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Rules

1. Training
Minis – Sunday morning from 10am to 12am. Parents please note that you should bring your children to the clubhouse and hand them over to the coach who will escort them to and from the pitches. You must then collect your children after training from the coaches at the clubhouse. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD A CHILD BE ASKED TO WAIT FOR HIS/HER PARENT AT THE PITCHES AFTER TRAINING!

Parents must be in attendance at all matches not only to support their children but also to be present in the event of an injury. They should also be in attendance during training sessions unless they make arrangements for their children to be with a representative (coach/another parent/family member/family friend) whom they must make known to the child’s coach/team manager.

Juniors – please see age group coaches for arrangements.
NO TRAINING NO PLAYING

2. Home Matches
Players are to meet at 10am for an 11am kick off unless advised otherwise by their coaches.

Parents should encourage their children to use the shower facilities after all matches and training at home. The showers are for use by everyone so please use them. The Clubhouse is well furnished and maintained so PLAYERS MUST CHANGE OUT OF THEIR MUDDY CLOTHING AND BOOTS BEFORE ENTERING THE BUILDING. Anyone failing to do so will be asked to leave.

No one must enter the showers wearing either muddy boots or shoes. Only flip-flop type shoes can be worn in the showers. As the Club is used by other members on a Sunday all players should endeavour to be well-behaved.

3. Away Matches
Players should arrive at Webb Ellis Road by 9.15am as the teams will be expected to leave promptly at 9.30am. There is no official team transport for away matches and so we have to rely on parents traveling to the game to watch to offer lifts to those players without transport. Maps giving directions will be provided where possible prior before departure.

THE CLUB STRIP MUST BE WORN FOR ALL MATCHES.

Juniors are expected to arrive wearing collar and tie


4. Fixtures
The full fixture list has been set in place. If there are any changes the coaches will notify the players.

5. Annual Membership
A registration form is enclosed (with an RFU form for new members). Please return it to your team manager at the next training session or as soon as possible. The membership fee for the Mini and Junior section of the club is £20 for the 2 elder siblings with a reduced fee of £5 for subsequent siblings. Siblings in the under 17s and above are part of the main club and are no longer part of the Minis and Juniors.

Playing members are entitled to free admission to all normal club and league games except for Cup Matches. Mini and Junior cards cannot be used by parents who instead can apply for parents’ membership with the main club if they wish.

Membership includes insurance for players when playing or training. It is important that parents sign the membership form for each child and return it with the membership fee. Players cannot become members and, more importantly, will not be covered by the RFU insurance until they are registered.

NO MEMBERSHIP NO PLAYING
A weekly subscription fee of £1.50 is payable to your team manager. You can, if you prefer, pay in one installment of £45 or in two installments of £22.50.

NOTE THAT THE WEEKLY SUBSCRIPTION IS NOT AN OPTIONAL PAYMENT AND IS PAYABLE EVEN IF YOU DO NOT TURN UP FOR TRAINING OR PLAYING.

The weekly fee must be paid and, as far as possible, on time. The membership fee and weekly subs help us to cover the cost of ground hire, equipment, changing rooms, showers, coaches’ training course costs, refreshments, kit subsidies and trophies to name but a few of our expenses. All these items cost money and the Mini and Junior section is not financially viable without the payment of these fees.

IF YOU ARE MORE THAN 4 WEEKS IN ARREARS THE RESULT COULD BE THAT YOUR CHILD(REN) WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TRAIN OR PLAY.

Note that if they wish parents can join the Main Club for a reduced annual fee allowing free entry to all 1st team home games including match day programs (not cup matches) as well as a discount in the club shop. Any interested parent should speak to his/her team manager.

6. Methods of Payment
Payment can be made either in cash or by cheque (made payable to “The Rugby Mini and Junior Lions”). Please note that due to our commitments to the main club we are unable to offer the option of paying in 2 installments. The membership fee should be paid in full at the start of the season or as soon as the new player has completed his third training session. The completed forms and payment should be placed in an envelope and handed either to the team manager or to the membership secretary.

7. Insurance
The standard RFU insurance comes automatically with membership of the main Club. It covers players whilst training, playing matches and other rugby related activities. Parents may, of course, take out additional insurance.

N.B. Payment is not made if death is due to natural causes (!!).

8. Awards
At the end of the season awards are given in each age group to the best all round player, the most improved player and to those players who have attended regularly throughout the season.

Minis – in addition a monthly presentation award is given to one player in each age group in the form of a small trophy which is held for one month only and then handed on to the next month’s winner. When giving the award the coaches take into account attendance during the month, behaviour, willingness to learn, helpfulness and improvement in playing standard. Members awarded this distinction must return the trophy to their coach/team manager on the first Sunday of the following month. All monthly awards will be made in the Clubhouse immediately following training.

9. Kit
All players must be kitted out in the club strip for all matches although an older, darker coloured strip is recommended for training. Kit can be purchased from the Club if sponsorship is not available for that particular age group to cover the cost of part if not all of the kit. Check with your team manager. There may also be a boot pool from which members can purchase boots at a reasonable price but for this system to work we would ask players to hand in their old boots.

10. Parental support and help
Coaches are always in need of help and support during training sessions. This may be as simple as throwing and catching balls or holding the tackle bags. You do not need to be an experienced rugby player but you do need to attend an obligatory 3 hour training course organized by the Club (new RFU rules). Talk to your team manager as the more willing helpers they have the more they can do during the training session.

11. General Points

1. Bad weather – coaches will contact players if training or a match is cancelled. Any queries about cancellations because of bad weather should be made to the coach/team manager of your child’s age group. Players too are encouraged to contact their coach/team manager if they are unable to attend matches.
2. Tetanus injections - if your child has not had a tetanus booster injection in the last 5 years, please contact your doctor for advice. Most children will have had a tetanus booster on entry to school at the age of 4 to 5 years old.
3. Mouth shields – it is advisable to consider the use of a mouth shield to protect your child’s teeth and gums. These can be bought from sports shops and moulded yourself. However as the child gets older and therefore is more exposed to aggressive tackling we would recommend shields supplied and fitted by your dentist. They are more expensive but substantially better.
4. Shin pads - these are recommended especially if your child is a forward.
5. Age - in order to comply with insurance requirements and with the rules of the Rugby Football Union strict age groups will be respected by the Club. This may mean that some players may remain in an age group for more than one season in particular the under 8’s. The age group is determined by your child’s age on the 31st of August.
6. Girls - girls are welcome to play in the Mini section. Unfortunately we do not have the facilities for girls to continue playing at Junior level (under 13’s to under 16’s).
7. Photographs – From time to time group or team photographs may be put in the local newspaper or on the club website to promote our club as well as the game of rugby. Rest assured that no personal details will ever be mentioned. However if you have any concerns or objections please speak to your team manager and tick the box on the membership application form.
8. Photography – if you intend to photograph or video at any event you should be aware that youwill be expected to identify yourself, if requested, and may need to register your equipment.
9. Under age drinking - all sensible parents will agree that the Club cannot, and will not, condone any under age drinking on the Club premises. Irresponsible behaviour by parents and players could affect the Club’s entitlement to a drinks’ licence. If any player under the age of 18 is found drinking alcohol of any kind (including alco-pops) on the premises whether purchased by themselves, their parents or a third party, they will be removed from the premises and serious disciplinary action will be taken.
   

If, after reading all this, you have any queries or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact either myself, your coach/team manager or any of the committee members (see attached list). We’ll be happy to help!