|
|
Biggleswade Rugby Club Mini Page.
Equity and welfare
Biggleswade
Rugby club follows the guidelines outlined by the RFU. Please goto the Club info
page to find further details and links to the RFU policy.
Some
late - updated mini news is on the club Message Board All Biggleswade club members are invited to
post messages on the message board.
All
reports will be posted on the NEWSLETTER page.
This
will include Senior, Youth, Mini and Committee news and reports.
Please send reports to biggy.rugby@ntlworld.com for
inclusion.
The
newsletter page is updated Monthly with the previous months saved.
MINI FAQs
Q What age can I (my child) start to play
rugby?
A Six years of age.
The earliest age we will accept players is six years
old for the U7’s squad. Training is a two hour planned session and children
younger than this find it difficult to keep up. In the past we have
accepted younger players but this holds back the older ones and we feel
this is unfair on the rest of the squad and the coaches who have to
give a disproportionate amount of time to under 6s.
Q When does Biggy Minis meet?
A. Every Sunday in the season from 10.00 – 12.00.
See Fixtures for a full list of the season’s
commitments. Some teams at older age groups meet mid week, check with
individual coaches to find out their plans for their squad in the
forthcoming season.
Q. How do I work out what age group I am in?
A. The age group cut off is 1st Sept.
Therefore, if your child is 7 years old before 1st
September then he/she will play for the under 8s age group. If however
they become 7 years old on the 1st September or later that year, then
they would play for the under 7's age group.
Q. What kit do I have to bring?
A. A pair of boots (football or rugby) and some warm
sports kit
Boots are important with Kite Marked studs because it
can be slippery, it’s also important to ensure your child has a few
layers of warm clothes. In time you will need a set of Biggy Kit –
shirt, shorts and socks; this is necessary for competitive matches. See
our kit store.
Q. Do I have to stay with my child during the session?
A. Yes – we’re not a crèche!
Our coaching to player ratio is not designed to allow
for toilet escort, drinks supervision, shoe lace tying etc. However,
for U7, U8 and U9 a parent can agree to designate another parent/adult
to be responsible for their child, for U10, U11 and U12 children can be
left as we feel they are more independent.
Q. Are girls welcome at Biggy Minis?
A. Yes.
Mini rugby is a mixed sport up to the U12 level after
which girls and boys play in separate teams. We make every effort to
accommodate girls into our squads.
Q. Are disabled players welcome at Biggy Minis?
A. Yes.
Talk to us about your child’s disability and we will
let you know what provisions we have currently or can make in the
future.
Q. Are the coaches properly trained?
A. Most of them have gone through a RFU course.
Biggy Minis funds training for any coaches who want to
commit to a RFU course and most have done this. The courses are
comprehensive and fit into a national, framework covering all the major
sports (football, cricket etc.). Training covers areas such as the safe
coaching of full contact rugby through to child protection.
Q. What does the Club/RFU insurance policy cover?
A. This is complicated.
In simple terms a sporting injury occurring in a match
or training scenario would not be covered by the RFU compulsory scheme,
the view being that Rugby is a contact sport and, therefore by its
nature, does lead to some risk of injury. The RFU recommends the use of
Marsh Insurance Brokers as a first point of contact for additional
cover - go to this link from the RFU web site for more info
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/RFUHome.Community_Listing/
New Player
Want to start playing Rugby?
Training and Playing
The mini section at Biggleswade Rugby Union Football Club runs teams from
Under 7 through to under 12 and all boys and girls are welcome to come
along and play. All teams have dedicated coaches most of them qualified
with the RFU to coach at their age group level. The club meets every
Sunday during the season at Langford Road or at an away venue
If you have any questions please call or email Neil Gregory, Mini
Section Coordinator,
Registration
All of our players are registered with the RFU for insurance purposes.
All players must complete a club and RFU registration form and provide
two passport size photos. The membership secretary has these forms and
will advise on the type of membership that is appropriate to you. We
have three "registration" days at the beginning of each
season, however, you can come along at any point during the season and
join the club.
If you have any questions please call or email Richard Wright,
Membership Secretary on 01462 850059
Kit
Biggleswade kit in all mini sizes can be bought from the Kit Store,
which is open on training days and match days, just inside the front
entrance. Make sure all kit has your name in.
Boots
The 'Kit Store' does not stock boots, however, the sports shops in
Biggleswade do. Rugby boots are difficult to find in small sizes,
football boots will be OK but IRB rules insist on BS Kite marked
aluminium studs, or blades. Studs will be checked and football studs or
those with sharp edges will be considered illegal.
Mouth Guards/Head Guards
Mouth guards are essential when playing in the U9s and above. Your
dentist will make one up to fit properly or you can buy universal mouth
guards from the Kit Store or from a sports shop. Head Guards become
necessary for certain positions in the older age groups. Your coach
will advise on kit requirements.
Be prepared
Rugby grounds are not known for their tropical climate. The players can
have to stand around in some cold and wet conditions so they will need
joggers, training tops, coats etc. Its always better to bring as many
as they can always take them off!
Away Matches
The wonderful world of mini rugby will take you to many exotic places
like Letchworth and Luton. The age group coach will have directions or
use the directions fast find above. Usually the host club has arranged
a 3-way tournament so our team will play the host and one other. We go
by car and meet at the ground.
Food and Drink
At matches the host club provides Hot Dogs for the players and usually
sells food to the parents. Always make sure the players have plenty to
drink and eat - the players will burn off a lot of energy and
dehydration can be an issue throughout the season.
The committee
Biggy Minis rely on the committee; if we had no committee there would
be no minis! Your input is always welcome. Meetings are held monthly at
the club, ask any committee member for the date of the next meeting. At
committee meetings all aspects of running the section are discussed.
Supervision
RFU policy is that in U7/8/9 rugby, parents should always stay with
their child or have nominated an adult to take responsibility.
The Rugby club is not a créche, parents who leave young children at the
club on a Sunday morning will be asked to stay with them or leave with
the child - it is unfair to expect a coach who is trying to teach up a
number of children to play a contact sport to have sole responsibility
for any of his players.
Festivals
These are traditional tournaments where we play up to eight other
clubs; we usually compete in three Festivals per season. They start at
10am and end mid afternoon. This is an opportunity to play teams from
all over the region. Festival days can be long and tiring for all
concerned but they are considered to be the highlight of the season.
Tour
We attempt to arrange a 2-3 day tour at the end of every other season.
This is a fantastic opportunity for all players to experience new
opponents and play at different venues in a short space of time. As a
family centred club we encourage the whole family to travel with the
players and family non-rugby activities are as much part of the weekend
as the rugby matches. Fund raising events take place and sponsors are
sought which means tours are part funded by the club. We feel its very
important that all players from all age groups travel with the Mini
Section.
|
