Wigan coach to deliver LD skills sessions
- Warriors disability coach Scott Burns to delivery online skills sessions to Learning Disability players as part of a 33-week journal programme.
- The programme has been created by the RFL, Learning Disability Super League, Club Foundations and Community Integrated Care ahead of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.
- Skills journal is set to empower the LDSL community to be active in their homes through incentivised challenges.
Wigan Warriors’ award-winning disability coach Scott Burns is set to deliver virtual sessions to Learning Disability players in a 33-week skills journal programme.
The Learning Disability Super League is ready to hit the ground running in Rugby League’s World Cup year, in partnership with their long-term partners Community Integrated Care.
There may still be restrictions and uncertainty over when players and teams can gather together again, but in recognition of that, the RFL has worked with Club Foundations and Community Integrated Care to develop a 33-week programme linking to the Rugby League World Cup at the end of 2021.
The LDSL Rugby League World Cup skills journal will empower the LDSL community to be active in their homes through incentivised challenges.
Each of the 33 challenges has been set by a competing team from across the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair World Cups – and completing the challenges will earn congratulatory postcards from stars of the game.
Each player will be sent a Rugby League ball as part of their introductory pack, and the resources will all be delivered by the LDSL Foundations to their players.
Warriors disability head coach, Burns, said: “As one of the founding clubs of the Learning Disability Super League it is great to be involved in delivering the virtual skills sessions to our LD players.
“This will enable our LD players and families to stay active and involved through these unprecedented times. I will be delivering the sessions each week at our usual training times to keep a sense of routine while we are all still unable to train together in person.
“On completing each skill session each week, they will be awarded a ‘well done’ postcard to help complete their journal.
“Not only will it keep the players fit and active but will also help improve and maintain good mental health by remaining connected to the Club and their teammates.”
Marc Lovering, the RFL’s Director of Participation and Development, added: “The LDSL has been such a great success story for the game – but also one of the areas which has seen the most impact from the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant little to no activity was able to go ahead in 2020.
“Despite the current situation, we remain determined to re-engage with our participants at some point in the coming season. But we thought it was important that in the short-term they have the opportunity to practise at home.
“The Rugby League World Cup skills journal is a fantastic resource that allows all our players to get excited about Rugby League again and the prospect of playing – building the excitement towards RLWC2021 later this year.
“This bespoke resource offers our foundations a great engagement tool for players but also offers our players with learning disabilities a way to engage with Rugby League in a way none of our other demographics currently can.
“I’d like to pay tribute to the support we continue to receive from the LDSL Foundations and also from everyone at Community Integrated Care – showing again why we were so pleased that Mark Adams, their Chief Executive, received the RFL President’s Award from Clare Balding late in 2020.”
For those interested in joining the journal programme, please contact Scott Burns by email at s.burns@wiganwarriors.com
