Quote: Pablo-13 "Most RL people have at least a couple of ideas of how to improve the sport and its health. The ideas might not always be worth their own thread so I started this one.
Post ideas for the business side of things, marketing, rules, junior rugby etc. If you like, even include ones you aren't particularly convinced on - it might give someone else an idea.
To try to prevent the thread being de-railed, if you have a comment about someone's idea try think of something new to add as well.
A couple of ideas to get started...
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Schools growth
The Champion Schools comp has grow in numbers, schools and age groups (the comp didn't have all five secondary school age groups for both sexes at first). I'd like to see it grow into primary schools so that kids are exposed to RL when they are at the ages they begin to choose their sports. There are also more primary schools than secondary schools so there is a potential for huge increases in participation in time. It would be hard to do because of limits on the RFL's resources. Depending on how enthusiastic some primary schools are, town/district competitions only would be fine; there isn't necessarily a need to organise national and regional finals.
Junior rugby skills
[iI originally posted this in response to a Phil Clarke articles
At junior level, ages 5-11 perhaps, the RFL could promote a "swimming badge"-style scheme to encourage a culture of skills development. A rugby league curriculum almost. Players gaining a skill would be presented with a certificate and a badge to sew onto their personal training bibs. There could be XIII skill areas and several things to learn in each. Examples might be Support Play or Passing. During training sessions coaches would work with players on e.g. passing left and right and maybe later how to beat opponents with it. Once the players have learnt something in training they would then complete the skill and get the badge by applying it in a game successfully. Building a set of skills, as well as winning matches, would become the aim of the children. At these young ages each child developing their own skills and being rewarded for it would be especially great for any that are not the largest or fastest. The programme hopefully would support the many good coaches out there in their attempts to teach the sport and perhaps negate any poor junior coaching by those who are more interested in seeing their star (usually larger) players get the ball so they can win games. I'm not sure exactly what the situation is now in junior clubs at ages 5-11 (I played from 10 years old in a development area.) The scheme might have to work work around the various mod, tag etc. variants played at young ages. Some clubs might already work from their own 'rugby league curriculum' but I'm sure in many areas, especially new ones, they don't. Getting badges might help young player commitment and retention too.
Websites
UK rugby league clubs need to be efficient with money and rugby league fans often moan about the quality of club websites. The RFL member clubs should create a rugby league network of websites. They could split the costs of website development and perhaps work together on other things...unified ticketing system maybe?
Fantasy RL
I know that there is a RLfans (I think) version but I reckon the RFL are missing a trick by not having an official fantasy RL competition on their website like e.g. the rlPremier Leaguerl does. The RFL could make use of all the stats Opta collect for them.'"
Says it all...
Bring back the non internet days,when only certain voices where respected....
