RugbySmart Injury Prevention Course

Rugby Smart is an injury management programme developed jointly by the New Zealand Rugby Union and ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) to improve the safety of the game and prevent injuries.
Each rugby season, it is compulsory for all coaches of players aged 13 and over to attend a RugbySmart Injury Prevention presentation facilitated by Taranaki Rugby Union.
Since the RugbySmart programme started in 2001, ACC has seen significant drops in rugby-related injury claims. Rugby playing numbers have grown 7% in 2005 and claims dropped by a further 3.5%.

SmallBlacks Coaching Courses

The New Zealand Rugby Union have developed compulsory junior coaching courses designed to up-skill junior coaches on the approved safe technique for coaching children in a specific age grade. The junior rugby coaching programme is part of the SmallBlacks development model developed by the New Zealand Rugby Union.
It is compulsory for all coaches of players aged 12 and under to have a SmallBlacks Coaching accreditation applicable to the grade level they are coaching. 
The SmallBlacks accreditation is valid for three rugby seasons and can be obtained by attending one of the following SmallBlacks Coaching courses:

• Small Blacks Beginning Rugby (Under 6–Under 7) 
• Small Blacks Learning Rugby (Under 8–Under 10) 
• Small Blacks Playing Rugby (Under 11–Under 13)