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Since 2004 the Federación Venezolana de Rugby (Venezuelan Rugby Federation – FVR) has been developing a technical standardization project which seeks to significantly improve the standards of Venezuelan players. The project has now began to crystallize with the creation of the Academias Regionales del Proyecto Bravos de Venezuela (Venezuelan Regional Academy Project).
The academias Regionales del Proyecto Bravos are a break through for Venezuelan rugby. They offer players an opportunity to prepare under greatly improved infrastructure and are to be located in a variety of locations nationwide. The three states of Zulia, Lara and the Distrito Capital are the first involved while work is already well advanced for Aragua and Guárico to join them.
The idea came about by examining the success of the Uruguayan and Argentine regional model. The FVR acknowledges that replicating the official High Performance model in place by the UAR (PladAR) is complicated due to the country’s situation and rugby’s development in Venezuela.
Not withstanding following several months of counseling and visiting to these unions a plan began to be constructed that includes multiple stages of development which have already been approved. The academies are to be individually run by Regional Managers.
For the players the structures will offer significant improvements with them around 120 minutes of training per week which are to be divided into three sessions of 40 minutes. Work is to look to perfect skills including passing, tackling, contact, ball control, body control and individual requriements as per position.
Those involved have responded warmly to the project and now Venezuela can build towards a bigger rugby future. The vital component of youth rugby is being addressed with players finally starting to play rugby from a younger age. The regional development centers have the potential to unlock previously undiscovered talent while helping spread the values which the sport is founding rooted on.
