Pathways

Kyadondo Development

From first contact in the minis to the senior squad — how Kyadondo builds players, the coaches who develop them, and the people who run the programme.

Age Grade Development

A continuous pathway from mini rugby to colts. Every band is coached to World Rugby age-appropriate laws, with contact introduced progressively and supervised at every stage.

Under 9 · Minis

Tag & touch

Core movement, evasion and handling. Non-contact, small-sided games, Saturday mornings at Kyadondo.

Under 11 · Minis

First contact

Tackle technique and ruck safety introduced under supervision, with continued emphasis on skill over size.

Under 13 · Juniors

Into the fifteens game

Full contact under age-grade law variations. Positional introduction, scrum and lineout fundamentals.

Under 15 · Juniors

Competitive league

Set-piece detail, age-appropriate conditioning, and the first opportunities for regional age-grade selection.

Under 17 · Colts

National age grade

Structured strength and conditioning, video review, and national age-grade competition.

Under 19 · Colts

Bridge to senior rugby

Integration into Buffaloes, Heathens and Thunderbirds training squads ahead of the senior game.

Pathway principles

• Contact is introduced progressively and never ahead of the age band.

• Players are banded by age, not by ability — everyone in the squad plays.

• A welfare officer is present at every age-grade session and fixture.

• Parents are briefed at the start of each term on laws, contact and safeguarding.

• Movement between bands is agreed by the coach, the coordinator and the parent together.

Management Structure

Development is governed by the club committee and delivered through a clear reporting line, so every coach, parent and player knows who to go to.

Governance

Executive Committee

Sets club strategy, approves the development budget, and owns the safeguarding policy. Reports to the membership at the AGM.

Programme leadership

Director of Rugby

Name to be confirmed

Owns the whole-club playing strategy and the link between the age-grade pathway and the senior squads.

Development Chair

Name to be confirmed

Committee lead for the age-grade programme. Accountable for registration, fixtures and parent communication.

Delivery

Age Grade Coordinator

Name to be confirmed

Day-to-day running of all bands: training schedule, squad lists, fixture logistics.

Head of Coaching

Name to be confirmed

Coach recruitment, qualification tracking, session standards and in-season observation.

Welfare & Safeguarding Officer

Name to be confirmed

First point of contact for any welfare concern. Independent reporting line to the Executive Committee.

Team Managers

One per age band

Parent liaison, matchday admin, kit and travel for their band.

Coaches Development

Every Kyadondo coach is supported to qualify — and supported to keep improving once they have. Most of our coaches came through the club as players.

Step 01

Club induction

Safeguarding briefing, code of conduct, first aid awareness. Required before working with any age band.

Step 02

World Rugby Level 1

Coaching Children or Coaching Fifteens, delivered through Uganda Rugby Union. Funded by the club.

Step 03

World Rugby Level 2

Advanced technical modules plus strength and conditioning. Opens up lead coach roles at colts level.

Step 04

Mentor & lead

Experienced coaches mentor incoming volunteers and lead the club's annual CPD day.

How we support coaches

• Course fees for World Rugby Level 1 and 2 are funded by the club.

• Every new coach is paired with a mentor for their first season.

• In-season session observation with written feedback, twice per term.

• An annual CPD day before the season opens, run in-house.

• A dedicated route into coaching for retiring Kyadondo players.

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