINT 6
Creative
U16 Explore the impossible
Boys U17 Rugby Skills Curriculum
Explore attacking kicks
Strike, launch and bust plays
Wide contacts (both sides of ball)
Creative Attack
Physicality
Relentless Contact
Support options
CREATIVE problem solve in different ways
SELFLESS help the team
OPTIMISTIC hopeful and confident about the future
TENACIOUS persistent in pursuit of excellence
SELFORGANISE use information to effectively coordinate as a team
U17 Beat the Game
Airstrike and ground strike
Jackal focus
Backfield options based on field position
Dictating Defence
Head on a swivel - scanning
Connect in 3’s Ball in hand v ball in air
Set traps
Goal Line defence principals
BLUEPRINT 7
Boys U18 Rugby Skills Curriculum
Playing against different defences
Organised support to create momentum & instability
Edge and middle options
CREATIVE problem solve in different ways
Creative Attack U18 Beat the Game
SELFLESS help the team
OPTIMISTIC hopeful and confident about the future
TENACIOUS persistent in pursuit of excellence
SELFORGANISE use information to effectively coordinate as a team
Breakdown options to develop my way
Relentless Contact
‘Tackle’ the threat to create space
Deception
Double Defending
Dictating Defence
Backfield clarity
Goal Line defence
BLUEPRINT 8
Blueprint Physical Skills
Curriculum
Physical Skills
BLUEPRINT 9
Conditioning Power Strength Speed & Agility
Learn to Train Stage Physical Skills Curriculum (12+)
BLUEPRINT 10
Strength lower body technique Bracing activities Upper Body Pressing Upper Body Pulling Coordination Deceleration drills Acceleration drills GO Judo/Wrestling Through Rugby Game activity Fun Mobility Conditioning 12+ Learn To Train
skills Jumping skills Landing skills Throwing skills Power CREATIVE TENACIOUS SELFORGANISE SELFLESS OPTIMISTIC
& Agility
Gymnastics
Speed
BLUEPRINT 11
Game
Bracing
Increase exposure Conditioning Power CREATIVE TENACIOUS SELFORGANISE SELFLESS OPTIMISTIC Speed & Agility 14+ Learn To Train Strength
Learn to Train Stage Physical Skill Curriculum (14+) Lower body strength development Upper Body Pulling Posterior chain development Upper Body Pressing Session design
activity Contact drills Positional skills Change of direction mechanics Running mechanics Acceleration drills Throwing Bounding & Skipping Jumping & Hopping (Repeat/Single leg)
activities
Train to Develop Stage Physical Skills Curriculum (15+)
BLUEPRINT 12
Pulls Upper Body Pressing Lower body strength development Lifting from the floor Throwing skills Pulling skills Increase training exposure Exposure to match demand training Contact conditioning Positional demands Game skills Change of direction mechanics Evasion skills Running mechanics Acceleration drills Plyometric skills Upper Body Pulling Bracing activities Repeat effort drills Conditioning Power CREATIVE TENACIOUS SELFORGANISE SELFLESS OPTIMISTIC Speed & Agility 15+ Train To Develop Strength
Train to Develop Stage Physical Skills Curriculum (16+)
Lower body strength development
Lifting from floor
Upper Body Pressing
Upper Body Pulling
Olympic lifting
Bracing activities
U16 Train To Develop Strength
Exposure to match demand training
Increase training exposure
Contact conditioning
Repeat effort drills
Positional demands
Plyometric development
Leg drive
Game speed
Acceleration drills
Running mechanics
Evasion skills
BLUEPRINT 13
CREATIVE TENACIOUS SELFORGANISE SELFLESS OPTIMISTIC
Throws & Pulls Conditioning Power
Speed & Agility
Blueprint GASPS - Player Identification and Development
The GASPS principles will be used to guide selection decisions within Scottish Rugby male and female pathway programmes (e.g. player development hub, FOSROC Academy and national age grade). Players will also be developed in alignment with these principles through on and off field coaching.
Further information on the GASPS principles will be made available in due course.
G GAME SENSE
A ATTITUDE
S SKILL SET
P PHYSICAL POTENTIAL
S SCOTS SKILLS
speed, agilty, power, endurance and stature
selfless, creative, optimistic, tenacious, self-organised
BLUEPRINT 14
game awareness, spatial awareness, problem solving, beat the game
competitiveness, curious, self-motivation, resilience
ball movement, tackle, evade, positional skills - all under pressure
BLUEPRINT 15
BLUEPRINT 16 SCOTTISH RUGBY SCOTTISH GAS MURRAYFIELD EDINBURGH EH12 5PJ 0131 346 5000 | scottishrugby.org