Minis Playing and Coaching

Coaching

The underlying coaching philosophy of the club is one where we put the enjoyment of the players first. Enjoyment derived from playing an expansive game of rugby, involving all players, to the highest level of skill. This coaching philosophy is as laid out in the RFU's Rugby Continuum.

Players at Effingham & Leatherhead R.F.C. are expected to test their skills and aptitude against opposition in friendly matches and tournament play in festivals. Such competition enables the players to test their abilities and to express themselves, both individually, and within their team. All players have the ability to be of the highest calibre and the coaching team, wish to enhance each player's ability in the context of the squad as a whole.

Mini rugby at the club is seen in the context of providing an incremental development of the core skills required by the players when they eventually play the 15-a-side game at U13 level. Our hope is that players will continue to play rugby through all age groups at the club, culminating in representing the senior 1^st XV. Indeed the first players to have played mini rugby from the age of seven at the club have already graduated to the first team squad.

The Rugby Club will endeavour to provide adequate coaching. All junior players should become conversant with different playing positions and be coached in the skills to play in those positions. Coaching is as important as match play. The Rugby Club will endeavour to ensure that each Team Coach holds a RFU 15-a-side coaching qualification. Those coaching without a coaching qualification will coach under the guidance of a qualified coach and the coach will be encouraged to become qualified as soon as possible. The coaching qualification will ensure good safety standards and coaching techniques. All coaches will be cleared in accordance with the Rugby Club's Child Protection Policy and CRB checked.

Whilst competitiveness is to be encouraged, if players wish to win they must learn the skills that will enable them to do so. Equally the players must learn to accept defeat in a proper manner.

Injuries / Medical Conditions

The Rugby Club, via the Age Group Manager, must be informed of any medical condition or allergies that may be relevant should your child fall ill or be involved in an accident whether at the  Rugby Club or outside it.  The Rugby Club is required to report to the RFU any injury that results in admission to a hospital as an inpatient after the game / training has finished and is game or training related.

Matches

No player can play for the Rugby Club in a RFU Competition unless he holds effective registration with the Rugby Club and no player may hold effective registration before his 17^th birthday.

Players in the Mini Section must not play more than one game of rugby on any one day. It is undesirable that players play two games in two days. The Rugby Club will try not to organize a player in two games of rugby on successive days. The day after playing a game of rugby should be a rest day. The maximum permitted playing time is 70 minutes. Festivals are excluded where the maximum permitted playing time is 90 minutes.

Particular care will be taken on age ranges when the Rugby Club is involved in incoming tours and going on outgoing tours to other countries.

The Playing Season

The playing schedule/fixture list, published in the Rugby Club's Club Handbook, and on the website is arranged to provide a balance of skills training, matches and tournament play. The structure is the culmination based on practical experience gained over a number of years. In order that players gain the greatest benefit from the season in terms of development, it is important that they attend all sessions: training, matches and tournaments on a regular basis.

It is possible that some age groups may have alternative fixtures to those published or there are changes to the fixtures during the season - please check with your age group manager and/or consult the website or read e-mails sent out by your age group manager.

Please note that training starts 10.00 (unless advised otherwise) and finishes at 12.00 unless advised to the contrary.

For the coming season, the age group managers and their contact details are listed on our club contacts page.

Fixtures 

The fixtures for the Junior Section for 2010/11 are to be found in the Handbook and on the Website.

Laws of the Game

The Laws of the Game are set out in the Continuum of Rugby. A summary is provided below.

Mini Rugby forms the base of the RFU playing pyramid, and is designed to introduce children to the basics of the game safely, in line with their physical capabilities. The philosophy from the age of 6 through to 18 is to introduce the intricacies of the game gradually so that the children can learn the game of rugby properly and at a suitable pace.

A child needs to be younger than the particular age as at 1 September to be part of that Age Group. For example, a child must under the age of 7 as at 1 September to be eligible to play in the U7 Age Group for that season and so on for each Age Group.

This is a brief explanation of the laws applicable for each Age Group with particular reference to the Mini Section - Under 6 to Under 12 Age Groups. For the full laws you should follow this link to appropriate section of the RFU website. As an overview the laws are these:

	Non Contact Mini Rugby	Mini Rugby	Midi Rugby
Age Group	Under 6	Under 7	Under 8	Under 9	Under 10	Under 11	Under 12
Match Duration	10 Minutes each way	15 Minutes each way	20 Minutes each way
Triangular Fixtures	7 ½ Minutes each way	10 Minutes each way	15 Minutes each way
Festivals/Tournaments	5 Minutes each way	6 Minutes each way	7 Minutes each way
Pitch Size	60 x 30 metres	60 x 35 metres	60 x43 metres
Ball Size	Size 3	Size 4
Start of Game	Free Pass-2 metres maximum	Free pass: maximum 2 meters backwards; any distance laterally	K.O: Place Kick; 2nd Half: Drop Kick
Tackling	Tag Tackle Turnover on 7th Tag	Full Contact in accordance with RFU Laws
Rucking/Mauling	None	Rucking and Mauling in accordance with RFU Laws
Scrums	Free Pass	3 Players Uncontested	3 Players Contested	5 Players Contested
Line-Outs	Free Pass from touchline	2 Players Uncontested	2 Players Contested	4 Players Contested
Kicking	No Kicking Allowed	Kicking allowed but no fly hacking (kicking loose ball on the ground)
Conversion	No Kicking Allowed	Taken in front of posts
Number of Players	Up to 7	9 (3 Forwards, 6 Backs)	12 5 Forwards, 7 Backs)
Squad Size	12	14	18
Generally	No hand off or fend off or barging

Discipline

The Rugby Club adheres to the IRB Spirit of Rugby and the Codes of Conduct, (which are to be found elsewhere), and those involved in the Rugby Club, whether as a player or otherwise, should aspire to the Codes of Conduct. The Rugby Club adopts the Disciplinary Procedures for the Rugby Continuum as set out by the RFU, amended by the procedures that the Constituent Body, Surrey RFU, may impose. Parents/carers should consult the Rugby Club's Disciplinary Policy which is to be found on the Rugby Club's website. It is the responsibility of each parent/carer to be aware of the disciplinary procedures. Ignorance of the procedures cannot be accepted.

The Rugby Club also adopts the Rugby Football Union and the England Rugby Football Union Regulations accompanied by the advisory notes anti-doping. A summary of the regulations and advisory notes are to be found on the Rugby Club's website. It is the responsibility of each parent/carer to be aware of the regulations and advisory notes. Ignorance of the procedures cannot be accepted.

Away Fixtures/Tours

Wherever teams from the Rugby Club travel, either to away matches or on tour, the players will be seen by the general public as ambassadors for the Rugby Club. It is important that good behaviour, discipline is maintained on and off the pitch. Others will follow in the steps of the players in future.

The Rugby Club may arrange a number of tours this year for an age group, but the exact details will vary according to age group, and you will be kept infomed as arrangements develop.

Consent must be obtained by the Rugby Club from Constituent Body and the RFU to play against teams from outside the four Home Unions. When going on tour, especially travelling abroad, a full copy of the tour itinerary, including contact telephone numbers and addresses (to include a UK contact name and address), and details of the insurance purchased in respect of the tour must be provided to the Constituent Body and the RFU and will be given to parents/carers by no later than three before the date of departure,. Tours out of the close season are permitted where the playing season of the country being toured is different from that laid down by the RFU.

No tour party should consist of more than 22 players for one match and 25 players for two matches. There should be a minimum of two officials and the ratio should never be less than one adult for ten players.

Incoming tours from outside the four Home Unions must be sanctioned by RFU.

Points of contact

In the meantime, many thanks for your continuing support. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns regarding rugby at Effingham & Leatherhead R.F.C. If you need to contact someone at the Rugby Club, your first point of contact is the Age Group Manager. Otherwise you can contact:

Chairman of the Mini Section:

Duncan McRae

Telephone: 07 816 218 059

E-mail: mini@eaglesrugby.co.uk

or

Child Welfare Officer:

Jo Lawrence

01372 450043

welfare@eaglesrugby.com

Please note: details of each age group, playing schedule, along with managers, coaches names and contact details are provided in the club handbook issued to all players on registration and on the web site.