Not sure this is the correct place for this, but I'll post it anyway!

Did any other U7s/U8s/U9s teams play with the revised mini mod rules (sets have to be completed regardless of knockons, in touch, etc) this weekend? And if so what do you think? Opinion of coaches, players, parents and even the ref when we played on Sunday was that the new rules were rank! Good play of forcing players in touch or forcing a knockon with a good tackle went unrewarded, whilst bad play went unpunished. Seems to me we're not teaching the kids to respect posession and learn the principles of the game with these new rules, just giving them a chance to run around with a rugby ball, totally counter productive and removing the competetive element from the game and not preparing the players for the next stage of their development.

Any opinion would be appreciated, it'd be interesting to hear other peoples views.

Cheers!

I think they play this in Hull upto U8's and have done for a while.

Can see the pro's and cons but at that age it should be about encouraging the kids to play and get confidence and not be affraid of making mistakes.

Dont like the win at all costs mentallity some young teams have.

On a small pitch its easy for the lads to run out into touch or be gang tackled.

I wasn't aware the rules for mini league had changed. The set on the RFL website from 2011 doesn't mention anything about allowing knock-ons etc it says all infringements should restart with a play the ball by the non-offending team.

Even so, like Hutchie says, the priority at such a young age is teaching basic technique but most importantly is enjoyment and participation, the competitive element should be nowhere in sight with 6,7 & 8 year olds.

As Hutchie says, in Hull our under 8s are allowed a full set of 6 with the ball irrespective of knock ons or running into touch. These rules do come into play at under 9 level but tend to be very discrectionary depending on which coaches are involved and the scoreline of the game.

i didnt think there was any change of rules meaning it was anything differentn this weekend compared to any other. However - at the youngest levels I'd expect most referees to allow small knock-ons at the PTB, and also when a player is tackled and getting up...usually, most referee within context - they recognise whthere a kid is new the game and do on and referee appropriately.

young teams - and quite a lot of parents too

Amen to that, Skirlaugh being the main culprits at our u8's level.

As Hutchie says its all about kids getting confidence in collision and enjoyment out of the game. My lad just started this year and plays u7s, the only problem I find is that with things being discretionary some coaches are more lenient than others and some try to officiate both teams.

As another point I do think the u8s & u7's should be more mix & match regarding players and their respective abilities. As I said my lad plays u7s but due to 5 or 6 players they don't get beat and regularly beat teams their own age 7,8,9 or even 10 - nil. They've even beaten a few teams at u8s in arranged friendlies. I think a more smoothed out approach with kids playing in ability groups rather than age would be better, at least until u9s.

It should be about enjoying it and learning the basics at that level. Once you get to u10s you can start to change rules and the like.

I've always liked the idea of how we used to train at school in that you had as many tackles as ypu wanted until you scored but the ball couldn't touch the ground at any point be it from a pass or whether it went backwards. That taught you to respect the ball better than anything else I've done or heard. No silly passes, no taking your eye off the ball and you had to be 100% focussed in defence and look to force an error.