From Adam Cottingham, (RFU Kids First Development Manager).
As we enter the final few weeks of the season, club coaches and school teachers may be looking at ‘what’s next’. As a reminder current Under 8s players remain within this Age Grade until 1st of September 2017, and are not permitted to participate in contact rugby of any kind, under any circumstances. Doing so would be a breach of RFU Regulations.
Through the Rules of Play there are less technically complex components to the Under 9s game in comparison to the continuum game, removing the need to practise contact at the end of the previous season. Coaches and teachers should continue to focus on the skills Tag helps to develop (catching, passing, avoidance etc.), and should look to maintain this focus next year despite the introduction of the tackle.
Clubs and schools need to ensure coaches and teachers are suitably qualified – we now offer Age Grade specific courses for coaches who work with players aged 6-13. These courses combine the Old Mutual Wealth Kids First philosophy with the developing skills at each grade, and the U9 course specifically will help coaches to be ready to develop players tackle technique in a safe, appropriate and technically proficient way.
In addition to this, team managers/head coaches should make appropriate adjustments during the opening games of the new season for players that are not yet confident and competent to tackle safely, i.e. the use of the grab tackle only for some or all of the players they are working with. This will ensure the wants and needs of all players are accommodated, supporting a players transition through the Age Grade player pathway.
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