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VOLUNTEERS
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REFEREES
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Can You Help?
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Your Club Needs You!
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The rugby club is run by Volunteers and we are always looking for more help. Anything from filling bottles, collecting match fees, organising team tours, writing match reports, taking photos or even accounting.
If there is something you can do please contact any club official
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Can you be a Referee?
Every game needs a Referee and as a sport we are running out. If you are “the voice” on the touch line that always knows better, a retired player or just a rugby fanatic, pick up a whistle and give it a go.
For more details contact Ross Cowie
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COLCHESTER RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
SEPTEMBER 2008 - MESSAGE FROM THE YOUTH CHAIRMAN
Welcome
A warm welcome to all players, their family and supporters to our new 2008/2009 Season. I am privileged to head up the Youth Section (Under 13s through to Under 19s) at Colchester Rugby Club, one of the most respected, successful, largest and best organised youth sections in the UK. I have been involved in many different capacities with youth rugby at Colchester for 20 years and I must say that last season was the most fantastic that I have seen. Building on last season’s achievements, we aim to provide a rewarding and enjoyable rugby experience for all our players and their supporters in the forthcoming year.
2007/2008 Achievements
The Colts (Under 19s) won the Eastern Counties Cup for the first time (having been losing finalists 4 times in the last 10 years), and reached the last 8 of the National Cup, having won a terrific last 16 tie against Rosslyn Park in front of 500 spectators here at Mill Road, only to lose a disappointing match away at Dudley.
Michael Hayward (First XV) and Charlie Sadler (A XV) were both selected for the England Under 16 squad.
The Under 16s, Under 15s (B squad) and Under 13s all won the Suffolk Cup, whilst the Under 15A squad did everything but win the Essex Cup. We were able to run 2 teams at Under 13s, Under 14s and Under 15s, and many boys represented Suffolk and Eastern Counties.
2008/2009 Season
This coming season, I am proud to boast that we will be aiming to run 2 sides at Colts, Under 16s, Under 15s, Under 14s and Under 13s, as well as a single side at under 17s, eleven teams in total. Not many clubs in the UK can manage this. This, of course, puts pressure on all the club’s infrastructures, and I would ask you to bear with us when this ambition exceeds our organisational capacity.
We will aim to provide well-coached and enjoyable rugby for all 6 age groups, and from the Colts to provide a flow of players to sustain the senior section of the club in due course. Already, the Colts and Under 17s have started working with the Club’s Senior Section in order to have common playing and coaching plans.
With 2 XVs at all age groups (except the Under 17s), this will enable the squads to operate a First XV, and a Development XV, with fluid movement between both sides, so that we can offer both ‘championship’ and ‘social’ rugby at each age group.
Good quality coaching is a key to our development. We will aim to have a Level 2 qualified Head / Senior Coach and at least 3 other qualified coaches at each age group; All our coaches are provided with support and encouragement to update and improve their coaching skills.
What’s New ?
Thanks to the fundraising endeavours of our teams and funding from the RFU, and various grants, we will soon have a second set of floodlights installed on Pitch 2. This should help to reduce any disruption to training arrangements, as a result of weather–worn playing surfaces and mid week matches.
Bearing in mind the number of activities and the number of youngsters training / playing rugby on Sunday mornings, we are pleased to report that the club has persuaded Colchester Borough Council to support the extension of 60 new parking spaces.
Thanks to Alan Line, Dave Peckston and their team, we will soon have a new, easier to use, more informative Web Site, which I am reliably informed will be “active” before the end of September.
Gary Potter and Harlequin Catering were appointed towards the end of last season to provide a professional approach to club Catering.
Last season, the club adopted a new kit policy, and most Youth sides this season will be kitted out in our new shirts. Obviously, this is an expensive operation, and we would ask those teams who will continue to be provided with the previous kit to bear with us.
Please visit our Club Shop, where you can purchase all that you need for your playing kit, training kit or leisurewear. The shop is open every Sunday 10.00 – 13.00.
Help Needed
It is YOUR club, and an operation of this size requires the help and support of many volunteers to ensure that it runs smoothly. Our team managers, coaches and support staff do a magnificent job. However, we can always do with more volunteers to do those “half hour a week” tasks. In particular, we are looking for a Parent Rep at each age group who will enlist other parents to help with car parking, fund raising, communication etc. We are also looking for a Youth Press Secretary, who can co-ordinate and maximise coverage in the local press, preparing a brief report each Sunday (and I will help with this too). If you feel you can help with any of these tasks, or if you feel you have any other time or skills which could help the club, please let your team manager or myself know.
Welfare
To safeguard the welfare of all our players and coaches, it is the club’s policy that all our coaches are checked by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). Please refer to our website to see the Club’s Welfare policy.
The last 2 seasons have seen our Physiotherapist, Liz Merrick (or an able colleague) on duty on Sunday mornings at the club. This has enabled injuries and their recovery to be managed efficiently and professionally. In view of the additional number of teams, I am asking Liz to see whether we can increase this cover to 2 Physios each busy Sunday. To ensure first aid cover when our teams play away we will be continue with our programme of First-Aid training for coaches and selected parents .
Discipline / Referees
I attach a letter from Huw Davies, Disciplinary Chairman at Eastern Counties, which I hope is self- explanatory. Rugby has a reputation of being a respectable family sport, which commands respect from players and spectators. Colchester has a very good reputation, which we MUST maintain, and we rely on all players and supporters to uphold this. We do not wish for Rugby to go the way of soccer, with touch-line abuse of opposition and referees from spectators. At Colchester, we have a policy of using qualified referees on virtually all youth matches – we are fortunate in having a number of well-qualified, well-motivated society and club referees (including several fairly senior referees). Unfortunately some other clubs are not so well organised, and standards may be “variable”.
Should you have any concerns with the conduct of referees, opposition coaches or officials, please do NOT try to resolve the issue yourself or offer any abuse, no matter how well informed you feel you are. Please raise the issue with the team managers or our club officials who are better placed to manage the issue.
Any transgression of these guidelines will be referred to the club’s disciplinary committee and could lead to the Club or teams being reported to the Eastern Counties Disciplinary Committee, who will not hesitate from taking appropriate action; this could amount to bans for individual teams or the club as a whole.
Despite my comments on club referees, we are keen to encourage aspiring referees to come forward. If you feel you would like to contribute to the game in this way – and it is very rewarding - please contact me personally to discuss the options available.
Parking
Last season, because of the popularity of rugby on Sunday mornings, parking spaces were a challenge and the club received a number of complaints from residents when the club’s car parking overflowed into the local streets. Despite the extension of the parking facilities (see above), I fear there may be occasions this coming season (particularly when the minis are playing at home) when we could suffer the same issue.
The Club asks that you respect the surrounding community by taking the following initiatives :-
· Please do NOT park in the local residential streets
· Explore the possibility of car sharing
· Co-operate with our volunteer stewards by parking where you are directed.
Lastly
We are proud of our Youth Rugby at Colchester. I hope that all our young players enjoy their rugby this year, and are able to maximise their achievements and talents. Family and supporters, I hope that you too will enjoy the season ahead and will continue to support the developments being put in place by Colchester RFC to benefit our players and the game of rugby. I hope to meet many family members during the season. If you have any ideas or concerns, please do not hesitate to speak to me in person, or by phone (07786 332930), or by e-mail to rossrugby@btinternet.com. Let’s look forward to a fantastic 2008/2009 season !!!
Yours in Rugby
Ross Cowie
Chairman of Youth Rugby – Colchester RFC
RFU.com 
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