Going back to winter would be a step backwards IMO,it still wouldn't resolve the fixture problems which is most people's problem,the break now isn't ideal and needs looking at maybe making it shorter.the positives for me has been the training is much better in constant daylight although the weather hasn't been kind.

We should accept that it's a transition year into summer rugby, some structural mistakes are bound to happen. The biggest issue for us will be coming back in sept with only one game to play, we'll sort some games out and keep going til Dec with a festival and possible play offs. I'd like to see larger divisions of around 12 and a look at the positioning of certain breaks. To say after less than 1 full season "well that didn't work let's scrap it" is ridiculous, the benefits of light etc as mentioned far outweigh other teething problems.

We've hardly struggled with pitches being too dry and hard, let's not forget games being cancelled in the winter with frozen/waterlogged grounds.

Having been involved in junior rugby for about 12 years as a coach/parent and helping with sponsorship and running of ARL clubs, I can say that kids have always trained all year round with a break in the summer holidays of around 4-6 weeks and in winter between mid December and Feb, so the daylight training doesn't stack up for me as they've always had that benefit.
The thing for me over the move to summer leagues has been the speed it has been done following the decision to move, it seems that very little thought had been put in to the running of the leagues and the pitfalls of moving them from winter to summer, especially when it comes to clubs incomes and survival, there are other summer activities that are available to juniors that seem to have a better appeal and by having a 6 week break in the middle means you have a higher chance of loosing kids to other sports and not coming back to rugby.
I don't want a switch back to winter rugby, I just want a better organised summer league with some proper consultation with clubs/players/parents and league organisers to ensure its success.

Bit of a shock when told my sons team will be stopping matches for the summer holidays and then starting up again in September to play a further 4-5 games then finishing the season in October.

I know this is the first summer season but it seems like its going on forever with lot of breaks.

Reason for the break over summer holidays is because clubs were moaning that they needed to have their gala's

I dont see why the season couldn't be finished mid/end of august and clubs have their galas in September, its not like the weather is any worse in sept these days.

The stopping and starting throughout this summer as been pretty frustrating for the kids who just want to play rugby

I tend to agree with you.

We're attending a couple of gala events (one in Whitley Bay!) and holding one of our own, and possibly arranging a couple of friendly matches, to keep the lads interested and to prevent them getting ring-rusty.

It's a bit of a daft arrangement though.

Playing competetive games the last two weeks in July and all of August was always going to be difficult due to holidays, but is a bit of thought had been put in earlier we could have had all the divisions completed with just play offs left.
Bit od a re-think from YJARL is needed me thinks

to be fair many parents , me included long for a return to winter so its easy isnit it?


Have the bl@@dy galas in :





NOVEMBER!

Back from Shaw cross and got 2 for one tonight

The under 10 SC Sharks Beating Stanningley Quite convivence 46-0 but hats of the the Leeds crew who still had spirit right until until the ref blew for F/T

At the other side of the pitch The Shaw Cross 12s Narrowly beat Cas Panthers with a score line of 30-24 or so i'm told by 2 lads who couldn't agree . although the sharks did win .

Feel happy for the sharks but little down for Rob who puts his all into his team and has had loads of luck this half of the season but just bad unfortunately .

just heard some sad news , to the guy concerned good luck and all the best particular for you lad hes a fantastic player imho

It is very true that I have stepped down has head coach at cas panthers u12s.there are a few reasons for this but the main one is purely and simply due to work commitments.

Over the past 5 years I've made some very good friends and always given it everything sometimes which has meant my family have suffered,I still remain at the panthers has a parent supporter of the team and I look forward to watching the team progress.

The club is actively searching for a mew we coach anybody interested should contact the club ASAP.

Can fully empathise with some of your sentiments. Best of luck for the future mate.

Best of luck to you Rob I know you love coaching the Panthers so it won't have been an easy decision for you!!!! - I am sure all the East Hull lads will be wishing the Cas High lads the best in the capital next month.
No doubt we will get a chance to have a beer or two after the summer break.

would just like to say that probably the best coach in the under 12's is the lad at shaw cross..only had 14 lads all season, now down to 12 and they beat cas panthers with 10 lads..they play great rugby all across the field and all the lads are well drilled..lacking in size but they play great rugby ! well done shaw cross for this season! also imho eastmoor and siddal who didn't want to play in the first division should have been told to play there! (attempting glory hunting in lower division??) stanley had steep learning curve this year with 9 lads who had never played rugby before but are improving..looking forward to season starting again and lock lane gala.
also hoping the standard of refs improves because at times they have been a joke!

all the best to all under 12's and hope the kids have a great summer break!

a little controversial IMHO to start picking out who's the best as we only see our own on training days etc and how they deal with day to day things.

yes Shaw cross did a fantastic job , but sometimes attitudes of parents need addressing. i stress this from my time as a parent and as a coach .

a coach fully needs backing from the parents and i have never seen the like as at crigg 12s and there you have IMHO the finest most humble yet anonymous coach in the 12s .

now its in the open rob , we meant every word of the pm . goodluck to your family n jake

James is a fantastic coach and a top guy has are the majority of coaches I've come across,the job is far easier when you've not has many Players to have to fit in.

I bow my hat to all the coaches they are a special breed who are often given a hard time for there efforts.

Weve 23 players (but as with many teams, you wouldnt know it by the injuries we've had) and started with 11 three years ago in group 4. It is a real challenge and we've probably taken development over the odd result, but for me not having a lad in the team it's probably easier to be impartial!

Firtsly can I say from everyone involved with Cas Panthers thank you Rob and im glad your staying involved at the Panthers, A true gent and great rugby man.

Secondly Can I thank Stanley Rangers for a wonderfull day yesterday, The Under 11s tournament was a great day out helped by the fact Cas Panthers won, Welll done Ian and all who helped out.

Binks

Eastmoor Dragons annual Junior gala takes places this weekend with the 12’s and 13’s playing on Saturday and the 8’s and 11’s on Sunday. The action takes place from around 10 and will go on until mid afternoon so please feel free to catch some of the games in what should be an entertaining festival of rugby.
Unfortunately we have had a couple of under 12’s teams drop out so if anybody knows of a team that would like come along please get in touch by using the contact details on the Eastmoor website within the under 12’s section.
Thanks

What a ridiculous comment to make regarding Eastmoor Dragons being made to play in the first Division. During the shortened winter season we played 10 league fixtures in the top flight and won only 1 game so were clearly struggling. If you look at the Division 2 table you will see that we have won only 1 game more than we’ve lost so are playing at the right level – hardly glory hunting. Children at the age of 12 should always be playing at the correct competitive level where possible to encourage participation. Playing in the top division and getting heavily beaten is doing neither side any good

"ridiculous?" stanley, oulton and shaw cross all were in the second division in the mini season! you beat stanley in a cup game! yes YOU should have played in the first divison as well as siddal should have..and as for playing at the "correct competitive level!" lets have a first division of 2 then, a second of 4 and so on! YOU should have played in the division you were first selected in as should siddal and as per previous years adjustments are made through the season as the 13's this year with sandal etc...face facts!

Nobody in their right mind will argue with that. I think some people take themselves a little too seriously at times and forget that they are watching kids, in this case as young as eleven. Getting hammered every week will only drive them away from the sport. I think your coach should be applauded for putting his players first.

a point well made

sorry may sound harsh but the lads from crigg are fed up of having they scorelines trimmed up enough already .

they play stanley it always gets chopped down to 50 as it as done a few times in the past 12-16 months.

if the coaching staff and club think it would be harmful for the players to be suffering huge defeats or that they can not sustain a 17 man squad week in week out then i take my hat off to the honesty of the man who made the final call.

there is no love lost between crigg v eastmoor but i respect the club for protecting the interests of the few players , betters this than the age group disbanding half way through with many being lost to the game forever.