Key season information found here!
Please scroll down to check out information on the PURC U8 Penguins season!
Under 8 rugby is the first step in the transition from ripper rugby to what will be full field rugby when the players reach U11s. As such, the expectations on the players (and you, their parents!) are lifted from Under 7s, but it's all part of a developmental pathway. Please do your best to be realistic about your expectations for the season!
Training
We have been allocated a training time and location - Tuesdays, 5:30 - 6:30pm, at Elm Park Reserve (next to Elm Park School) on Gossamer Drive. Please be there so your son is ready to go at 5:30pm sharp. We have an hour worth of work to get through and we move quickly through it.
Remember to bring mouth guards and rugby boots - players missing mouth guards will be unable to fully participate in the training. Please also remember to bring a full water bottle along so we can keep the players properly hydrated. Please also make sure the players also have something warm to change into should conditions be windy or turn cold.
Please let Nick or I know if you will have any problem making training.
We will only cancel trainings if the council closes Elm Park due to it's condition (which has been an issue in the past) or if the forecast suggests electrical storms or hurricanes. In all other circumstances training will go ahead regardless of the temperature, precipitation, wind. If there is a cancellation Nick and I will do our best to let everyone know as soon as possible, however the default position will be to make every effort for training to go ahead.
Due to the huge demand on rugby fields there is unfortunately no ability to move either the day or time (or location for that matter) of the training. If you will have any difficulty getting your rugby superstar along to this training, please let me know and we'll do what we can to help.
Games
Under 8 rugby is played on a home and away basis around the Auckland Rugby Union clubs. In previous years the teams have been grouped into several pools of around 8 teams in each pool. The draw usually takes a while to be completed so initially we will only know the first few games until all teams are in place and a full draw can be published (possibly as late as the end of May/early June). The draw has also been known to change on short notice so please be aware that may happen.
Depending on the draw, we can end up with games as far afield as Waitakere and Waitemata, Cox's Bay reserve in Ponsonby, Papatoetoe and Waiheke Island. In the past U8 games have been scheduled for 9:30am with a 30 minute warm up before hand. Games are 25 minutes each way and played on a half field. For more information check here and click on the U8 tab: How To Play - Small Black
Another useful resource for finding ground locations is the ARU Club Directory, here:
|
Parent support
As we go through the grades, parent support becomes more important. First and foremost, we need all our parents to help our young players learn the importance of preparation and being on time to trainings and games. Please encourage your child to be responsible for their own mouthguard, boots, water bottle and change of clothes for after the game (if needed).
We will also need parents to get involved with trainings from time to time, whether it's to help keep kids focused, or to jump on a tackle shield. Please don't be afraid to step forward where ever you see a need or when you're asked. Every little bit helps!
Player of the day
Each week we will have awards, one of which is the "Player of the Day". With the honour of being the Player of the Day comes a couple of other "honours". The playing kit goes home with the player of the day to be washed and returned for the next weeks game, and you also get to bring the half time oranges for the following week's game! If you have any questions on this, please let me know.
Side line behaviour
We want to teach our mighty Penguins to play the game hard, to play it fair and to respect the opposition. We want to represent our team and our Club so we're known for having the best supporters in U8 rugby! To that end we need to be very clear that our support for our players is loud and proud, but that we respect the opposition, and especially for our away games, that we respect their referees.
Irrespective, there will be games where we are "certain" that their kids are too big or that their referee is biased or just not very good. The truth is, there will be games where, despite our best efforts and intentions, the opposition parents will think exactly the same thing about our team/referee. I've had the personal experience of refereeing an U8s game, where I felt I'd ref'd the best I ever had and we'd had a great game, and as I walked from the ground at the end of the game, heard one of the oppositions parents tell their team "don't worry boys, the ref was against you this week".
Our minimum expectation is that we get behind our kids, and to ignore any negatives. Set the example for our 7 and 8 year old kids as they work their guts out on the field for each other.
Thanks for reading this far (if you've managed to make it!). If you have any questions, please don't be afraid to contact either Nick or myself.
We're really looking forward to watching our mighty Penguins in action this season!
Comments
Post a Comment