IRL partners with Coachai to create digital education hub for coaches

International Rugby League has announced a strategic partnership with Coachai to create a digital education hub for coaches around the globe.

IRL is currently training an international group of experienced coach and match official tutors to familiarise them with the IRL courses before delivery begins in a number of countries later this year.

Coachai is an app compatible with any smart device that was created to deliver high quality coaching and training content for coaches anywhere in the world. The Coachai system will be initially deployed throughout a selected group of national federations at different levels of membership to test the impact of the system. Once deployed, coaches will receive detailed training and coaching content to support them.

IRL Level 1 courses are now available in English, French and Spanish. Level 2 courses and educator courses are currently in English only and will be translated in due course. The Coachai platform is currently available in 37 languages.

The partnership follows IRL’s announcement in April about sustained investment in technical education to build national federation capacity, improve on-field standards and ensure an authentic dissemination of the sport around the world. The increased commitment follows the successful trial launch of the education programme earlier this year, with multiple coach and match officiating courses delivered in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria.

IRL Secretary General Danny Kazandjian said: “IRL is really pleased to be partnering with Coachai, which will provide rugby league coaches all over the world and at all different stages of growth with state-of-the-art resources and support, enabling them to hone their skills and improve the standard of play at home.

“The international federation has set out its long-term commitment to supporting the growth of the global rugby league player base through a comprehensive technical education programme, and this is an important part of that project.”

IRL will be announcing an additional strategic partner in July that will further professionalise IRL’s technical education, under its new Membership and Competitions department.

Coachai directors Kenny Greenway and Angelo Lauro said: “In addition to state-of-the-art coaching support, the platform can also provide other technology including discussion forums, chat functionality, strength & conditioning content, diet planning and many other features.”