AGES -
Minis are U7 to U10, Midis U11 & U12, Juniors U13 to U16
Children can start training with us from the age of 5 but cannot play in matches until their 6th birthday. Players usually join the team for the age they are on the 31st of August of the previous year e.g. if they were 10 on the 31st of August they join the Under 11’s. There are dispensations to allow certain players to play outside their age-group - namely players can play down one year within the Mini-Tag, Mini or Midi age-groups, and from U13, they can play up one year. Allowances can also be made on an individual basis under special circumstances.
TEAMS -
Due to numbers Under Seven and Under Eight players usually train together, but thereafter we try to run a team for each age-group up to Under Sixteen. Currently in our Youth Section there are teams for each age-group up to U16, excluding U13’s - who train and play with the U14’s.
EQUITY -
Penryn RFC is committed to ensuring equity across all it’s activities.
We have an EQUITY POLICY which states that “ The club respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally within the context of their sport, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status.”
Girls are welcome, but due to RFU rules can only play in the same teams as boys up to and including U12’s. We are happy for girls to join any of our teams up to this age, but practically we do find that by the time they reach MIDI rugby, many girls give the game up due to the physical nature of the play. We do not currently run any girls teams for older players, but would be willing to support such an initiative if enough players showed interest.
REGISTRATION -
New players can come and train with us for a month to see if they enjoy rugby with no commitment, financial or otherwise to the club. However to play in matches players must complete registration for -
THE RFU - All players must be registered with the RFU - this is a one-off process that requires the filling in of a simple form and providing several passport type photos.
THE CLUB - Players are also required to register with the club - again a simple process involving filling in a form. This is done each year.
Registration Day is usually held on the first Sunday in September between 10.00 am and 12.00 noon. Children can also register during the season - Our Registration Secretary has all the details and can be found in the portacabin at the start of most training and match days, alternatively contact the coach for your age-group. Once registered the player details are recorded on an official ID card, which follows them through the youth section and is usually held by their coach. ID cards ensure that checks can be made that players are playing in their correct age-group.
Registration is important because the RFU covers the insurance of players and without registration the insurance cover is void.
COSTS -
There is a one off fee for registering new players with the RFU. Currently this is £5 for Minis and Midis, and £7.50 for Juniors.
Subscription Fees for the 2008-2009 season are currently £40 per player. This covers all training and matches, the provision of food after meals, fixture lists and awards at the end of the season amongst a host of other expenses. It also includes a Family Social Membership of the main club, entitling parents to use the club facilities such as the bar and with two free tickets to a Penryn 1st team match. These fees have changed very little for several years and at around £1 per week we feel that this represents very good value for money. A discount is given for additional children from the same family.
For any parent who experiences difficulties in paying the subscriptions as a lump sum provisions can be made to pay in instalments.
KIT -
For a child to try rugby for a few weeks the minimum of kit is required - a pair of football or rugby boots (see below), any rugby shirt or T-shirt, shorts and socks are all that is needed. In the long term: -
Playing kit: The traditional colours of Penryn RFC are a red and black hooped shirt, black shorts and black socks. Most Mini & Midi teams require players to provide their own kit for both training and matches. A full range of kit can be obtained from local sports shops including MC Sports in Falmouth who give a discount to members of Penryn RFC.
By the time players reach the Junior Section many teams provide playing shirts for matches and other items of team wear with the help of local sponsors. There may be a small charge made for the laundry of this kit at the discretion of the individual team.
Mouth Guards: We would strongly recommend that all players wear a mouth guard. There are basically two types – custom-fitted by a dentist (cost ~£30-40) and boil in the bag (cost~£5-10). Opinion seems divided as to which is best as; custom fitted provide a closer fit but as soon as teeth are shed need to be replaced; and boil in the bag do not fit as well but can be remoulded. Which ever type you choose we feel that all players should wear a mouth guard for games and any training where contact is likely.
Scrum hats and other forms of protection: As far as we know scrum hats, shoulder pads and shin pads are allowed providing they have the IRB logo on the label to show that they have been approved. In practice we have never known a referee check for the logo but apparently some do. We regard protective gear as optional, and a matter of personal choice.
Boots: Both blades and studs are acceptable as footwear for rugby. In both cases there should be no sharp edges to the stud or blade. Studs must be under 21mm in length and firmly tightened. Boots should not be missing studs – especially from the toe end. Most coaches will routinely bring spare studs and a stud spanner to the match.
TRAINING & COACHES -
During the season training takes place for all teams on a Sunday morning when there is no game fixtured. Junior and Midi teams will also often train on one other night of the week - please see our NEXT WEEK page or the individual team page for details.
Coaches tend to move up each year with their team as most have a child playing for the team. All of our coaches have a recognised coaching qualification - such as the RFU Coaching Level One Certificate. All coaches are also CRB checked before they are allowed to train the children.
MATCHES -
The youth rugby season runs from the 1st of September until the 31st of April. Minis and Midis are not allowed to play matches until October. Matches are generally held on Sunday mornings during the season and start around 10.30 am for Minis/Midis and 11.00 am for Juniors.
Matches are played both Home and Away. Away games can be to any of the other clubs in Cornwall and may be as far afield as Launceston, Bude or Saltash for the Juniors. Although the Minis & Midis tend to not have fixtures with these more distant clubs, they do play at Liskeard, Wadebridge and Penzance for example. For U7’s & 8’s, a parent or guardian would be expected to travel with their child. For older age-groups lifts may often be available through the team for players who’s parents cannot travel; although we do hope that all families will do their fair share in supporting their child’s team and if they can’t give lifts they would help in some other way. Coaches can advise as to the provision of lifts.
Most games are played on a friendly basis - there is no league structure, but there is a competitive festival for all age-groups from U9 upwards and a cup competition for the junior teams. A Fixture List is provided for all players at the start of the season - fixtures are subject to change and we ask parents to check each week with their coach or the boards on the portacabin.
Food is provided free for all participating players after each game.
PARENTAL SUPPORT
The youth section relies on parental support for fundraising and a variety of jobs that need to be done to keep the section ticking over, such as kitchen duties at home matches. There is a Kitchen Rota in which we ask parents from each team to take turns in helping cook and serve food. The rota is on the website - please help when it is your teams turn.
We encourage Parental Support on the sidelines at matches as it adds to the atmosphere and encourages the players. There are however limits to the degree and nature of the support that should be given, and we ask all parents and supporters to read and abide by our Spectators Code.
The Youth Section is run by a Committee which is mainly made up of the parents of players. There is a great deal of work that goes on behind the scenes and we are often in need of help to run the Club. Please consider volunteering - there are lots of ways to help without committing yourself to one of the major posts and an hour here and there can be very valuable to us. Committee members details can be found on the Youth Contacts page.
TOURING
There is a long tradition of touring in Rugby and the Youth Section participates in this by both hosting touring sides and sending sides on tour. Destinations vary and recently have included visiting our neighbours in Devon and Somerset, experiencing Welsh Hospitality both on and off the pitch and more exotic locations such as The Channel Islands and South Africa. Currently one of our sides is planning a trip to Canada.
Tours are organised both by the section and by individual teams and do not take place every year. Fundraising often results in the trip being heavily subsidised for the players and most thoroughly enjoy the experience.
AWARDS
We have an award ceremony at the end of each playing season in which each coach nominates the players of their choice for a number of awards, the winners receiving a trophy. All players will receive recognition of their participation in the form of a certificate.
When players graduate to the Junior Teams i.e. at the age of 12 they are usually presented with a Club shirt and Tie.
Rules and Regulations -
Penryn RFC follows the RFU Continuum for Minis and Midis and the Guidelines for Juniors. These lay down the progression and development of the rules of the game for young players. Details can be found on the RFU website at RFU Rules and Regulations
Major milestones are -
U7 & U8 play tag rugby - there is no contact or tackling. 5 to 7 players
U9 - tackling is introduced, along with uncontested 3 man scrums and lineouts. Up to 9 players.
U10 - Scrums and lineouts are now contested. Up to 9 players
U11 - The scrum and lineout now consists of 5 players. Kicking out of hand is allowed and conversions are taken from in front of the posts.12 players playing across half a pitch.
U12 - A sixth forward is added to the pack - No. 8. 13 players playing across half a pitch.
U13 & U14 - Fifteen players and a full pitch. No lifting at the lineout and the scrum half must remain behind the tunnel. Conversions from the lateral position of the try.
U15 - the scrum half can now come past the tunnel.
U16 - Lifting is now allowed at the lineout.
