Rugby Coach
How to become a certified Rugby Coach
USA Rugby Introduction to Coaching (Virtual Classroom)
Who is it for:
This is for individuals who specifically want to become coaches, or are considering becoming a coach. Minimum age 17. This course allows a member to act as Assistant Coach only under the direct supervision of a Level 1 Coach for a period of 12 months (after this you need to graduate to Level 1).
What it is:
These 2.5 hr courses are Zoom sessions with content presented live, involving interaction between participants and the presenters.
How to take it:
The course costs $20. USA Rugby is not currently running these courses on a regular basis, but can run the course on-demand for a Union or region or club. Contact your rugby organization and ask them to consider requesting to host a course here.
World Rugby Level 1 Coach (In-Person, formerly called L200)
Who is it for:
This is for individuals who are coaching, in any capacity, forms of rugby that involve tackling. Minimum age 17. Clubs must have at least one coach qualified at this level to be considered a 'compliant' club.
What it is:
An eight (8) hour in-person course, which focuses on player welfare and the technical skills to play safely, and requires coaches to demonstrate effective coaching techniques, taught in the course. These techniques include teaching through games, technical skill development through progressions, and collaborative coaching. In addition to attendance, the course requires completion of several online courses taken through World Rugby's Passport website, ideally before the course. The resulting PDF certificates must uploaded to USA Rugby's Learning Center before certification will be granted.
How to take it:
The course costs $125. Register through the USA Rugby Learning Center. Available courses and locations are listed on the USA Rugby Course Calendar. If there is not a course in your area, then clubs, schools and facilities can apply to host an upcoming course. Given the different local requirements of our Unions, USA Rugby does not centrally choose where and when to run courses, we rely on rugby organizations to request courses that we then facilitate.
World Rugby Level 2 Coach (In-Person, formerly called L300)
Who is it for:
This is for individuals who are have been Level 1 Coaches for a year or more, who wish to move to the next stage of coaching accreditation. It is most applicable to coaches who are coaching adult players aged 18 or older. Minimum age 18.
What it is:
A two-day, 16 hour in-person course, which progresses towards advanced coaching skills used in athlete development and program building. This course is much more involved than the Level 1 with respect to pre-coursework, the in-person clinic, and post-coursework. It often takes coaches a year or more to complete this course.
How to take it:
The course costs $350. Register through the USA Rugby Learning Center. Available courses and locations are listed on the USA Rugby Course Calendar. If there is not a course in your area, then clubs, schools and facilities can apply to host an upcoming course. Given the different local requirements of our Unions, USA Rugby does not centrally choose where and when to run courses, we rely on rugby organizations to request courses that we then facilitate.
World Rugby Level 3 Coach (In-Person, formerly called L400)
Who is it for:
This is for individuals who are, or are seeking to be, employed as professional rugby coaches.
What it is:
A year-long course, featuring multiple online sessions, an in-person three-day camp, and an in-person assessment.
How to take it:
The course is by application, with applications opening in the summer and an annual intake beginning in August.