There are approximately 170 players in the mini age groups and 130 players in the youth rugby. It is great to see so many players from last season having returned to join the ranks of the Under12s,11s,10s, 9s, 8s and 7s. It is also fantastic to have so many players playing rugby for the first time at the different age groups.

As coaches, we believe in some key principles regarding coaching rugby to young players. These key principles are fun, safety, discipline, learning skills and playing running, supportive rugby as a team.

 

Coolmine RFC has a long history of dedicated volunteers who strive to ensure that our young rugby players experience the very best the sport has to offer in a safe, fun and encouraging environment. Click the above link for contact details of the main co-ordinators and head-coaches for each age group.

 

Fixtures & Training We train on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00am, at our grounds at Ashbrook. We ask that players turn up no later than 9:50am on training days, so that we are ready for warm-up at 10:00am. This season, match days have tended to be on Sundays. On match days, we ask that players turn up at the match fixture at 10.30am, for 11.00am kick off. Training will take place on days when matches are not arranged. Parents need to ensure that players always eat breakfast and drink sufficient water before training (or matches). Players should also bring their own drink to training and matches. Already, players from all the age groups have had many opportunities to play games home and away against opposing teams. We aim to have matches on a basis of 3 matches in any 4-week period.

In order to adhere to safe child care practices, we ask that parents escort the player to the relevant coach for training sessions.

Parents should also arrive to collect the player from the relevant coach on the training field 10 minutes before the end of training. Players will not be allowed to make their own way to and from the club car park to training without parental escort.

We ask that parents adhere to these important points. We continue to encourage parents, relatives and friends to support and reassure the players from the sideline during training sessions and on match days. This makes a contribution to the confidence of a young player and the coaches appreciate it. It is also particularly important if an injury occurs to a player.

Kevin McNally, Youths Co-ordinator