MINIS & JUNIORS NEWS

Shrewsbury Rugby Club Minis and Juniors August 2011

http://www.shrewsburyrugbyclub.com/juniors/index2.htm

 

It's my first year as Chairman of the Mini and Junior Section of Shrewsbury Rugby Club and I would like to thank Rod McMarmara for all his hard work and commitment during his time as Chairman. I am sure you would all like to join me in wishing him our best wishes on his coaching at representative level in Shropshire. I have sat through countless meetings with both Rae and Rod, both of whom are great assets to our community, and Rod, suffice to say, you will be sorely missed from our section.

Rob Jones, our long standing Treasurer, has also decided to hang up his account books and I would like to thank him for all his hard work and the numerous spreadsheets and membership reminders that he has produced over the years. He was instrumental in our section having almost 100% paid up membership fees over the years.

Every parent and player forms a vital role within our club and I would like to urge everyone to keep striving towards what must be our ultimate goal - producing a safe and healthy environment for our members to enjoy our great sport, with both players and parents working together towards a common goal of enjoyment and team spirit. Our successes on the pitch lifts everyone's spirits, but, I must say, the banter and good feelings around the club are always a great indicator of the health of our section and I would like to encourage everyone who has the opportunity to get involved and help within our section. I believe the more you put in the more you get out.

With this in mind, please would you all ensure you bring along your cheque books for Registration Sunday to help our new Treasurer, Mike Craik, in completing registration and enrolment in record time.

Good news: we have been able to keep membership fees at last year's level which is great value.

One of my aims, as Chairman this year, is to reach a position where all age groups have a coach who is a fully paid up member of the club. This will enable the Junior section to be better represented within the Club as a whole. As the coaches give up a lot of their time on Sundays, I would like to think we could all pull together and sponsor our coaches memberships. We could do this on an individual team basis or as a section. I myself will be paying my own membership as normal, but if anyone has any ideas, offers of help or suggestions how we can do this I'd appreciate your thoughts. Without our coaches we wouldn't be here!

During September I would like to come around to see each age group and meet any new parents and chat with longstanding parents about any ideas they may have for the forthcoming season. The Club holds an executive meeting once a month and I will contact lead coaches a week before these meetings so I can take any questions they may have to those meetings. Paul Suckling and Duncan Kirkby are the Vice Chairmen and will be attending any meetings in my absence, so if you are unable to contact me these gentlemen are your next port of call.

It's only left for me to say have a wonderful year.

Steve Wild - Chairman

Training starts on Sunday 4th September - make sure you are registered

Sunday training starts at 10.30am and goes on until 12 noon. Many teams now have midweek training as well. Check with the website or your coach to find out if your team has training during the week. Always arrive on time.
Everybody who wants to play rugby at Shrewsbury Rugby Club must be registered. Even if you registered last season, you must do so again this year. Inside the newsletter you will find a registration form. Please use it! Fill it out clearly so that we can read it and then bring it with you on Registration Sunday.
Please note that you must also be registered with the RFU.
If you have registered with the RFU as a player in previous seasons, you won't need to again, but if you have not - or you are not sure - please let us know and we will give you a form to complete on Registration Sunday - you will need a passport-sized photo and to fill in all sections. It is also important that both the player and parent sign the form and that all questions are answered.

Please get your subscriptions in ASAP
This year the annual subscriptions are £45 for the whole season. There are no match fees. For any additional siblings the subscription is £25.00. Cheques should be made payable to 'SRUFC Ltd'. It would help considerably if you could write separate cheques for each child you are bringing along.

Sponsors needed

Shrewsbury Rugby Club is always on the hunt for new sponsors for individual team shirts and we can offer a whole range of benefits to any local business that is willing and eager to support the club. The Club is riding a crest of a wave at the moment after the successes of last season and there has never been a better time to support your local club.
If you - or your employer or anyone you know - is interested in finding our more about the packages and benefits on offer, contact Rae Evans on 07809 171726 or email rae2412@aol.com


 

 

For more information and copies of the Club registration form and the RFU registration form go to the website http://www.shrewsburyrugbyclub.com/juniors/index2.htm

Who are you up against?

In the envelope with this newsletter you will find the fixture list for the coming season and while there are bound to be changes most of the games should go ahead. Once again this year, there are more games away than at home, as we can only accommodate three full Junior teams at home on any given Sunday. We have tried to keep most of the away games within easy reach. Please always check on the website that you your games are going ahead.

Shrewsbury kit range available again from our very own kit shop

The usual fantastic array of shirts, tops, caps and other items will be the club shop Come and see the fabulous array of gear we have for sale - you'll find the shop in the clubhouse and ready to do business every Sunday morning and if you have any specific needs just call Sarah Wild on 07702 238446.

Any old boots and shirts?

Do you have old kit lying around in the cupboard? There are always other boys or girls who need a pair of boots or a second-hand shirt to wear in training - and we need old Shrewsbury playing shirts to give to players who don't have their own for matches. If you have a pair of boots that you've grown out, we can hand them on to younger player. Just bring them down to the club shop.

The Tuck Shop will be open for business again this season so make sure Mum and Dad bring some change!

Volunteer and make a real difference

We always need new help at the club and there are lots of ways that you can makes a difference - for the club, for the players and for yourself. Here are just a few of the jobs you could do:
Become an Assistant Coach - if you turn up on a Sunday morning to watch your child then step off the touchline and help. That's how most of us started. We need coaches and helpers. The only experience you need is an ability to wear trainers and a track suit. Just speak to Chairman Steve Wild if you are interested
Be a team First Aider - safety is absolutely paramount and while our coaches always teach our players to play without harming themselves or anyone else, the occasional accident still happens. We need to have more trained First Aiders on the touchlines this season. So, if you are qualified or you are willing to go on a short, three-hour course to qualify - and we may be able to help finance that as well - please let us know.


Help out in the kitchen or in the car park - we always need more people to help out on Sundays so, if you have a talent or just fancy having a go at making bacon or sausage rolls and great cups of tea and coffee for hordes of ravenous rugby players, come on down, roll your sleeves up and get stuck in! And if that doesn't tickle your fancy then why not have a go at car parking duties on our busy Sunday mornings? Particularly suitable for all budding traffic wardens or those keen for a power trip - yellow jacket supplied.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING FOR ANY OF THESE JOBS OR ANY OTHER ROLE AT THE CLUB, PLEASE CALL RAE ON 07809 171726 OR EMAIL RAE2412@AOL.COM

Play safe and be safe - on and off the field

Shrewsbury Rugby Club is dedicated to ensuring that all players are safe when they play rugby for this Club. That is why we have a Child Protection statement and Codes of Conduct. The Codes of Conduct cover players, referees, coaches and parents. As a Club we will make sure that these Codes of Conduct are strictly followed. We have a Disciplinary Code to ensure this is the case. A full copy of the Codes is included with this newsletter. Make sure that you read them and are fully aware of your responsibilities.


Everyone should be aware that we will not tolerate verbal abuse on the touchline during training or games. Any person considered to be breaking this part of the Code will be asked to remove themselves from the touchline.


All Codes of Conduct, our Child Protection statement, our Equity statement and the Disciplinary Code can be found on the main Club notice board in the Clubhouse, which is situated on the right wall of the players' entrance. Please make sure you are familiar with these documents.
To be safe while they are playing and training all players should wear the proper kit. This should consist of rugby or football boots, cotton shorts (preferably proper rugby shorts) or track suit bottoms and a suitable top or tops.


If it is cold then extra layers of clothing are essential and this could also mean bringing waterproof gear, hats and/or gloves.

The safety of all our players is very important to us and so we recommend that all players wear gum shields and shin pads. Head guards are an optional extra, but are recommended by the Club too. No jewellery should be worn and finger nails should always be cut short.
All players should have rugby studs on their boots. The only sort of boot that is allowed that does not use studs is one that has rubber blades. Plastic blades are banned. Rugby studs, which must be kite marked, are available at all sports shops and we even have them at the Club that you can buy. Football boots have studs that can be unscrewed and rugby studs can be screwed in to replace them.
If you are unsure about your boots ask your coach. You must have the right studs to play rugby.


PLEASE FOLLOW THE CLUB RULES….
1. No boots inside the Club. This rule will be strictly enforced to keep the Club looking as nice as possible for as long as possible. Please make sure you don't break the rules.
2. Shrewsbury Rugby Club is a no smoking club. Please abide by the rule. You will be asked to leave the clubhouse if you are caught smoking. The rule applies to the whole Club.
3. Use the players' entrance. All players will still need to use the rear players' entrance when coming off the pitches after training or matches.
PARENTS PLEASE…
* Always try to ensure your son or daughter is at the club on time for training and matches.
* Bring suitable playing gear and boots. Remember that they might need to change afterwards.
* Park your cars with consideration - we are often pushed for space. Please do not park in the lane that runs alongside the club down to the farm behind.
* Stick around and support and encourage your sons or daughters - and be there to pick them up later.
* Get player registrations and subs in to your team managers on registration day or as soon after as you can - players do need to be registered to play.

PLAYERS PLEASE…

* Respect match referees and their decisions at all times - remember you are playing for Shrewsbury and representing the whole club.
* Always show respect and consideration to your opposition.
* Play by the rules and play clean, fair rugby.
* Listen to what your coaches tell you and keep trying to improve as a player.
* If you have any questions or you are worried or upset about anything, talk to your Team Manager or the Club Welfare Officer,.
* Enjoy yourself!

Coaches and team managers for the 2011 - 12 season

We don't need to tell you how important your Head Coach and Team Manager are to you and the whole of your squad. Make sure you get to know them and how to get in touch with them if you need to.

Under 7's Head Coach: Tom Binney
Team Manager: Tbc

Under 8's Head Coach: Phil Topper
Team Manager: Linsey Topper

Under 9's Head Coach: Mike Craik
Team Manager: Jo Carradine

Under 10's Head Coach: Chris Harrhy
Team Manager: Kirsty Smith

Under 11s Head Coach: Damian Kinney
Team Manager: Angela Williams


Under 12s Head Coach: Steve Wild
Team Manager: Sarah Wild


Under 13s Head Coach: Karl Jacob
Team Manager: Kath Pritchard


Under 14s Head Coach: Martin Dennis
Team Manager: Corina Dennis


Under 15s Head Coach: Duncan Kirkby
Team Manager: Chris Hill


Under 16s Head Coach: Paul Suckling
Team Manager: Tony & Tracey Roberts


Under 17s Head Coach: Steve Rintoul
Team Manager: Wayne Millard


If you need to contact your coach or team manager you should be able to find their details on the web site at

http://www.shrewsburyrugbyclub.com/juniors/index2.htm

Who's who at Shrewsbury Minis and Juniors?

Chairman - Steve Wild
Steve will also be coaching the Under 12s this season


Vice Chairman - Duncan Kirkby and Paul Suckling
Two for the price of one!


Treasurer - Mike Craik
Mike coaches the Under 9's.


Secretary - Rae Evans
Rae deals with all fixtures and the administrative business of the club so if you are not sure who to ask about something, ask Rae.


Coach Coordinator - John Smith
John will be keeping tabs on all our coaches in the run up to compulsory coach licensing and organising our continuing professional development.


Volunteer Coordinators - Sarah Wild and Wayne Millard
Sarah looks after the Minis whilst Wayne takes care of the Juniors so if you are keen to help, they are the people to seek out.


Welfare Officer -
will deal with all Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks and any welfare issues that arise with players or parents. If you've got a problem, is the person to talk to.


First Aid Officer - Sara Muir
The lady in the fetching yellow jacket and she who we cannot do without. There are so many players now that Sara is desperately in need of help. Please tell her if you want to give a hand and are prepared to become the First Aid Officer for your team - training will be provided and it should only take about three hours of your time.


If you have any other questions just contact Rae Evans and she will put you in touch with the right individual. You can call Rae on 07809 171726 or email rae2412@aol.com.