Our COVID19 protocols will be fully compliant with the guidelines issued by the IRFU under their ‘Return to Rugby’ or subsequent plan and the HSE/HPSC & Sport Ireland. All booked customers will be sent full details of all applicable procedures and our Academy programme induction approach in the run up to the relevant dates.

Our high-performance Academy programme will combine the following key elements to deliver a fun, engaging and challenging development experience to players of all ages;

• Top class rugby coaching team (World Rugby Level 3+ qualified)
• Skills-based, non-contact content, with maximum 15 players per coach in a specifically designated training zone
• Socially distanced, limited numbers & time-based S&C development programme delivered by our dedicated Head of S&C
• Training group & individual player based development drills and tests, based on our 9PSAVs framework
• Daily markers feedback sessions with assigned coach

Based on the 9PSAVs framework, our Academy pastoral staff team will work with leading sports science experts to delivery a highly rated and targeted education programme to residential and non-residential players, including;

Residential (5-9pm Sun-Thurs)

• Daily interactive presentations on key development topics such as Physical Development for Young Players, Sports Nutrition, Mental Wellness and Injury Management & Concussion Awareness, with post-webinar quizzes and individual/group development challenges associated with each module topic
• Twice daily goal setting & review meetings with dedicated training pod pastoral mentor
• Group activities within dedicated training pods (teamwork, leadership & personal development focused challenges)

Non-Residential (7-8.15pm Mon – Thurs)

• Nightly Zoom Webinars on key development topics such as Physical Development for Young Players, Sports Nutrition, Mental Wellness and Injury Management & Concussion Awareness
• Interactive quizzes & daily feedback forms based on programme & webinar content
• Training group & individual challenges based on 9PSAVs framework

Following the completion of the high-performance Academy programme, each player will receive two development reports, one Rugby Focused (Core Skills Ratings & Video Feedback) and the other Physical Development Focused (Physical Test Scores & Development Feedback).  These reports will be a valuable reference point for your player to refer to to benchmark himself/herself against with a view to improving their rugby performance in the short and longer term

Our fully vetted and professionally trained programme staff will be responsible for the pastoral care of all those players in our care and ensure that everyone is strictly following the COVID-19 protocols, all players are joining in all activities, making friends and having fun.

As well as ensuring the daily wellbeing of the overall group, our staff get assigned a group of players that they mentor, delivering daily ‘Markers’ meeting, where mentors get to develop a rapport with each individual.  This enables players to speak about how they feel physically & emotionally, what their daily goals are, and how they fell the programme activities have gone.

We operate a Limited Mobile Phone Usage Policy, with parents and players able to make contact via the Academy WhatsApp number in the case of emergency, outside of very restricted general access times.

For our 12-16yrs boys & girls players signed up for the 12 Nights Residential Programme incorporating the Cork & Kilkenny Rugby Academies in July, they can look forward to a fun & active middle weekend programme including;

• Saturday & Sunday lie-ins (after a very busy Rugby Academy programme Mon – Fri)
• A COVID-19 compliant trip to 1-2 Cork tourist sites on Saturday
• Bus transfer from Midleton College to Kilkenny on Saturday afternoon
• Dinner, fun site orientation & group activities in Kilkenny College on Saturday evening
• Sunday morning walking excursion to Kilkenny City (fully supervised & COVID-19 compliant)

PSA Academies has partnered with Endsleigh Insurance to provide excellent programme cover specifically designed for PSA Academies players. You will receive a summary of insurance cover after booking, however key benefits include:

• Cover for over 90 sports and activities are included as standard (full details are available within policy documentation).
• Cancellation and curtailment of the trip due to accident, illness or sickness.
• If taken ill or have an accident, Endsleigh will pay emergency medical bills and hospital costs that are not covered by the National Health Service.
• Additional costs incurred to repatriate, if medically necessary.
• Reasonable costs to return home if a close relative is seriously ill.
• Reimbursement if luggage is lost, stolen or accidentally damaged.
• Endsleigh will help replace passports, or visas if they are lost or stolen.
• Money stolen either from your person or while locked away, will be replaced.
• If a player accidentally injures someone or damage their property, Endsleigh will cover legal liability.
• Advice and assistance to take legal action is covered.
• Cover for unavoidable or necessary cancellation or curtailment of course before completion due to, death, bodily injury or illness.