| FORUMS > The Virtual Terrace > Junior Rugby League - How Popular? |
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I've recently commented on a topic on another forum regarding the number of Amateur/Community players playing the game (at Open Age level) and the number of teams that are playing the game. Take for example, the amateur game in Widnes, where a few years ago, the 'Widnes Cup' was entered by as many as 8 teams from the town. Now, the local competition is struggling to attract 4 teams, and those teams are struggling to find players.
Anyway, there are numerous reasons why teams are struggling to field teams and why players are no longer playing the game, but I'm involved right at the start, at U7s level (School Year 2) and it's quite interesting to see that in a 'Rugby town' such as Widnes, there are only 3 clubs that are able to field U7's teams, namely West Bank Bears, Halton Farnworth Hornets and Widnes Moorfield.
I'm coaching one of those sides myself and we only have 11 players that are Year 2 (lucky, because we only play 9 a side) and I know that the other two teams only have similar numbers, totaling about 35 x Year 2 players in the whole of the town.
Now, I appreciate that at that age, they are still pretty young, but all the same, I still think it's a pretty startling statistic.
We are of course, looking to get more kids involved in the game and I'd be interested to hear peoples opinions on why the numbers are so low, and whether in your town the numbers are similar, and of course any solutions that you may have to increase the involvement.
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| Quote: russianboris "Unfortunately you are not alone in your experiences and I have encountered similar attitudes at numerous clubs to the point that as a primary teacher I recommend local Union clubs instead of league clubs for children who show interest in the game!
In many clubs once the game moves out the primary level (when leagues start) if you aren't big enough you will just not get played regardless of skills, knowledge, reading and understanding of the game. Unfortunately this means that up to a third of the players in a team (the smallest) will be lost to the game (to the point where they become so disillusioned that not only do they give up playing but also attending matches); this is at the point before they have hit puberty and they have developed physically. At the same time those going through puberty are being excessively played at a point in which they are prone to injuries (and being pressured to play whilst injured) to the point where they may not be able to continue playing. The sad thing is that in all probability it is players who develop later on who will become stars - Bob Pickles (talent scout) discussing the U16 Top Gun camps said Chev Walker was the only one who ever really made it.
The junior leagues attitude is they essentially don't care (which goes against their own safeguarding policy). Those in the RFL who are responsible for the junior game are also heavily involved in the junior leagues (see previous sentence).
The must win attitude (whether this is due to the league structure, unqualified / uneducated coaches living their ambitions through their kids, or trying to make up for other inadequacies) which encourages coaches play their biggest / favourite players is the reason why Union have not introduced leagues for age grade rugby - they acknowledge the negative aspects that this brings to the game and only have occasional tournaments or cup matches in which clubs really test themselves against each other.'"
Absolutely spot on - and mirrors my experience. |
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Touch RL could be massive in schools and a great vehicle to get kids involved in RL proper. Shame the RFL have no clue about how to leverage off this form of RL and seem content to let RU lay claim to it.
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Quote: JB Down Under "Touch RL could be massive in schools and a great vehicle to get kids involved in RL proper. Shame the RFL have no clue about how to leverage off this form of RL and seem content to let RU lay claim to it.'"
Except for the Touch RL campaign that's been running for the past few months.
www.playtouchrugbyleague.co.uk/
#blindrflbashing |
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Quote: JB Down Under "Touch RL could be massive in schools and a great vehicle to get kids involved in RL proper. Shame the RFL have no clue about how to leverage off this form of RL and seem content to let RU lay claim to it.'"
Except for the Touch RL campaign that's been running for the past few months.
www.playtouchrugbyleague.co.uk/
#blindrflbashing | |
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please! compare the RL effort to the Ru efforts, didn't say they are doing nothing, just in typical RL fashion it is half d. lol at Union promoting a version of RL and trying to claim it as their own though.
o2touch.rfu.com/
It is shame the RFL don't link up with national body for touch instead of calling it touch rugby league and setting up there own system.
www.englandtouch.org.uk |
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please! compare the RL effort to the Ru efforts, didn't say they are doing nothing, just in typical RL fashion it is half d. lol at Union promoting a version of RL and trying to claim it as their own though.
o2touch.rfu.com/
It is shame the RFL don't link up with national body for touch instead of calling it touch rugby league and setting up there own system.
www.englandtouch.org.uk | |
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Touch rugby is popular in primary schools in the area I live in:
The local RU club send in a coach and provide PE lessons and after school clubs.
The local RU club organises a tournament for the primary schools.
The local RU club on the back of this has its own touch rugby games / coaching.
The local RU club then encourages players to try contact RU at which point it nurtures them through stages of the game giving them fair game time regardless.
In contrast RL has a website which appears to be aimed at adults. If a child happens to make it to a RL club and decide to give it a go, if they aren't good enough by the age of twelve (year 7), they are likely to be dumped on the scrapheap with no opportunity to play. Considering that touch RL is mostly introduced at year 6, how many who have never played or watched the sport will stick at playing for more than a year before giving up?
My experience is that youth RL is closed shop unless you are related to club officials and coaches, have family who can financially support a club through sponsorship or are big for your year group (usually born Sept. - March).
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