Grassroots rugby australia, taking the game back to the people

[RugbyFuture]

I know we've all been complaining about hpow the game is played, administered and developed and i just wanted you guys to know about this initiative they started at the roar, although im pretty sure most of you would probably already frequent that site and be aware of it, but still, before formation, we need to spread the word about how GRA is going to take grassroots rugby and develop it in a structured format, complimenting the developmental rugby things the unions already have around and taking rugby back to the people who make it great.

Grassroots Rugby Australia workgroup
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=142338308871&ref=ts

if we all get involved then think of the ability this community will have to spread the rugby game and take on league and afl at the "auskick" level.

they're still only upto formation stages but taking suggestions on programs and membership

 

[PaarlBok]

OK where do the game starts in Aus, talking about your 6 or 7 year old kiddies. Is it in the clubs or schools?

Thats the important level to grow the game.

 

[RugbyReg]

clubs.

 

[PaarlBok]

That make it a bit difficult but I should think its important for the clubs to drive a huge scouting session to the schools in their area.

In SA we have it at the schools. The schools around here have a huge rugby culture and the youngsters get through that in the game. Once the school kids get out of school into the clubs they are 19/20 year olds and the rugby foundation been laid healthy. When they have kids they usually put their kids in the same school and this way it go from one generation to the other. Meaning for Saru to drive rugby they have to target the soccer schools and do they same thing.

 

[RugbyFuture]

That make it a bit difficult but I should think its important for the clubs to drive a huge scouting session to the schools in their area.

In SA we have it at the schools. The schools around here have a huge rugby culture and the youngsters get through that in the game. Once the school kids get out of school into the clubs they are 19/20 year olds and the rugby foundation been laid healthy. When they have kids they usually put their kids in the same school and this way it go from one generation to the other. Meaning for Saru to drive rugby they have to target the soccer schools and do they same thing.

the problem is that theres tough competition from rugby league in NSW and queensland and from Aussie rules in the rest of the states. one of the inititatives already suggested has been for highly skilled negotiators arguing for rugby's inclusion in catholic schools though, traditional league strongholds.

 

[PaarlBok]

Like I said SA have soccer and field hockey to combat. Luckily most schools do provide or two or all three of these sports at the schools. Both my sons played hockey and rugby at prymary school 9U7 to U13)and then they specialized at high school (U14). Myself knew nothing about field hockey and the oldest one picked field hockey and thats how myself (obvious a big rugby man) got involved in that sport.

Thats the target area, at the bottom of the player structure.

 

[Pfitzy]

clubs.

But then the problem is schools become more important as the kids get older.

 

[Thomond78]

How about the clubs linking in with the schools? Each club adopts a school in the local catchment area, provides coaching and/or gear for the school, with the school providing the kids to play with the club. Would seem a natural enough synergy, and it's the sort of thing that happens in GAA here at parish level.

 

[RugbyFuture]

How about the clubs linking in with the schools? Each club adopts a school in the local catchment area, provides coaching and/or gear for the school, with the school providing the kids to play with the club. Would seem a natural enough synergy, and it's the sort of thing that happens in GAA here at parish level.

in penrith this happens with the UWS cup, where the schools in the catchemnt area are supported by the emus (Penrith RUFC) and its done well from what i understand.

More importantly, GRA is about supporting the grassroots level across the board and a number of inititives will be planned from its inception. the mission statement is at the article on theroar.com.au that is on the facebook page. down in the comments section posted by bay35pablo.

 

[RugbyFuture]

As indicated above, the aim is to establish a not for profit company early this year, as the first formal step of establishing Grassroots Rugby Australia. Part up setting up such a company, and also making clear to everyone what GRA is being set up to do, is to clearly set out the aims of that company. The company can only act in line with those aims and objectives, so they are very important. Further, they are what the company is about so they are important to get right.

Andrew Logan set out a number of aims in his article on the Roar that started all this (to be found at
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/09/30/its-time-for-the-launch-of-rugby-australia/). However, after further discussions, they have been refined and narrowed. In particular, the aim for the GRA is to not be a political body, not act as a lobby group, and to work with the ARU and state and subsidiary unions in relation to the development of grassroots (amateur) rugby.

Developing out of those discussions, a set of draft aims have been drawn up, which will go into the constitution of the company in due course. We are taking the chance to circulate those now, for input and discussion.

Those draft aims and objectives are:

1. Support the development of schools, junior, club and other non-professional rugby.
2. Complement existing programs and initiatives being undertaken by the ARU, and state and subsidiary unions.
3. Provide an avenue for players, ex-players and supporters to be involved in the development of rugby.
4. Provide an avenue for constructive feedback to the ARU, and state and subsidiary unions.
5. Promote rugby as a participation sport at all non-professional levels.
6. Promote non-playing participation in rugby, including refereeing, coaching and administration.
7. Provide support and guidance for the formation of new club, school and junior teams.
8. Develop and support non-professional representative and touring opportunities at school, junior and club level.
9. Establish and support a network of rugby development volunteers across Australia.
10. Raise funds and sponsorship to achieve the aims of the GRA.

We invite you to provide any comments you have about the above draft aims and objectives, even if it is to indicate you agree they are suitable. We believe the above covers pretty much everything the GRA intends to do and anything more is likely to be duplication or refinement, but now is the chance to be involved in setting the objectives of the GRA and help “polish” the drafting of those aims.

Please provide and such comments or feedback within the next few weeks to me at bay35pablo@gmail.com, and it is hoped we will take steps to begin setting up the company within the next month or so.

from: http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/09/30/its-time-for-the-launch-of-rugby-australia/

 

[PaarlBok]

RF look like you are on the right track Boet.

Thats where the game starts. The young ones play tag in the UK , maybe in Aus? Our lot plays this in their schools PT periods but play full contact from age 6. That attracks the Mrse, they play a huge role understanding the game and supporting. The modern mum dont want their chickens getting hurt in rugby. Myself love walking the line and looking at those 6 years olds, my hair raises sometimes looking at those Boer mums around Paarl.

 

[Thomond78]

Think tag's called Ripper Rugby in Aus? The IRFU are promoting it in schools here, and - in a stroke of rare intelligence - promoting it at the same time in mixed social leagues (tries scored by women count double).

The key there is this; most primary teachers are now women. If you get them out playing tag/ripper rugby themselves, they're not intimidated or put off by it for the kids they teach, or even for their own kids. They'll pick up injuries in tag - it's got a much higher rate of wrist and thumb injuries than real rugby - and realise they're not problems, any more than say hockey is, and get on with it. So, they'll be happier about contact for the kids they teach or for their own kids.

My mother saw my father break his pelvis on the pitch, but still let us play (including letting my younger brothers play after I picked up a neck injury at seventeen and, at one stage, one of her sons stapling another son's scalp together in A&E); and that was because she was from a rugby-playing background, and played herself as a girl (before discovering her destiny as a hockey defender ). Get the mothers onside, get the primary teachers onside, the battle's half-won already.

 

[PaarlBok]

You mention hockey and most of our prymary school kids playing rugby and hockey. I've seen many a hard as stone good rugby playing boer boy falling down on the hockey pitch like a bag of shite after getting either a stick on the head (in hockey most kids learn the hard way to go in a tackle and those playing rugby want to just getting stuck in and ending receiving a full blown backswing stick) or try to be brave and playing without shins and getting a hockey ball just there. In our local interschools they always play hockey first and then rugby. Pretty dangerous to play both opponents in the same sport and after getting a late tackle in rugby, suddenly find yourself with a traditional weapon and take out revenge.

Rugby only have a bad name for injuries via the press and I think hockey is more dangerous and require much more safety skill for the young kids.

 

[Pfitzy]

How about the clubs linking in with the schools? Each club adopts a school in the local catchment area, provides coaching and/or gear for the school, with the school providing the kids to play with the club. Would seem a natural enough synergy, and it's the sort of thing that happens in GAA here at parish level.

That will never do Thomond. We'll forgive your misunderstanding because you don't fully appreciate some of the issues such a system would create. Or you've been drinking which is perfectly understandable as you appear to be a chap with viticulture as a primary purpose.

Take Kings for example here in Sydney - the poor blighters are stranded practically in Parramatta where the only rugby clubs to be found are either chock full of those Islander lads we of the school tie brigade couldn't stick into a scholarship the first time around, or they're besieged by those dastardly leeeeeeg types, don't y'know!

And besides, we won't let our precious boys mingle with those clubs who insist on allowing tradesmen and labourers in their ranks. Its just not done old boy!

 

[RugbyFuture]

the main difference is that in australia many tend to prefer training drills with thirteen men. the deterent to rugby isn't about injuries and crap but this other "game". the mungo's tend to claim any training drill as player numbers