The Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS) recently organized two rugby camps in Nairobi and Kisumu, aimed at polishing and brightening the skills of young athletes identified during the Kenya Secondary School Games. These camps provided an opportunity for the young players to enhance their abilities, with 54 boys and 51 girls in attendance.
The camps officially commenced on 5th December and were inaugurated by KAS CEO Dr. Doreen Odhiambo. Speaking during the opening ceremony, Dr. Odhiambo emphasized the importance of discipline and hard work, encouraging the athletes to adopt these values in their sports careers and personal lives.
Skills Development Focus
The training sessions targeted key rugby skills, including attack, defense, passing, tackling, mauling, scrummaging, and video analysis. The video reviews were particularly insightful, helping athletes study various aspects of the game to improve their strategic understanding.
Challenges Faced
As a first-time initiative, the camps faced several challenges that provided important lessons for future programs:
- Parental Consent: Obtaining parental consent was difficult due to the short notice provided.
- Psychological Preparation: Athletes needed better pre-camp communication to manage expectations and understand daily routines.
- Delayed Equipment: Late arrival of training equipment required coaches to improvise in the initial stages.
- Rugby Pitches: Identifying suitable rugby pitches was a challenge but was eventually resolved.
- Curriculum: The absence of a standardized and approved curriculum underscored the need for earlier preparation.
- Kitting for Girls: Ensuring proper kits for female athletes was another area requiring improvement.
Future Plans
To address these challenges, the following measures will be implemented in upcoming camps:
- Timely Invitations: Letters of invitation will be sent out earlier to ensure parental consent is secured.
- Safety Policies: Safety policies will be published and shared with teachers and parents.
- Orientation Day: The first day of camp will be set aside for orientation and establishing ground rules.
- Pitch Selection: Reconnaissance visits will be conducted to identify and secure suitable rugby pitches.
- Standardized Curriculum: A comprehensive curriculum will be developed, approved by relevant federations and ministries, and shared ahead of time.
Results and Next Steps
Out of the participants, 36 boys and 36 girls were selected for further development programs. These camps demonstrated the potential of structured training initiatives to nurture rugby talent and promote the sport at the grassroots level. The Kenya Academy of Sports is committed to continuous improvement and looks forward to more successful programs in the future.
The Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Director of Development, Dr. Ochieng Ahaya, expressed gratitude for the holiday rugby program, highlighting its significant impact on the sport. “We’re very thankful for bringing the program during the holiday. It has increased the number of girls playing rugby, improved players’ basic skills execution, and reinforced societal values,” he said. Dr. Ahaya also praised the collaboration between the Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS), federations, and the Ministry of Education as a testament to effective partnerships.
The program catered to learners still in school and those who had recently completed their KCSE exams, extending education beyond classrooms to the rugby pitch. Participants also benefited from essential life skills training, including financial management and saving techniques, thanks to a partnership with Kenya Commercial Bank.
In addition, the involvement of teachers in the program provided them with an opportunity to enhance their coaching skills and game awareness, a step aligned with the transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
