Health and science
Sporting excellence professional - Rugby Union
Able to competently perform the professional sport in which they train such as; cricket, football, rugby league, rugby union and equestrianism.
Summary
This occupation is found in professional sporting disciplines, including cricket, football, rugby union, rugby league, horseracing and equestrianism.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to participate at a professional level in individual or team sports. Sporting Excellence Professionals perform consistently and effectively in training environments and competitions in their chosen professional sport. They are part of a team and are supported and managed by a wider and multi-disciplinary team, including a manager/coach/ trainer, skills coaches, physiotherapists, psychologists, nutritionist, strength and conditioning experts, and educational staff. They have high level of autonomy in terms of responsibility for what happens on the field of play or equine arena/venues and need to be able to cope with extreme pressure.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with coaches, employers, fellow athletes, sporting officials and multidisciplinary support staff, administrative staff, external partners e.g. broadcasters, fans.
An employee in this occupation is responsible for committing to their development and involvement in training and competitive professional sporting activities. This involves maintaining a high level of fitness to allow them to participate in training and competitions, sustaining a lifestyle designed to optimise performance, being aware of external factors that may affect individual performance both physically and psychologically, and maintaining a positive and inclusive image of their sport as part of their social responsibility.
Typical job titles include
- Dressage rider | Equestrian athlete | Eventer | Jockey | Professional cricketer | Professional footballer | Professional rugby league player | Professional rugby player | Professional sportsman | Show jumper
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
How to utilise multi-disciplinary staff to improve tactical performance, addressing individual strengths and weaknesses through the use of individual action plans, training and competition.
K2:
How to use technology, such as video footage or software packages, to interpret and compare different forms of analysis.
K3:
How to use analysis to evaluate both technical and tactical performance and impact on results during training and competition.
K4:
The physical requirements of the individual’s chosen sport, such as cardiovascular fitness, explosive power, stamina of professional sport; principles of training (including periodisation) and specificity and methods (e.g., strength and conditioning, fundamental movement, physical literacy) used to develop physical capabilities.
K5:
The common types of injury (e.g., soft tissue damage) relevant to professional sport; how to prevent, recover, rehabilitate from and manage injury and the physiological and psychological responses to injury.
K6:
Safe and effective practice in sports performance environments, and how to access appropriate support networks for any areas of concern or individual wellbeing – individually and on behalf of colleagues.
K7:
The importance of equality, inclusion and diversity across society and professional sport.
K8:
The legislation and guidance with regards to Anti-Doping including the negative impacts and side effects of using performance enhancing or recreational drugs on personal performance, career and the reputation of the sport.
K9:
The importance of nutrition to help achieve excellence in professional sport.
K10:
The psychological and emotional demands of professional sport and how to make the best use of these capabilities.
K11:
The methods and strategies that relate to fundamental, preparatory and performance phases such as emotional resilience, visualisation, refocussing, concentration, and pre-performance routines.
K12:
The demands of effective leadership in professional sport, identifying traits and behaviours of appropriate role models.
K13:
The mechanics of effective communication (personal and professional) and building and sustaining relationships with other people.
K14:
The importance of lifestyle management factors relevant to being a professional sports person, such as finance and a responsible social media presence.
K15:
The components (e.g. goal setting, planning) that contribute to the individual’s chosen primary career plan, and the key facets of self-identity as a professional sports person and as an individual.
K16:
The importance of secondary and supplementary careers and consideration of dual career aspirations..
K17:
The influence and impact of each performance area on each other and how they interact.
K18:
How to self-reflect, self-evaluate, utilise feedback from coaching and multi-disciplinary staff and use goal setting processes and development plans to positively impact all discipline areas.
K33:
A range of different technical aspects of performance in rugby when passing, catching, kicking, tackling and evasion skills are required to participate. (rugby union)
K34:
A range of different tactical aspects of performance (e.g., attacking and defensive set piece, transition of play, playing style and philosophy). (rugby union)
K35:
The principles and requirements for successful exit strategies to not only relieve pressure but to turn into attacking opportunities. (rugby union)
Technical Educational Products
- ST0524: Sporting excellence professional - Rugby Union (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0524E
- Status:
Approved occupation
- SOC 2020 code:
- 3431 Sports players
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 3431/00 Sports players
S1:
Use digital technology to refine and optimise performance in terms of tactical approach to the opposition, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, creating individual tactical plans and reviewing training and competitive performance.
S2:
Use data and digital insight to improve performance of their skills and performance.
S3:
Continually improve physical capabilities by utilising insight and expertise from specialist support staff through completing bespoke conditioning activities such as speed, power and coordination, as well as on and off field/course/venue training programmes that might take place in the gymnasium, swimming pool or performance lab.
S4:
Engage in injury prevention and management programmes utilising insight and expertise from specialist support staff to help mitigate impact of injury on training and competition performance.
S5:
Apply safe practice principles across all elements of training, preparation and competition - for example when working with equipment, working alone, working under pressure, or travelling abroad.
S6:
Take appropriate action to source relevant information for pre- and post-testing and at all times, be able to access a current list of prohibited and banned substances.
S7:
Implement a programme to improve diet and approach to hydration and nutrition, incorporating feedback and evaluation from specialist support staff.
S8:
Psychological and Emotional performance: Profile psychological strengths and weaknesses and implement their agreed programme to meet individual and sporting requirements.
S9:
Apply consistent and effective psychological and emotional skills in training and performance or competition environments.
S10:
Plan, implement and develop personal leadership skills both in and away from their professional playing/riding career.
S11:
Communicate and build constructive and effective relationships with staff, colleagues and peers conducive to performance development.
S12:
Effectively manage conflict and present a positive image of themselves, their organisation and their sport in all situations.
S13:
Identify and engage with a personal action plan to improve lifestyle management that promotes and develops mental wellbeing and emotional health.
S14:
Design and implement a personal career action plan that identifies how to manage the transition into the next stage considering secondary and supplementary careers.
S15:
Deliver consistent performance under pressure through effective integration of all performance disciplines .
S16:
Reflect and review performance and training to analyse, progress and improve performance, both in training and competition.
S38:
Apply assured basic techniques and an extensive range of core skills such as evasion, collision, and contact, pass and kick, which cover the aspects of the game required by all positions. (rugby union)
S39:
Manipulate attackers and defenders with a variety of methods such as footwork, ball skills, and contact collisions skills. (rugby union)
S40:
Use both hands and both feet to perform skills within the given context. (rugby union)
S42:
Recognise opportunities to run or kick the ball, and is effective in doing so in a variety of different ways
S43:
Execute techniques skilfully at varying speeds and maintain precision under pressure.
S44:
Effectively execute specific individual roles and responsibilities as an individual and within team roles, whilst monitoring and being aware of a number of varied parameters and different outcomes. Such as:Attack – receiving the ball to make appropriate decision making in a range of situations.Defence – reacting to the opposition attackers to make an appropriate decision (e.g., to tackle or to enter a breakdown) leading to a successful outcome.Kicking Game – reacts to both defence and attacking shape to make the appropriate kick or supporting action when the ball is kicked. (rugby union)
S45:
Demonstrate effectiveness within team attacking and defending strategies and when in periods of transition. (rugby union)
S46:
Constantly monitors the development of play and positions effectively relating to the situation and area of the pitch. (rugby union)
Technical Educational Products
- ST0524: Sporting excellence professional - Rugby Union (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0524E
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- SOC 2020 code:
- 3431 Sports players
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 3431/00 Sports players
B1:
Positively model professionalism through personal presentation and integrity in all actions
B2:
Be collaborative in teamwork situations - especially under pressure
B3:
Self-manage weekly commitments which include time management and organisation
B4:
Conduct themselves in a respectful, fair, and approachable manner and in line with the employer’s standards and code of conduct.
B5:
Demonstrates a strong, positive, and dedicated work ethic which clearly shows ownership of personal development, aptitude, aspiration and ambition
B6:
Be self-reflective
B7:
Own and engage in goal setting processes
B8:
Exhibit inclusive behaviours recognising equality and diversity.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0524: Sporting excellence professional - Rugby Union (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0524E
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- SOC 2020 code:
- 3431 Sports players
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 3431/00 Sports players
