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devonsent
- phil@cvbduplication.co.uk
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Mon, 08 July 02 15:00 GMT
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Bob,
I tend to agree with most of your comments but, from our point of view, the biggest practical problem is the fact that their are no posts anywhere ! You can't put the whole of our Mini/midi and youth sections on at the ground and the pitches we use for training turn to cricket at Easter - I suspect a huge number of clubs will be the same.
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Phil Stringer
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bob mcdowall
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Fri, 05 July 02 15:31 GMT
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The overwhelming objection that I have to the proposed changes to the Continuum is the suggestion that the season be extended into May. Whilst I recognise that the weather can be pretty awful during January, there are many practical reasons why the season should not be extended to compensate. First and foremost, from a safety angle, the pitches in May tend to become very hard and as such pose an obvious danger to children playing rugby; in fact I stopped my under 9's from playing contact rugby after Easter because the pitches were becoming dangerously hard. Not only could a child suffer a serious head injury if they take a heavy fall, but the danger of broken limbs and lacerations are greatly increased when a child comes into contact with the hard ground, and not forgetting the psychological fear of hitting the hard ground which could put some children off playing altogether.
There are many other reasons why the season should not be extended into May. Many children involved in Mini Rugby have exams in the month of May, in particular the S.A.T.'s which involve kids in the under 7's and under 11's age groups. By the time that the kids hit the summer term, they are becoming involved with athletics, playing cricket, tennis or other summer sports. I feel strongly that just because the Professional Clubs play rugby into May and even June, that is no reason for the kids to do the same. The season, at eight months, is quite long enough already and I believe that none of the children, the coaches and not least the parents would welcome this extension (those parents and coaches that I have spoken to at the Club agree with my comments). It has to be remembered that we coaches give freely of our time, and whilst I find coaching the kids hugely rewarding, I know that extending the season would be entirely the wrong thing to do.
Bob McDowall
Beckenham RFC
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