But how do we deal with common areas of concern or difficulty in providing for juniors?

"we would love to have more age group sides but we can’t find a coach"
"we tried to set up a junior section but there was nowhere for them to change or have a drink"
"the pitch is in such a state, it was a terrible experience for the kids"

This section aims to give practical advice on finding solutions to these and other common problems, so that your club can provide for juniors successfully and improve the chances of strengthening membership numbers in the long term.

Your first point of contact for all matters relating to junior and youth development should be your County Rugby Development Officer (see Contact Section or call the RFU for the RDO contact details).

Issues to think about before creating a new junior section:
• Reasons for a new section: Think about why the club wants to attract juniors, and how that compares to why children may want to play rugby... is there conflict? E.g. you may want to create a disciplined, talented side that wins; the juniors who join may simply want to have fun and be with their friends.
• Organisation: Can you find a nominated individual who will be responsible for developing the junior section? Ideally this will be someone with a strong interest or experience in dealing with schools and children, and understands their needs as well as those of the club.
• Coaching: How many coaches have you got who are trained in coaching children? Many courses exist which will help your existing or potential coaches (see 3.6 Coaching).
• Community involvement: How will you involve parents or other members of the community?
• Child protection: in recognition of the importance of protecting children, the RFU has produced guidelines to all clubs and schools in an effort to ensure safety. A checklist for clubs and guidelines for coaches is included, together with a sample certification form for mini and junior rugby coaches.
• Facilities and equipment: The RFU have guidelines relating to pitch dimensions and equipment. Contact your County RDO for advice.
• Suitable activity: Ensure coaches are providing a variety of activities, appropriate to the age group and ability.
• Equity: Girls rugby is one of the fastest growing sports; encourage girls to attend mini rugby and contact the RFUW or your County RDO for advice regarding girls age group sessions and sides.
• Transport: Some children may not be able to travel to and from sessions; perhaps the club could organise car sharing to support those without transport.
• Subscription charges: How will the section be financed? Make all fees affordable and be prepared to compromise.
• Food and shelter: Remember the needs of young people are greater than the 1st XV.
• Safety and first aid: It is vital to have easy access to first aid for children and young people, with a qualified person available to deal with emergencies during a session.
• Rules and pitch dimensions for mini and tag rugby: Contact the RFU or your County RDO for advice.
• Promotion and publicity for the sessions - How will you promote your club so that rugby is seen as enjoyable and fun?
• Links with local schools: Creating a link with just one school will vastly improve your chances of attracting players, particularly if you offer to run after school sessions on the school site.
• Festivals, tournaments and matches as well as coaching sessions: young players enjoy a variety of different experiences. The same thing every week will not hold their interest.
• Fund raising: Many local businesses, sponsors or funding agencies are more likely to respond to requests for funding junior development. Check out initiatives such as the Lottery programme called Awards for All (see 2.2 Sources of Grant Aid).
• Junior club rules: A written set of rules can help to clarify what is expected on participants, coaches and parents. These could include issues such as fair play, respect for opponents, required kit and equipment, payment of fees, and rules regarding behaviour.

There is a wealth of support material to assist you, as well as many development initiatives which it could be appropriate for your club to become involved. These include:

TOP Sport
TOP Play and BT TOP Sport were launched in 1996 and will be established in all primary schools by 2001.

• TOP Play provides training and equipment to Primary School teachers and helps everyone who is involved in teaching core skills and fun sports to children aged 4-9 years old.
• BT TOP Sport is aimed at teachers introducing sports and games to children 7-11 years old, and also provides training and equipment.
• TOP Sport Rugby can now be delivered in the community – if you have a venue which is suitable and willing coaches, contact your local authority or County Rugby Development Officer to check whether your club can become part of the scheme. If accepted and eligible, your club could benefit from training for your coaches, new bags of equipment and potential new mini members!

Active Sports
A five year development programme aiming to help young people get the most out of their involvement in Rugby. In those areas where Rugby has been chosen as part of the Active Sports programme, Rugby Action Groups have been established to help with issues such as:

• development and training of coaches
• finding volunteers and people to help
• ensuring quality programmes for juniors.

There are four stages of the Active Sports programme for Rugby:
• Stage One – local schemes for boys and girls who have learnt the basics and require further coaching
• Stage Two – Setting up quality junior clubs with approved venue status, providing regular quality coaching
• Stage Three – for boys in Year 8 and 9, and girls in Years 8 to 10 – an assessment process for those who have the interest and ability to progress further
• Stage Four – development squads, for additional training and assessment at pre-County levels

However when you organise your junior section, remember the following key principles:

• The needs of young players come first – not those of the club
• Sessions should be fun, and coaches should be trained

Active Sports Rugby Union Programme

A Youth Section Club Development Programme – the RFU Seal of Approval

The Rugby Football Union has introduced the Seal of Approval as a method of examining, maintaining and improving the provision of rugby in the youth section of a rugby club. It aims to recognise the effort and achievement of those clubs that reach and maintain the required standard to meet the various levels of the Seal of Approval.

The Seal of Approval will be used to satisfy the Active Sports Club Registration Criteria for those clubs involved in delivery of the Active Sports Rugby Union Programme.

The criteria for the Sport England ‘Safe, Effective & Child Friendly Club’ mark is integrated within the Seal of Approval. A successful application for the RFU Seal of Approval will achieve the Sport England ‘Safe, Effective & Child Friendly Club’.

The Programme is based upon a three year Level I, Level II and Level III Award system in which a club will be assessed on its ability to provide a safe, effective and child friendly club environment.

Having completed the Seal of Approval Audit and Evidence File, a club will identify activities or areas that require development over the next 12 months. The club will then produce a realistic development plan based upon these needs, whereupon successful accreditation will have been achieved.

By implementing the first year development plan and having the second year plan approved, a club will qualify for Level II status. The same process in year three will lead to Level III status.

The Award will be an indication of the quality of provision a club offers, and its

commitment to the continued development of young rugby players. A club will receive certification to confirm accreditation, both from the Rugby Football Union and Sport England.

Please contact your Rugby Development Officer for further details of the scheme, including templates for use in club development planning.

Further information

Regulations and Competitions Handbook (Rugby Football Union)
Child Protection Guidelines (Rugby Football Union)
Running Sport Series – Developing a junior club (Sport England, 1998)
Active Club Pack (Sport England, 2000)
Protecting Children: a guide for sportspeople (National Coaching Foundation, 1998)

Running Sport Hotline
Tel: 0345 585139 (local rates)

For Further information please contact our RDO Nick Greenhall - E-mail nicholasgreenhall@rfu.com