Micros

Micros

Coaches :- Lindsay Fraser, Mitchell Ellis, Alasdair Forbes, Neil Emmison

2001/2002 season

Micro Rugby is where it all starts. If you are a youngster wanting to learn about rugby, you start at micro rugby level. The club has also taken a policy decision that no matter the age of the new start whether it is 4 or 11, the new entrant to the game starts at micro level. Why? Safety and enjoyment, strictly in that order. Rugby is a contact sport and people can get bumps and bruises.

New starts are almost always enthusiastic and want to get stuck in right away, but like everything, you have to learn to walk before you run. Therefore, at micro level we spend time having fun but developing skills and tactics and learning the rules at the same time. The most important thing is that the children learn how to play the game safely and in the right spirit. Surprisingly we experience relatively few bumps and bruises and the children keep on coming back for more!

All four micros coaches are dads who came along with a son and by being there, became involved. At this level, rugby is infectious for both young and old(er). As coaches, we have Lindsay Fraser and Neil Emmison (SRU Level 2 trained) and Alisdair Forbes (SRU Level 1 trained) as well as Mitch Ellis. The club has taken a decision to have all the coaches SRU-trained and the aim is to have all coaches accredited to at least SRU Level 1 by the end of this season. In addition, all coaches have agreed to and signed to the club’s child protection policy.

What do we do with the kids? We start with a general warm up and some exercises and engender into this little bit of competition. We usually then break up into groups, so that the children get the chance to concentrate on one skill and we then rotate them into a new skill. By the end of this they are ready for a game. Micro rugby has rules, and we work at introducing these and reinforcing them as required. What do we want to see? Kids enjoying themselves and playing rugby safely. The finished article is a child who can catch and pass a ball, run and tackle. Where they need encouragement and re-assurance, they will get this. Any primary 7 ‘new starts’ are treated the same as their equivalents in Primary 1. When the children of primary 4 age and older can complete the basics, we integrate them into their own age-band. Their age-band coaches will then teach the tactical and positional skills needed to compete at a higher level.

What does your child need to join and enjoy micro rugby? A willingness to listen and join in are good starters. We would ask that the kids come with a pair of football boots, some tracksuit trousers, a polo shirt/tracksuit top and probably most importantly, a gum-guard (in winter, please ensure your child has several layers of clothing). An ability to get dirty (which most kids have) is good, and a get up and go attitude is a big help. The club has a stock of second-hand kit to buy, with all the money raised going to club funds.

As a parent, is it a good idea to send your child to us? We are all individuals, what excites one child may not interest another. Bring your child along, leave them with us and come back for them a couple of hours later. We hope that your child will have got ‘the bug’ and be keen to return, although it is important to stress that the coaches are not babysitters on a Saturday morning - they want to see your child take an interest and be developed. If the qualities are not there we will try to bring them out, but we do realise that rugby is not ‘it’ for all. At micro level we do not play in competitive matches or tournaments (this starts at primary 4 level), so all the training and learning comes from the coaching team outlined earlier.

Rugby is a contact sport and we cannot guarantee your child will not be bumped about; we will take all reasonable precautions to ensure fair play is adopted. This is a culture our youngsters would do well to adopt now and for later life.

Details about the Micro Rugby Section can be obtained from Lindsay Fraser (telephone 01358 720844).