Fixtures for 2007/8
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is mini & youth rugby?

Mini rugby is played from Under 7 to Under 12 (school years 2 to 7). The rules change for each age group so that the complexity of the game matches the development of the players. Under 7s and 8s play 7-a-side tag/touch rugby, older groups play contact rugby (i.e. with tackling) with more players. Boys and girls play in the same team. Youth rugby is played from Under 13 to Under 19 (school year 8 upwards). It is 15-a-side and has only a small number of rule differences from adult rugby, which are made for additional safety. The major difference from adult rugby is segregation by age to avoid injuries from players with greatly differing physical development playing together. Separate teams are required for men and women.

What equipment do players need?

• Boots. Football boots are OK, provided they have suitable studs. The combination metal/plastic studs supplied with some football boots develop sharp edges (as do other moulded plastic studs) and so may become unsuitable. Under no circumstances may metal blade studs be worn. A set of screw-in metal studs costs about £3 and can be used for football as well – there is no need to keep changing the studs over.
• Mouth guard. The cheapest ones cost about £3 and are fitted by softening them in boiling water then sucking them onto your teeth. You can get one that is fitted to a cast of your mouth from opro for about £35.
• Black shorts and socks for matches. The club provides rugby shirts for matches but not shorts and socks.

All playing kit (including shirts as many children/parents like to have their own) is available from our store (in the clubhouse or by contacting our merchandising officer (Simon Jeacock at 01638 743968). Before purchasing or using other playing kit (e.g. shinpads, gloves, padding, helmets) please check with the coaches as not all items are suitable or allowed for safety reasons.

When do the mini & youth teams play?

Training and home matches are on Sundays from 10:30 to 12:00. Away matches require earlier starts and later finishes because of the travel time. The season is September to April inclusive. Some of the youth teams hold additional training sessions during the week.

What teams are there for 2007/8?

This is a provisional list and will be updated after registration.

Age is at the beginning of the season, i.e. 01 September. Unfortunately we are unable to run any female youth teams at present due to insufficient numbers although girls are very welcome in our mini rugby teams (U7 to U12)

How much does it cost?

This information applies to 2007/8

There is a family membership discount of £5 for each additional player from the same family. For example:

All players must be registered because otherwise they are not covered by our insurance.

Is it safe?

The RFU place much emphasis on safety in its rules for each age group and in its training for coaches and referees. Only RFU qualified referees may referee youth matches. In addition, at Newmarket all lead coaches are RFU qualified. We also arrange for St. Johns Ambulance to be present at all home matches. Serious injuries are rare. On the other hand occasional bumps and grazes are an inevitable part of contact sports and must be expected.

How do players join?

Start by phoning the manager for your age group or come along on a Sunday morning and speak to him/her. If we are training you will be able to join in straight away. You will have to register before you can play in matches.

How can parents help?

• Turn up to support at matches
• Help occasionally in the kitchen (a rota is included with the fixtures list)
• Help with the youngest age groups at training sessions. Previous knowledge of rugby isn’t essential. Watch a few sessions, then speak to the coach.
• Please note that at least one parent (or nominated “supervisor”) for each child must remain at the club during all sessions.

What are the rules for each mini age group?

Mini/midi players matches are played according to the RFU’s continuum, which you can download here

School rugby is not controlled by the RFU and so may differ from this. Schools generally introduce features of the adult game slightly sooner than the RFU.

What is NRUFC’s child protection policy?

If you have any concerns please contact Cameron Wade on 01638 500 193 or cameron.wade@jpsg.co.uk. The RFU’s child protection policy is here, and an excerpt follows:

Prohibited practices

2.1 Coaches, managers or volunteers including all professional staff must never:

a) Take young people to their own home or any other place where they will be alone with them;

b) Spend any amount of time alone with young people away from others;

c) Take young people alone on car journeys, however short;

d) If it should arise that such situations are unavoidable they should only take place with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge in the Club/governing body and/or a person with parental responsibility for the young person. In exceptional circumstances where a coach, manager or volunteer cannot obtain the consent of the someone in charge in the Club/governing body and/or person with parental responsibility for the young person then if it is in the welfare interest of the young person, paragraphs 2.1(a) and 2.1(c) do not have to be followed. If this occurs the adult must record the occurrence with the Club/governing body welfare officer.

e) Engage in rough, physical games, sexually provocative games or horseplay with children/young people;

f) Take part as a player in any dynamic contact games or training sessions with young people. If there is a need for an adult to facilitate learning within a coaching session through the use of coaching aids e.g. contact pads, this should be done with the utmost care and with due regard to the safety of the young players;

g) Share a room with a young person unless the individual is the parent/guardian of that young person;

h) Engage in any form of inappropriate sexual contact and/or behaviour;

i) Allow any form of inappropriate touching (see Guidance Document, Appendix 4);

j) Make sexually suggestive remarks to a young person even in fun;

k) Use inappropriate language or allow young people to use inappropriate language unchallenged;

l) Allow allegations by a young person to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon;

m) Do things of a personal nature for a young person that they can do for themselves unless you have been requested to do so by the parents/carer (please note that it is recognised that some young people will always need help with things such as lace tying, adjustment of Tag belts, fitting head guards and it is also recognised that this does not preclude anyone attending to an injured/ill young person or rendering first aid);

n) Depart the rugby Club or agreed rendezvous point until the safe dispersal of all young people is complete;

o) Cause an individual to lose self esteem by embarrassing, humiliating or undermining the individual;

p) Treat some young people more favourably than others; or

q) Agree to meet a young person on their own on a one to one basis.