Last week I received an email from USA Rugby about a unique coaching opportunity that seemed too good to be true. It in invited me to apply for an all expenses paid, level 300 rugby coaching certification course in England.

To my delight, the offer was genuine. But my first thought was of self doubt:

“For such an incredible opportunity, the selectors will choose only the best of the best. Surely my chances of selection are poor.”

Luckily, I kept reading and found that the program had the resources to accept up to fifty (50) participants! And what’s more, last years scholarship recipients represented a broad range of the American rugby landscape. Maybe I could do this after all!

How to create a video for your application

After lots of consideration, I decided to apply. The process is straightforward: record a 90-second video on your phone describing one’s rugby activities, coaching philosophy, and goals. That’s it!

So I sat down and created a video for my application (see above). I probably spent too much time on this, but I’m happy that the end result showcases the team culture we have at Hamilton High School in Sussex, Wisconsin.

I encourage all coaches in the US who have (or will soon have) their level 200 certification to apply. You don’t need any fancy video editor though. My advice is to fist review the official rules. Then spend some time writing what you want to say and then practicing it out loud.

Remember, the video has to be short: just 90 seconds or so! It’s hard to go wrong with simple and authentic.

When your preparations are complete look into the camera on your phone and hit the record button. Once you’re happy with the result, upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo.

All that’s left is to enter your name and the link to your video into the Premiership Rugby Coaching Scholarship application form.

Turnover Time

So, what do you think of this opportunity? How does it compare to other coaching clinics you’ve attended? If you’re not applying, I’d love to know why in the comments below. If you’ve already applied, feel welcome to post the video link below.