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osmona
- andrew.osmond@virgin.net
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Mon, 21 April 08 20:40 GMT
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Anthony
Message from Gary is reproduced below:-
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Ladies and Gentlemen
Following a numb e r of enquiries regarding the preparation of Under 8s for th e Under 9 season, which has highlighted some confusion, the Continuum Review Group has issued the following statem ent:
"Until three years ago the Continuum perm itted the introduction to tackling for Under 8s from Febru ary in preparation for Under 9s the following season.
However the Continuum Review Group was inundated w ith comp laints that coaches were not concentrating solely on the sa fe introduction to tackling but moving onto rucks , mauls et c and then arranging "training games" using thes e technique s against other clubs. It was found that player s with birth day's late in the year (thus often small in si ze) were bein g put off returning the following season and as this introd uction to contact coincided with the Festiva l season, some players were tempted to tackle in these gam es and not just "tag".
As a consequence of this , tackling is not permitted until September of their Under 9 season and shou ld follow RFU guidelines and the Tacklin g Progressions as d elivered on the "rugbyready" and the RF U Level 1 course"
Regards
Gary Towns end
Coach Development Manager
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W hilst I understand your concerns I personally think that t he message is, firstly, very clear and, secondly, the deci sion has been taken quite simply because too many coaches have been abusing the disp ensation and compromising safety in general.
Th e problem though is that whatev er rules are put in place - and I support the CRG on this one on the basis of too many kids being put off - inappror iate coaches will continue to abuse the Continuum and othe r guidelines.
Perso nally I feel far more empha sis should be put on clubs to ad equately vet and develop J unior Section coaches and referee s to ensure that Junior r ugby is both enjoyable and safe fo r ALL and not just those that show a flair early on in thei r playing careers and w ho's development will keep them at t he top of the pile in the local Festivals.
Regar ds
Andrew< br>
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Andrew Osmond
U10 Coach (07/08)
Market Rasen & Louth RUFC |
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Anthony Wiggins
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Mon, 21 April 08 19:45 GMT
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Our club has received and edict from the RFU (more specifically the Continuum Review Board) stating that no tackle training can be undertaken with current U8's until September i.e. the start of next season.
They have given reasons relating to child safety but surely not training the children once the season is over and introducing contact in a staged and careful non competitive way is better than ruling out contact training all together or possibly rushing it in September. As a parent this worries me. I want my child and his playmates to begin tackle training asap for their own safety and enjoyment. I have heard that it takes 4 months to correctly introduce contact to a seasoned tagger and even the continuum states that contact training should be introduced slowly (or words to that effect).
We are essentially leaving tackle training to parents over the summer months. They are likely to get it wrong. It is not their fault. Coaches have been trained - they should not be hog-tied in this way. If some have bent the rules and put U8's in competitive matches before being an U9 then they need dealing with individually. At the moment the few have spoilt it for the many.
This ruling is over the top and counter productive. I am at best an amateur but even I can see this.
I hope I have read the edict incorrectly.
Anthony Wiggins
Telford Hornets Junior Section
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