Leadership training supports Ghana Rugby League development
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Ghanaian Rugby Development
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Paddy Bedi 07 September 2012
Preparations for the first grassroots initiative to drive the game of Rugby League in West Africa, supported by UK Sport in partnership with the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF), has started with UK Sport led leadership training of the newly appointed National Manager.
Sylvester Wellington obtained the post in June and has undergone professional training under the Beckwith International Leadership Development (BILD) programme, through the University of Ghana. The institution is an implementing partner of UK Sport’s international charity, International Development through Sport (IDS).
“When I had the chance to join the BILD group, I thought it was sports training, but as it was based more on leadership through sports, it has given me a passion and inspiration to approach situations differently. The training has helped me re-address the way I deal with issues and my confidence has gained a great deal,” said Sylvester.
The BILD programme, which is managed by IDS and funded by the TOP Foundation, follows an adapted Youth Sport Trust (YST) leadership curriculum to deliver quality training in Ghana. It’s impact on leadership development is evidenced by the experiences of Sylvester and comes after the leading government agency, UK Sport, signed a two-year agreement with the RLEF at the beginning of 2012. The partnership will support the introduction, nurturing and growth of rugby league in Ghana, a strategy, which feeds into a broader plan to create a cluster of rugby league playing countries in the West African region.
The partnership has also led to the integration of UK Sport’s International Development through Excellence and Leadership in Sport (IDEALS) programme, in which Edge Hill University (UK) sent a rugby league coach to work alongside Sylvester and University of Ghana rugby league coordinator, Alfred Attieku. Alex Winstanley, from St. Patricks, a rugby league team based in Wigan, worked to enhance rugby specific training.
“Working with Alex, we have been able to fuse together elements of the BILD training and rugby training into the sessions we have delivered in the communities and in schools,” said Sylvester.
There are currently eight community teams and now the potential for 485 secondary schools to also roll out Rugby League programmes, after extensive discussions with the Department of Education in Ghana.
With the support of RLEF, Sylvester spent August on secondment with rugby league team, London Skolars, to undertake intensive coaching, playing, match officiating, media and administration practical work. Now that he has returned to Ghana, he will look at how to implement these new strategies.
These initial developments are strategically leading the way for the delivery of world class rugby in communities and schools in Ghana, and eventually, West Africa.
“When I had the chance to join the BILD group, I thought it was sports training, but as it was based more on leadership through sports, it has given me a passion and inspiration to approach situations differently. The training has helped me re-address the way I deal with issues and my confidence has gained a great deal,” said Sylvester.
The BILD programme, which is managed by IDS and funded by the TOP Foundation, follows an adapted Youth Sport Trust (YST) leadership curriculum to deliver quality training in Ghana. It’s impact on leadership development is evidenced by the experiences of Sylvester and comes after the leading government agency, UK Sport, signed a two-year agreement with the RLEF at the beginning of 2012. The partnership will support the introduction, nurturing and growth of rugby league in Ghana, a strategy, which feeds into a broader plan to create a cluster of rugby league playing countries in the West African region.
The partnership has also led to the integration of UK Sport’s International Development through Excellence and Leadership in Sport (IDEALS) programme, in which Edge Hill University (UK) sent a rugby league coach to work alongside Sylvester and University of Ghana rugby league coordinator, Alfred Attieku. Alex Winstanley, from St. Patricks, a rugby league team based in Wigan, worked to enhance rugby specific training.
“Working with Alex, we have been able to fuse together elements of the BILD training and rugby training into the sessions we have delivered in the communities and in schools,” said Sylvester.
There are currently eight community teams and now the potential for 485 secondary schools to also roll out Rugby League programmes, after extensive discussions with the Department of Education in Ghana.
With the support of RLEF, Sylvester spent August on secondment with rugby league team, London Skolars, to undertake intensive coaching, playing, match officiating, media and administration practical work. Now that he has returned to Ghana, he will look at how to implement these new strategies.
These initial developments are strategically leading the way for the delivery of world class rugby in communities and schools in Ghana, and eventually, West Africa.
