Keeping his eye on the ball

Sporting student Adrian Rose is using his rugby coaching skills to show others how to follow in his footsteps.

The BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy student runs a rugby coaching society from the University where students have achieved their Level One rugby coaching and will now go on to coach in schools throughout the Tees Valley.

Adrian has been coaching rugby through the volunteering scheme Sports Universities North East England (SUNEE), a partnership between us and the four other North East universities to transform the delivery of sport across the region.

He believes the scheme is a great opportunity to add another dimension to students’ qualifications, alongside their degree.

Hard work but a great experience Adrian said: ‘I have been working as a coach and co-ordinator for over three years now and the SUNEE project is a great way to gain experience and qualifications whilst studying.

‘I started the rugby coaching society, which is dedicated to aiding students with gaining funding for qualifications to deliver sessions within the local community.

‘The society is hard work and demands a lot of time, contacting various groups and schools, working with various parties to find hours and ensuring that the coaches can fit sessions around their university timetable.’

One of Adrian’s proudest achievements was organising a rugby tournament for primary school children at Acklam Rugby Club.

He said: ‘After six weeks coaching, we invited the children to a rugby tournament we had organised. You could see how the children had developed their skills and confidence since we had met them.’

Adrian is already looking to the future by setting new targets in order to strengthen the link between SUNEE and the local community.

He added: ‘My targets with SUNEE now are to make Teesside University the biggest participant in the North East. As sports co-ordinator I want to increase the availability of courses, funding and facilities, as well as the number of coaches, which will give something greater back to the community.’

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