BRIXHAM RUGBY CLUB

TO BRIXHAM YOUTH RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

MISSION STATEMENT
To provide the opportunity for fun, enjoyment and skill development in the right environment, free of fear and harassment, where everyone has the opportunity to play the game and always putting the welfare of each individual player first – which is far more important than winning a game.

How Your Child Benefits
Our aim is to encourage children to fulfill their individual potential as part of a team. We can offer your son or daughter the opportunity to:

Train with qualified and experienced coaches
Participate in matches throughout the season
Participate in local and regional rugby tournaments
Participate in tours within the UK and abroad.
Attend County assessment centres held locally
But most importantly the opportunity to have fun.

What To Do Next
If you would like your child to play rugby at Brixham, or simply to find out more:
• Just turn up at Astley Park any Sunday between September and April at 10.00 (when we don't have an away fixture) or contact our Director of Rugby Colin Champion on O7788560786

OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE of YOUTH RUGBY.... Since 1979 Brixham RFC has attracted a growing number of Mini and Junior players, both boys and girls to the facilities you see today.
Brixham Rugby Football Club’s Youth Section is one of Devon’s most active and progressive children's sports clubs, our achievements on the pitch speak for themselves. Every Sunday during the season we host both boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 16, giving them the opportunity to enjoy learning individual and team skills in a positive and safe outdoor environment.
The Club is run entirely by volunteers, and parents are actively encouraged to participate in the further development of the club. The Youth Section is run by a committee that meets on a monthly basis. Each age group is led by a coaching team and a team manager.
The Youth Section plays an active part in the community and through the Active Sport scheme we have developed close links with schools in the area.
Achievements over 150 youngsters are playing in Brixham shirts, a record number of County and Divisional players are regularly selected from our ranks, all ten age groups enjoy successful results both home and away, and most importantly. . .we are seeing a children enjoying themselves and giving their best efforts on the pitch.

How Parents Benefit
Our aim is to encourage every parent to actively participate in the running of the Youth Section during the season. Brixham RFC does not provide a crèche for parents to simply drop off their children. The club offers family membership and this reflects our desire to have whole family involvement. Many parents have untapped skills which they do not use at work or in the home. Brixham RFC offers a host of opportunities for parents to get involved in organising social events, teams and tournaments. As well as organisers we need a host of people to contribute to the effective running of the club. Roles include: -
·Coach – Brixham RFC will fund the coaching courses of those prepared to make the ongoing commitment of coaching a team.
·Team Manager – a job description is available for this role. The main function is to ensure that parents and players are fully aware of what is going on in terms of matches, and to encourage parents’ active support of events at the club.
·Match Reporter– Each age group is encouraged to get it’s match reports or articles of general interest published in the local press, Brixham News or Herald Express or even the Rugby Football Union’s newspaper Touchline.
·First Aider – Rugby is a contact sport and players do get injured. Every age group has a first aid kit; our aim is to have at least one qualified first aider per age group. Brixham RFC will run and fund first aid courses for parents. We are also supported by the local St Johns Ambulance during match days.

Our home, Astley Park
The Club enjoys the use of some of the best pitches in the South West of England, including a floodlit training This allows the club ample space for all age groups, and the opportunity to host the Devon Festival and The Fishermans Cup Final.
The Club House, which has recently been refurbished, offers well-stocked bars, as well as large screen TVs, giving parents the opportunity to socialise after training, on match days or when there are televised international matches.( Please note that you need to be a member to use the clubs facilities) Other social events will include quiz nights, race nights, age group dinners and Club barbecues. The Club also organises an annual Rugby Week over 4 days in August for local children aged 6 to 14. This event has grown in reputation each year and now attracts over 10 children.
The Club House is available for hire and is a particularly popular venue for parties and wedding receptions. If you wish to hire the facility contact the Club Steward.

Away Matches
Our fixture list for the Mini & Junior age groups (Under 7s to the Under 16s tends to over twenty different clubs from all around South West and including cup and regular friendly fixtures. As you would expect approximately half our matches are away each season. A conscious effort has been made to reduce the amount of travelling involved to away matches. In particular for the under 7s to under 12s, this means that most matches are now within South Devon.
At older age groups where teams are particularly successful it has sometimes been difficult to find meaningful competition within Devon. In these cases teams do travel further to play in towns such as Barnstaple, Okehampton, Crediton and other teams further afield.

The Game We Play
Coaching at Brixham follows the 'Rugby Continuum' established by the RFU. This is a structured approach for gradually acquiring those skills required to participate in the full 15-a-side game by the age of 13. As a child progresses through the age groups the amount of physical contact, number of players, pitch sizes and skills required increases.
The continuum starts at the younger age groups with a non-contact version of the game aimed at improving ball handling skills and team play. A different game format is then introduced at each subsequent age group level in order that youngsters can progress towards the 15-a-side game through stages that are compatible with their own physical and conceptual development.
An experienced coaching and administrative backroom provides the necessary support to the players on the field. Qualified and knowledgeable coaches supervise all the squads.
GIRLS RUGBY We will be trying to introduce a girls side in the near future complement the increasing number of younger girls playing Tag and Mini Rugby at the Under 7s to Under 12s ages.
Our hope is that Women’s Rugby will flourish in Brixham.

What does it cost?
There is a membership fee payable at the beginning of the season at a cost of £25 ( This also includes any match fees) .The cost for this season is £25 and is free if your child attend rugby week. Suitable clothing and footwear is required but you can start with what you've got initially. The Club does have a kit shop and also sells second hand kit when available. We also operate a swop shop so that out grown boots can be handed down to other players. Safety is an issue and children should not wear watches or other jewellery, and clothing should not have zips, studs or buckles. Rugby is a great social game, so come into the clubhouse during the training sessions or afterwards and enjoy the friendly atmosphere.
There is a major emphasis upon safety in rugby union and players are encouraged to wear fitted gum shields. This can be done through your local dentist. Alternatively you can be buy gum shields from sport shops that you mould yourselves. We also encourage players to wear shin pads for training and matches.
Brixham RFC does not sell rugby boots, protective padding or gloves. However these can be obtained from Bob Lovell sports or other local sports shops.
PLAYING KIT. The club will provide rugby shirts on match days which will be laundered by the club. Parents are requested to provide black shorts, black and white socks and boots. The shorts and socks can be purchased from the club shop.

There are many smaller jobs that need to be done in preparing for tournaments and social events, these include: -
·Marketing of the events to potential sponsors and advertisers
·After match catering.
·Design and publishing of programmes and certificates.
·Newsletters
·Purchasing of trophies, medals and support equipment for the event
·Staffing of BBQs and Tea & Coffee stalls, and the Club Shop.
Parents have the opportunity to develop new skills, but most of all we want parents to have as much fun as their children, by playing an active role in the Club.

Our Playing Policy
The playing policy addresses our responsibility to ensure that every child, regardless of experience or ability, has an opportunity to be coached and play in match situations as regularly as possible. Players who take up rugby union later than most will be gradually introduced into match situations to ensure that they are safe to play. The policy aims to offer children a balance between 'playing to win' and 'playing for fun'.
·Inter-Club matches
This is the most common form of match played. Our aim is to give as many players as possible the opportunity to participate. Team selection is at the discretion of the Coach.
·Tournaments / Cup Matches
Brixham enter tournaments for the enjoyment of taking part, though we do enjoy winning trophies. The number of players is always limited by the Tournament rules. However we do enter several tournaments/ Cup Matches during the season and coaches are encouraged to rotate their squads to ensure every player participates in at least one tournament. Every club does try to field its strongest squad for the County Tournament.
·League matches
The under 16s team will participate in the Fishermans Cup in the 2008/2009 season.
·Tours
These are an integral part of the rugby world. They are regarded as 'rugby holidays' and as such are open to all players. Tours are organised by individual age groups at present.
By striking a balance between playing and winning, the aim of the Club's policy is that all children understand and appreciate the true spirit of the game, ensuring enjoyment for all involved. Today's less-able players may be the stars of the Brixham 1 XV in years to come.
Players should not play beyond the permitted number of matches in any one season, though it is left to the Coaches' judgement as to how best utilise a squad within his own fixture list.

Our Child Protection Policy

We take the safety of the boys and girls who play for us very seriously. We have a Child Protection Officer, and a policy adopted for the Youth Section to ensure, as far as possible, a safe and enjoyable environment in which to play Rugby.

The Junior Section fully supports the Codes of Conduct for Players, Coaches, Parents and Spectators, issued by the Rugby Football Union. These are available from the coaches and are displayed in the Clubhouse. Failure to comply with any of the codes may make a child or adult liable to suspension or expulsion from the Junior Section and Brixham R.F.C.

For further information, please contact the Child Protection Officer, Rachel Smith.

CLUB SHOP

The Youth Section operates a Club Shop. This sells a variety of clothing and other branded items.

The Shop is run by the Merchandising Manager. It should be open most Sunday mornings. Outside of these times, items can be ordered through the Merchandising Manager. Money must be paid at the time of ordering, and no credit can be offered.

Orders can be made to Julie Bryant –857838

Cheques made payable to

‘Brixham Youth RFC ‘


INSURANCE

Details of a scheme run by Combined Insurance is now available to all Youth players. This is in addition to the RFU Scheme (included in the membership|) but is much better and also covers children for other accidents not relating to rugby. For further details please pick up a form or contact Combined Representative
Kath on 07932 832034.