Adventures in kids coaching

[Niegs]

My son has decided it’s not for him at the moment (u9’s) but my daughter is absolutely loving it (u7’s) and I’ve been asked to join the coaching team. 3 weeks in and loving it so far

U9s is the start of tackling, often lose a few that season. Hard to predict which ones too, the ones that used to love running straight at people in tag, sometimes don't like it so much when they're allowed to run at them back. Can definitely add to the nerves.

I strongly recommend doing the coaching courses, first touch, first contact etc. They are really helpful. I'm extremely happy that myself and another of my coaches did a passing coaching course in the summer, it's made a huge difference to our ability to coach the pass. We're all forwards in our group, so it's been rather neglected and poorly taught, hoping the kids recover swiftly (seem to be).

Out of interest, what did they teach you about teaching passing? I've been doing some research on this stuff and have been experimenting with more of an 'implicit' approach (whole action described in an analogy, focus more on the outcome than the moving parts, which is the 'explicit' approach, breaking down every part in progressions, often).

[Raggs]

My son has decided it’s not for him at the moment (u9’s) but my daughter is absolutely loving it (u7’s) and I’ve been asked to join the coaching team. 3 weeks in and loving it so far

U9s is the start of tackling, often lose a few that season. Hard to predict which ones too, the ones that used to love running straight at people in tag, sometimes don't like it so much when they're allowed to run at them back. Can definitely add to the nerves.

I strongly recommend doing the coaching courses, first touch, first contact etc. They are really helpful. I'm extremely happy that myself and another of my coaches did a passing coaching course in the summer, it's made a huge difference to our ability to coach the pass. We're all forwards in our group, so it's been rather neglected and poorly taught, hoping the kids recover swiftly (seem to be).

Out of interest, what did they teach you about teaching passing? I've been doing some research on this stuff and have been experimenting with more of an 'implicit' approach (whole action described in an analogy, focus more on the outcome than the moving parts, which is the 'explicit' approach, breaking down every part in progressions, often).

Explicit :D.

Started off with a simple tennis ball throw to each other, same hand facing each other, swap hands, send back etc. Point was to teach having hands up, and far away, it's a lot easier to adjust your catch with your arms extended than close to your body.

Switch to rugby ball then the grip. Fingers spread wide, held in fingertips, try to keep palm off. Not explained, but for me, it gives you a lot more flexibility in your grip as you can manipulate your fingers far more easily than the hand as a whole. Holding about midway.

Holding the ball pointing up, elbows locked (make people hold tennis balls against their sides if they can't resist moving). Flicking the ball up, spinning it in opposite directions. Try and get it perfectly vertical, try and get more height (using wrists, not arms).

Then, facing each other square on, and starting fairly close (distance can increase as ability improves), elbows still locked and bent, ball still held "centrally" in 2 hands, bring the ball so the point is on a hip, outside hand underneath, flick with wrists/fingers to your partner, swap hips.

Next allow straightening of the arms as you do the movement (so greater distance between).

Then side on, outside hand on the underside of the ball, elbow bent, ball on hip, inside is just pointing to your partner, use the outside hand to complete the passing, virtually bringing your hands together to finish. Trying more to punch the ball than swinging your arm around.

Then we did some quick passing exercises, so catch and pass, even just down the line etc, emphasis on trying to not pendulum the arms, since quickest route is straight line, so ball comes straight across the body, rather than swinging it down and back up.

Hope that makes some sense :D.

I really think it's helped to be honest, it's helped my passing, and it's helped my boys (he was my test subject). It seems to be helping the team too. The individual exercises allow you to break it down to the stage that the player is struggling with. Don't know about you, but I have quite a few that try and spin the ball the wrong way when passing off their weak hand, these exercises (the earlier ones) are helping cure that.

[Niegs]

Out of interest, what did they teach you about teaching passing? I've been doing some research on this stuff and have been experimenting with more of an 'implicit' approach (whole action described in an analogy, focus more on the outcome than the moving parts, which is the 'explicit' approach, breaking down every part in progressions, often).

Explicit :D.

Started off with a simple tennis ball throw to each other, same hand facing each other, swap hands, send back etc. Point was to teach having hands up, and far away, it's a lot easier to adjust your catch with your arms extended than close to your body.

Switch to rugby ball then the grip. Fingers spread wide, held in fingertips, try to keep palm off. Not explained, but for me, it gives you a lot more flexibility in your grip as you can manipulate your fingers far more easily than the hand as a whole. Holding about midway.

Holding the ball pointing up, elbows locked (make people hold tennis balls against their sides if they can't resist moving). Flicking the ball up, spinning it in opposite directions. Try and get it perfectly vertical, try and get more height (using wrists, not arms).

Then, facing each other square on, and starting fairly close (distance can increase as ability improves), elbows still locked and bent, ball still held "centrally" in 2 hands, bring the ball so the point is on a hip, outside hand underneath, flick with wrists/fingers to your partner, swap hips.

Next allow straightening of the arms as you do the movement (so greater distance between).

Then side on, outside hand on the underside of the ball, elbow bent, ball on hip, inside is just pointing to your partner, use the outside hand to complete the passing, virtually bringing your hands together to finish. Trying more to punch the ball than swinging your arm around.

Then we did some quick passing exercises, so catch and pass, even just down the line etc, emphasis on trying to not pendulum the arms, since quickest route is straight line, so ball comes straight across the body, rather than swinging it down and back up.

Hope that makes some sense :D.

I really think it's helped to be honest, it's helped my passing, and it's helped my boys (he was my test subject). It seems to be helping the team too. The individual exercises allow you to break it down to the stage that the player is struggling with. Don't know about you, but I have quite a few that try and spin the ball the wrong way when passing off their weak hand, these exercises (the earlier ones) are helping cure that.

Cheers for sharing! There's certainly room for both depending on how one best responds.

I've had success with some brand newbies going "Grip tight at the back of the ball and point it at your target. Push the ball out and just before your arm straightens, make like you're turning a door-knob INWARD." For push passes "Both hands equally spread on the ball, push it toward your teammate like Spiderman shooting a web". Done!

Others can't grasp that, and a mixture might help, finding that one point that's screwing them up. But in implicit learning (like riding a bike), you encourage to keep doing it with a simple guideline and allow them to figure it out. "External focus" - i.e. the outcome, not the internal thinking about moving parts - is key.

[clydecloggie]

What amazes me is how few players have actually ever been taught the push pass. Even at seniors level (where I am now partially coaching) they look at me like camels in a rain forest when I tell them to push pass - they either do a loopy pop that kills the hard unders line because the ball takes too long to arrive or send a bullet of a spin pass out that the receiver has no chance of catching (but still gets blamed for dropping, obviously).

It has led to a nice schism in the coaching staff between the Flickites and the Shotputtians. Where the Shotputtians advocate for a push pass that is essentially an underarm shot put movement off the hip while the Flickites are all about wrist movement.

[laurent]

What amazes me is how few players have actually ever been taught the push pass. Even at seniors level (where I am now partially coaching) they look at me like camels in a rain forest when I tell them to push pass - they either do a loopy pop that kills the hard unders line because the ball takes too long to arrive or send a bullet of a spin pass out that the receiver has no chance of catching (but still gets blamed for dropping, obviously).

It has led to a nice schism in the coaching staff between the Flickites and the Shotputtians. Where the Shotputtians advocate for a push pass that is essentially an underarm shot put movement off the hip while the Flickites are all about wrist movement.

looks like a bunch of wankers

So old I never practiced spin pass (the old leather balls did not help) I push pass on the right and spin on the left...

I don't want the under 10 to spin as it's a bit pointless the receiver has trouble enough catching...

Some good exercise up in the thread so I'll take a leaf on that book .

[Raggs]

What amazes me is how few players have actually ever been taught the push pass. Even at seniors level (where I am now partially coaching) they look at me like camels in a rain forest when I tell them to push pass - they either do a loopy pop that kills the hard unders line because the ball takes too long to arrive or send a bullet of a spin pass out that the receiver has no chance of catching (but still gets blamed for dropping, obviously).

It has led to a nice schism in the coaching staff between the Flickites and the Shotputtians. Where the Shotputtians advocate for a push pass that is essentially an underarm shot put movement off the hip while the Flickites are all about wrist movement.

So in theory, the push/pop/league etc pass is what our kids start off learning. But quite a few of them have seen spin passes and desperately want to copy that, and do so with all the bad habits.

I'll go back to it, maybe this season, once the spin pass is more locked in.

Right now focus is spin pass (so they can at least use one technique!), scrum, and trying to work in channels in attack and defence. Rucking and tackling will need some solid refreshment too no doubt, but there's only so much time! Hoping that scrum can simply be maintained through training matches.

[Raggs]

What amazes me is how few players have actually ever been taught the push pass. Even at seniors level (where I am now partially coaching) they look at me like camels in a rain forest when I tell them to push pass - they either do a loopy pop that kills the hard unders line because the ball takes too long to arrive or send a bullet of a spin pass out that the receiver has no chance of catching (but still gets blamed for dropping, obviously).

It has led to a nice schism in the coaching staff between the Flickites and the Shotputtians. Where the Shotputtians advocate for a push pass that is essentially an underarm shot put movement off the hip while the Flickites are all about wrist movement.

looks like a bunch of wankers

So old I never practiced spin pass (the old leather balls did not help) I push pass on the right and spin on the left...

I don't want the under 10 to spin as it's a bit pointless the receiver has trouble enough catching...

Some good exercise up in the thread so I'll take a leaf on that book .

The course was aimed for developing u14-u18s. I'm using it on my u13s, because like I said, their passing is dire since all the coaches passing (and especially ability to coach passing) was dire.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

I've had success with some brand newbies going "Grip tight at the back of the ball and point it at your target. Push the ball out and just before your arm straightens, make like you're turning a door-knob INWARD."

Ah, the famed Nazi salute

[Niegs]

What amazes me is how few players have actually ever been taught the push pass. Even at seniors level (where I am now partially coaching) they look at me like camels in a rain forest when I tell them to push pass - they either do a loopy pop that kills the hard unders line because the ball takes too long to arrive or send a bullet of a spin pass out that the receiver has no chance of catching (but still gets blamed for dropping, obviously).

It has led to a nice schism in the coaching staff between the Flickites and the Shotputtians. Where the Shotputtians advocate for a push pass that is essentially an underarm shot put movement off the hip while the Flickites are all about wrist movement.

looks like a bunch of wankers

So old I never practiced spin pass (the old leather balls did not help) I push pass on the right and spin on the left...

I don't want the under 10 to spin as it's a bit pointless the receiver has trouble enough catching...

Some good exercise up in the thread so I'll take a leaf on that book .

Could cause a revolt but I'm convinced a school team I coached were such slick passers because the first two months of preseason (Canadian winters, kids keen to start prepping in Feb) our order or rugby balls hadn't arrived and we used soccer balls. No spinning, just pushing and increasing the length of it as time went on.

I'm fully sold on the League backspin too. "Push it out, press thumbs down, take a picture of your pass." Even discovered it's the Magnus effect in play so stays aloft a little longer. AND it allows those who aren't yet good at spinning to get more distance!

[Slick]

What amazes me is how few players have actually ever been taught the push pass. Even at seniors level (where I am now partially coaching) they look at me like camels in a rain forest when I tell them to push pass - they either do a loopy pop that kills the hard unders line because the ball takes too long to arrive or send a bullet of a spin pass out that the receiver has no chance of catching (but still gets blamed for dropping, obviously).

It has led to a nice schism in the coaching staff between the Flickites and the Shotputtians. Where the Shotputtians advocate for a push pass that is essentially an underarm shot put movement off the hip while the Flickites are all about wrist movement.

looks like a bunch of wankers

So old I never practiced spin pass (the old leather balls did not help) I push pass on the right and spin on the left...

I don't want the under 10 to spin as it's a bit pointless the receiver has trouble enough catching...

Some good exercise up in the thread so I'll take a leaf on that book .

My lot are much younger than most of yours I think but I’m actively discouraging spin passes at the moment, I want them to grasp why they are passing and a small element (at this stage) of timing.

[laurent]

Just got back from the second training

the kids will go to their first weekend games this Saturday a bit short considering we have 6 newbies and 6 who played before.

12 kids so far and we hope will get a few more. (they play 5 a side till January then 7)

We gave them a bit of a crash course for tackling and about 4 or 5 are ready some of the kids who played prior are not really into that yet.
Passes are sticking most times which is good.
The running is not yet always forward but it's getting better.

Happy with that group even if I hope we can get 4-5 more kids.

[Slick]

Just got back from the second training

the kids will go to their first weekend games this Saturday a bit short considering we have 6 newbies and 6 who played before.

12 kids so far and we hope will get a few more. (they play 5 a side till January then 7)

We gave them a bit of a crash course for tackling and about 4 or 5 are ready some of the kids who played prior are not really into that yet.
Passes are sticking most times which is good.
The running is not yet always forward but it's getting better.

Happy with that group even if I hope we can get 4-5 more kids.

I really think we should be holding off tackling for a lot longer, no need to have it so young, better developing other skills and keeping all the kids involved

[laurent]

Just got back from the second training

the kids will go to their first weekend games this Saturday a bit short considering we have 6 newbies and 6 who played before.

12 kids so far and we hope will get a few more. (they play 5 a side till January then 7)

We gave them a bit of a crash course for tackling and about 4 or 5 are ready some of the kids who played prior are not really into that yet.
Passes are sticking most times which is good.
The running is not yet always forward but it's getting better.

Happy with that group even if I hope we can get 4-5 more kids.

I really think we should be holding off tackling for a lot longer, no need to have it so young, better developing other skills and keeping all the kids involved

At U10 we would have wanted more time this year. (last year we had a bit more time to introduce it). the first games are real early.

I tend to prefer working on ball handling and to try and get them some spatial awareness (the real hard stuff) first.

We had to rush though I don't want the kids to go there Saturday not having a scooby.
We focused on basics and got them to finish with a game and some tackling the strongest did tackle the weakest/newbies did not do to well but had a go anyway.

[Raggs]

Just got back from the second training

the kids will go to their first weekend games this Saturday a bit short considering we have 6 newbies and 6 who played before.

12 kids so far and we hope will get a few more. (they play 5 a side till January then 7)

We gave them a bit of a crash course for tackling and about 4 or 5 are ready some of the kids who played prior are not really into that yet.
Passes are sticking most times which is good.
The running is not yet always forward but it's getting better.

Happy with that group even if I hope we can get 4-5 more kids.

I really think we should be holding off tackling for a lot longer, no need to have it so young, better developing other skills and keeping all the kids involved

We lost some kids when tackling started, but we also gained some. And held onto some we would have lost without it.

Tag is great, but the big kids can struggle, and their strengths aren't used until tackle is started.

[Niegs]

Just got back from the second training

the kids will go to their first weekend games this Saturday a bit short considering we have 6 newbies and 6 who played before.

12 kids so far and we hope will get a few more. (they play 5 a side till January then 7)

We gave them a bit of a crash course for tackling and about 4 or 5 are ready some of the kids who played prior are not really into that yet.
Passes are sticking most times which is good.
The running is not yet always forward but it's getting better.

Happy with that group even if I hope we can get 4-5 more kids.

I really think we should be holding off tackling for a lot longer, no need to have it so young, better developing other skills and keeping all the kids involved

We lost some kids when tackling started, but we also gained some. And held onto some we would have lost without it.

Tag is great, but the big kids can struggle, and their strengths aren't used until tackle is started.

I wish more big kids would embrace skill. I refereed in a tournament once where the big kid was a legitimate risk to some of the smaller ones in the age bracket, so both coaches agreed that he would be a 'touch' player. And the kid started crying. As we took the field, I tried to console him saying you have the power to be the hero to your teammates by drawing two defenders (might have compromised by saying two players had to touch him?) and putting teammates away for tries. I don't think it helped much, and I hope he managed to develop skill, because we all know that a good many of the big kids are just early developers and its a wasted year or few when all they do is run over the kids who haven't yet hit their spurt.

I was a short, chubby kid in elementary school who absolutely loved basketball, but I wasn't the one to drive or play under the basket, so developed absolute joy for assists (this was the era, too, when the video games included the scorer pointing to the player who passed and I bloody loved that! ), steals, and eventually a solid long range jump shot / 3 pointer off the dribble.

[Slick]

I really think we should be holding off tackling for a lot longer, no need to have it so young, better developing other skills and keeping all the kids involved

We lost some kids when tackling started, but we also gained some. And held onto some we would have lost without it.

Tag is great, but the big kids can struggle, and their strengths aren't used until tackle is started.

I wish more big kids would embrace skill. I refereed in a tournament once where the big kid was a legitimate risk to some of the smaller ones in the age bracket, so both coaches agreed that he would be a 'touch' player. And the kid started crying. As we took the field, I tried to console him saying you have the power to be the hero to your teammates by drawing two defenders (might have compromised by saying two players had to touch him?) and putting teammates away for tries. I don't think it helped much, and I hope he managed to develop skill, because we all know that a good many of the big kids are just early developers and its a wasted year or few when all they do is run over the kids who haven't yet hit their spurt.

I was a short, chubby kid in elementary school who absolutely loved basketball, but I wasn't the one to drive or play under the basket, so developed absolute joy for assists (this was the era, too, when the video games included the scorer pointing to the player who passed and I bloody loved that! ), steals, and eventually a solid long range jump shot / 3 pointer off the dribble.

Yup. Remember playing with a guy who would just run through everyone right up to about U16 level and was being courted by Northampton. We playing in a county game the year later and he got absolutely smashed by someone and that was it, he left rugby. Years later and he says he felt that he didn’t have any skills and if he couldn’t run through people he was no use

[laurent]

We lost some kids when tackling started, but we also gained some. And held onto some we would have lost without it.

Tag is great, but the big kids can struggle, and their strengths aren't used until tackle is started.

I wish more big kids would embrace skill. I refereed in a tournament once where the big kid was a legitimate risk to some of the smaller ones in the age bracket, so both coaches agreed that he would be a 'touch' player. And the kid started crying. As we took the field, I tried to console him saying you have the power to be the hero to your teammates by drawing two defenders (might have compromised by saying two players had to touch him?) and putting teammates away for tries. I don't think it helped much, and I hope he managed to develop skill, because we all know that a good many of the big kids are just early developers and its a wasted year or few when all they do is run over the kids who haven't yet hit their spurt.

I was a short, chubby kid in elementary school who absolutely loved basketball, but I wasn't the one to drive or play under the basket, so developed absolute joy for assists (this was the era, too, when the video games included the scorer pointing to the player who passed and I bloody loved that! ), steals, and eventually a solid long range jump shot / 3 pointer off the dribble.

Yup. Remember playing with a guy who would just run through everyone right up to about U16 level and was being courted by Northampton. We playing in a county game the year later and he got absolutely smashed by someone and that was it, he left rugby. Years later and he says he felt that he didn’t have any skills and if he couldn’t run through people he was no use

One of the reason I try to get the gifted U10 to stop scoring.
You scored twice now make your teammates to score.
At this age being quick is enough it won't be all their players life should they go on to play.

[Raggs]

I really think we should be holding off tackling for a lot longer, no need to have it so young, better developing other skills and keeping all the kids involved

We lost some kids when tackling started, but we also gained some. And held onto some we would have lost without it.

Tag is great, but the big kids can struggle, and their strengths aren't used until tackle is started.

I wish more big kids would embrace skill. I refereed in a tournament once where the big kid was a legitimate risk to some of the smaller ones in the age bracket, so both coaches agreed that he would be a 'touch' player. And the kid started crying. As we took the field, I tried to console him saying you have the power to be the hero to your teammates by drawing two defenders (might have compromised by saying two players had to touch him?) and putting teammates away for tries. I don't think it helped much, and I hope he managed to develop skill, because we all know that a good many of the big kids are just early developers and its a wasted year or few when all they do is run over the kids who haven't yet hit their spurt.

I was a short, chubby kid in elementary school who absolutely loved basketball, but I wasn't the one to drive or play under the basket, so developed absolute joy for assists (this was the era, too, when the video games included the scorer pointing to the player who passed and I bloody loved that! ), steals, and eventually a solid long range jump shot / 3 pointer off the dribble.

Coaches need to encourage the skill. But being slow simply isn't fun in touch. In the full game there's opportunity for all to shine, speed, agility and power.

[Punter15]

We lost some kids when tackling started, but we also gained some. And held onto some we would have lost without it.

Tag is great, but the big kids can struggle, and their strengths aren't used until tackle is started.

I wish more big kids would embrace skill. I refereed in a tournament once where the big kid was a legitimate risk to some of the smaller ones in the age bracket, so both coaches agreed that he would be a 'touch' player. And the kid started crying. As we took the field, I tried to console him saying you have the power to be the hero to your teammates by drawing two defenders (might have compromised by saying two players had to touch him?) and putting teammates away for tries. I don't think it helped much, and I hope he managed to develop skill, because we all know that a good many of the big kids are just early developers and its a wasted year or few when all they do is run over the kids who haven't yet hit their spurt.

I was a short, chubby kid in elementary school who absolutely loved basketball, but I wasn't the one to drive or play under the basket, so developed absolute joy for assists (this was the era, too, when the video games included the scorer pointing to the player who passed and I bloody loved that! ), steals, and eventually a solid long range jump shot / 3 pointer off the dribble.

Coaches need to encourage the skill. But being slow simply isn't fun in touch. In the full game there's opportunity for all to shine, speed, agility and power.

Absolutely. Being the biggest when you're a kid doesn't mean that you'll be the biggest by the end, and by the time all the other kids have had their growth spurts they have skills to go with it. Plus, age group gives you a hugely misplaced sense of your greatness. Once you leave that cocoon, you soon find out.

Coached a couple of hormone kids and while one realised his advantage wouldn't last and worked hard, the other thought he was a gift from the Rugby Gods (reinforced by his father) and was always going to be great. Guess which one got his head stuffed up his arse when he came up against some proper big lads and doesn't play rugby any more.

[inactionman]

We lost some kids when tackling started, but we also gained some. And held onto some we would have lost without it.

Tag is great, but the big kids can struggle, and their strengths aren't used until tackle is started.

I wish more big kids would embrace skill. I refereed in a tournament once where the big kid was a legitimate risk to some of the smaller ones in the age bracket, so both coaches agreed that he would be a 'touch' player. And the kid started crying. As we took the field, I tried to console him saying you have the power to be the hero to your teammates by drawing two defenders (might have compromised by saying two players had to touch him?) and putting teammates away for tries. I don't think it helped much, and I hope he managed to develop skill, because we all know that a good many of the big kids are just early developers and its a wasted year or few when all they do is run over the kids who haven't yet hit their spurt.

I was a short, chubby kid in elementary school who absolutely loved basketball, but I wasn't the one to drive or play under the basket, so developed absolute joy for assists (this was the era, too, when the video games included the scorer pointing to the player who passed and I bloody loved that! ), steals, and eventually a solid long range jump shot / 3 pointer off the dribble.

Coaches need to encourage the skill. But being slow simply isn't fun in touch. In the full game there's opportunity for all to shine, speed, agility and power.

I can see you point. As a point of comparison I absolutely detested 7s as I've never been the quickest and it's dull as ditchwater just getting rinsed by someone who can simply run faster.

I do think touch at kid's level is a slightly different idea, as it should be about lines, passing and offloads and keeping the ball moving, so lack of foot speed isn't a complete disabler - as long as you insist both teams have what is essentially a forward pack and not just a team of wingers

[Raggs]

So we had our first official match today. I swear we're not feeding our boys right. Our big player would have been about average for them! All a lot closer to puberty or in it, than ours.

They beat us 6-0 so we played the second half as a friendly after they took off their biggest.

However, whilst we have plenty to work there were two key points we did well. Our scrum had theirs basically every time. And whilst that's pretty important as a prop, the next point was more important. After the game they went into the changing rooms, stuck on some tunes and were singing and dancing together. I heard one of the opposition say "Why are they singing, they lost!", and I thought to myself it's because they've just played a sport they love with a bunch of mates, they're a team. Couldn't have been prouder.

[Slick]

Brilliant post!

[laurent]

This was my last day coaching this year I have too much work to handle it :(.

It was nice to have good weather today (the kids go into the first school break so had a special gouter).

[laurent]

One for Niegs Our U18 are playing a Canadian club on November 10 (Niagara rugby Club I believe).

I'll be on hand to immortalise this ...

[Niegs]

One for Niegs Our U18 are playing a Canadian club on November 10 (Niagara rugby Club I believe).

I'll be on hand to immortalise this ...

Niagara Wasps? There is also a Niagara Rugby Union which might put together a regional representative side. An odd time of year to go on tour! (Not even close to school holidays, crap weather...)

[laurent]

One for Niegs Our U18 are playing a Canadian club on November 10 (Niagara rugby Club I believe).

I'll be on hand to immortalise this ...

Niagara Wasps? There is also a Niagara Rugby Union which might put together a regional representative side. An odd time of year to go on tour! (Not even close to school holidays, crap weather...)

Not 100% sure could be the union.

Apparently they are going to some 1st world war commemoration on the 11th.

[dpedin]

One for Niegs Our U18 are playing a Canadian club on November 10 (Niagara rugby Club I believe).

I'll be on hand to immortalise this ...

Niagara Wasps? There is also a Niagara Rugby Union which might put together a regional representative side. An odd time of year to go on tour! (Not even close to school holidays, crap weather...)

Not 100% sure could be the union.

Apparently they are going to some 1st world war commemoration on the 11th.

We took our kids, u17 I think, on Tour to Canada way back. Played in Toronto and Ottawa, cant remember teams we played but did have a game against a regional team, I think it was their trials for selection. We had a fantastic time, clubs were brilliant and hospitality was out of this world. I would recommend it for any club lucky enough to be thinking of an overseas Tour.

[laurent]

Niagara Wasps? There is also a Niagara Rugby Union which might put together a regional representative side. An odd time of year to go on tour! (Not even close to school holidays, crap weather...)

Not 100% sure could be the union.

Apparently they are going to some 1st world war commemoration on the 11th.

We took our kids, u17 I think, on Tour to Canada way back. Played in Toronto and Ottawa, cant remember teams we played but did have a game against a regional team, I think it was their trials for selection. We had a fantastic time, clubs were brilliant and hospitality was out of this world. I would recommend it for any club lucky enough to be thinking of an overseas Tour.

We don't have the means most "British" clubs have. The Under 18 / 15 Girls go to play in La Rochelle at the end of the year and that is a massive drain on the clubs budget.
The parents/area is so far from affluent most of the kids family do not pay their license fees as those come from state aid. (we keep the license fees as close to these as possible)

PS don't worry we know how to host people on a shoestring...

[Niegs]

One for Niegs Our U18 are playing a Canadian club on November 10 (Niagara rugby Club I believe).

I'll be on hand to immortalise this ...

Niagara Wasps? There is also a Niagara Rugby Union which might put together a regional representative side. An odd time of year to go on tour! (Not even close to school holidays, crap weather...)

Not 100% sure could be the union.

Apparently they are going to some 1st world war commemoration on the 11th.

Heh… this now smacks of ‘high school history teacher and head of school’s rugby program gets rugby tour approved by making it sound more about the history’. But why not? You can’t do rugby all day and kids would get bored of touring war sites and museums all day. Sneak in a couple of games on a week long trip?

Are you sure it’s not a school? Because this totally sounds like a school trip a couple of buddies who teach and coach would arrange!

[laurent]

Niagara Wasps? There is also a Niagara Rugby Union which might put together a regional representative side. An odd time of year to go on tour! (Not even close to school holidays, crap weather...)

Not 100% sure could be the union.

Apparently they are going to some 1st world war commemoration on the 11th.

Heh… this now smacks of ‘high school history teacher and head of school’s rugby program gets rugby tour approved by making it sound more about the history’. But why not? You can’t do rugby all day and kids would get bored of touring war sites and museums all day. Sneak in a couple of games on a week long trip?

Are you sure it’s not a school? Because this totally sounds like a school trip a couple of buddies who teach and coach would arrange!

I was looking over our president shoulder
I think its the union I'll ask her to confirm. At any rate i'll be shooting that game.

[Slick]

Not 100% sure could be the union.

Apparently they are going to some 1st world war commemoration on the 11th.

We took our kids, u17 I think, on Tour to Canada way back. Played in Toronto and Ottawa, cant remember teams we played but did have a game against a regional team, I think it was their trials for selection. We had a fantastic time, clubs were brilliant and hospitality was out of this world. I would recommend it for any club lucky enough to be thinking of an overseas Tour.

We don't have the means most "British" clubs have. The Under 18 / 15 Girls go to play in La Rochelle at the end of the year and that is a massive drain on the clubs budget.
The parents/area is so far from affluent most of the kids family do not pay their license fees as those come from state aid. (we keep the license fees as close to these as possible)

PS don't worry we know how to host people on a shoestring...

I’ve toured over to France 3 or 4 times as a junior and the same as an adult. Doesn’t matter where you go or who you play the hospitality is always, always top class.

Always pretty embarrassing when they reciprocated…

[Ovals]

My 16 year old Grand Daughter has just been selected for the Hampshire under 18 squad

She also got player of the match for Worthing College (Harlequins Academy) in their last game, playing at 7. She's now doing Rugby, or associated PE, 12 hours a week at the College. She's loving it. She still has to fit in her studies and they don't get to play if they don't keep their grades up - so a very good incentive.

[Niegs]

My 16 year old Grand Daughter has just been selected for the Hampshire under 18 squad

She also got player of the match for Worthing College (Harlequins Academy) in their last game, playing at 7. She's now doing Rugby, or associated PE, 12 hours a week at the College. She's loving it. She still has to fit in her studies and they don't get to play if they don't keep their grades up - so a very good incentive.

People talk about England's pro contracts, but it's this sort of stuff that's doing a lot of the work, imo. We have great athletes who often don't get this education until university, even then, only at a handful of them that have decent coaching. Connected to Quins, I imagine the instruction is top-notch.

I know three high schools here that run such a PE program but there are two schools that DON'T have it which regularly beat them, it requires parents to pay extra, and so they don't necessarily have the best prospects and I wonder about the actual curricular content.

[Slick]

My 16 year old Grand Daughter has just been selected for the Hampshire under 18 squad

She also got player of the match for Worthing College (Harlequins Academy) in their last game, playing at 7. She's now doing Rugby, or associated PE, 12 hours a week at the College. She's loving it. She still has to fit in her studies and they don't get to play if they don't keep their grades up - so a very good incentive.

Congratulation, that's excellent!

[Ovals]

My 16 year old Grand Daughter has just been selected for the Hampshire under 18 squad

She also got player of the match for Worthing College (Harlequins Academy) in their last game, playing at 7. She's now doing Rugby, or associated PE, 12 hours a week at the College. She's loving it. She still has to fit in her studies and they don't get to play if they don't keep their grades up - so a very good incentive.

Congratulation, that's excellent!

Thanks - we're all very chuffed for her. Not sure she has the talent to go all the way but she's giving it a good shot and she's only been playing for 3 years, so she's made really good progress. Quite a big step for her to be living away from home (during the week) at just 16. And, another expense for her parents.

[Ovals]

Went and watched my youngest rugby playing Grand Daughter today. Under 14s, so years 10/11. Unfortunately we only had 3 year 11s and the oppo were much bigger - went 22-0 down in the first half but really dug in and clawed it back to 22-17 before they ran out of time.

My girl (year 10) had her 1st outing at SH - she already provides faster service than Ben Youngs . She seemed to really enjoy it and the coaches were really pleased with her. She also tackles like a demon - really good technique and constantly bringing down girls twice her size very rarely misses a tackle - brave and tenacious.

Hope she gets a run in the team at SH, especially when the year 11 girls are all available - they'll work well off her as a pivot. She doesn't take it anywhere near as seriously as her older sister - but probably has more natural talent - it's just fun as far as she is concerned. She'll also be grading for her Black Belt in Karate very soon !

edit - hope you don't mind me 'bragging' about them - only I don't have many rugby friends to bore with their exploits.

[Slick]

Went and watched my youngest rugby playing Grand Daughter today. Under 14s, so years 10/11. Unfortunately we only had 3 year 11s and the oppo were much bigger - went 22-0 down in the first half but really dug in and clawed it back to 22-17 before they ran out of time.

My girl (year 10) had her 1st outing at SH - she already provides faster service than Ben Youngs . She seemed to really enjoy it and the coaches were really pleased with her. She also tackles like a demon - really good technique and constantly bringing down girls twice her size very rarely misses a tackle - brave and tenacious.

Hope she gets a run in the team at SH, especially when the year 11 girls are all available - they'll work well off her as a pivot. She doesn't take it anywhere near as seriously as her older sister - but probably has more natural talent - it's just fun as far as she is concerned. She'll also be grading for her Black Belt in Karate very soon !

edit - hope you don't mind me 'bragging' about them - only I don't have many rugby friends to bore with their exploits.

Not at all! Before I'd even got to that last bit I was thinking to myself how great it is to hear about these kids rugby exploits!

[SaintK]

Went and watched my youngest rugby playing Grand Daughter today. Under 14s, so years 10/11. Unfortunately we only had 3 year 11s and the oppo were much bigger - went 22-0 down in the first half but really dug in and clawed it back to 22-17 before they ran out of time.

My girl (year 10) had her 1st outing at SH - she already provides faster service than Ben Youngs . She seemed to really enjoy it and the coaches were really pleased with her. She also tackles like a demon - really good technique and constantly bringing down girls twice her size very rarely misses a tackle - brave and tenacious.

Hope she gets a run in the team at SH, especially when the year 11 girls are all available - they'll work well off her as a pivot. She doesn't take it anywhere near as seriously as her older sister - but probably has more natural talent - it's just fun as far as she is concerned. She'll also be grading for her Black Belt in Karate very soon !

edit - hope you don't mind me 'bragging' about them - only I don't have many rugby friends to bore with their exploits.

[laurent]

Shit Weekend here We lost every game I got to...

U14 were dreadful 1/3rd of the team does not appear to want to play which got the other 2/3rd pissed off. The results were terrible.



U18 played Niagara RU (so a selection ) the Canadian girls were really sharp however our team did not give them anything.
I messed up my settings so quality is grainy :(

[SaintK]

Interestingly (or worryingly) our girls section are likely to overtake our boys section in playing numbers next season.
Admittedly the girls section has an excellent reputation for a small local club having produced 8 English and 1 Irish full internationals since it’s formation
Not sure what we do to get more young lads interested