Shaping the Game

by pharmachris Wed 04 Jul 2012, 1:55 pm

Had a look and can't see anything other thread on this at the mo. So just to keep you all up together on changes in the true foundations of the game - Mini rugby!

Just a bit of background: I coach the local under 9s team in a club in Somerset and this year we are following the new RFUs "shaping the Game" rules (soon to be renamed the New Rules of Play). These have already been trialled in a few areas of England and will become mandatory for the 2013/14 season.

Basically, the impact of the new laws will be to slow the progression to contact, rewarding intention to tackle as much as a tackle itself, fewer players per team so that all kids get a chance to feel part of a team contribute to the game, and more focus on running rugby, looking for gaps and not contact.

Personally I feel this will hugely benefit the english game in about 15 or so years, but the RFU should also be looking at coaching in the midi/youth areas, as the boys coming up to that level in a few years time are not going to have such strong basics in the contact areas, including the scrum.

Linky: http://www.rfu.com/newrulesofplay