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On Rugby in Biggar
Sep. 10th, 2018 09:50 amThe Captain's first tackling tournament went well.
(Although, they aren't supposed to have tournaments at P4-P7 because the format of a group stage and a knockout stage automatically gives more game time to teams who are already good.)
We took a team of 9 to Biggar, some 25-30 miles south, south west of Edinburgh. Biggar is not actually in the Borders but just over the border in South Lanarkshire. It is a pretty wee town, which seemed to be full of local businesses, including a rather lovely ice cream shop. The rugby club is well supported locally, it even has its own charity shop on Biggar High Street.
The kids played really well. They've only had 3 weeks of tackling practice but they got really stuck in. I don't think I could tell the difference between our kids and some of the kids from clubs who stared tackling in late P3. As they warmed up to the idea they got better and better at tackling. What was particularly pleasing was how many passes the BRFC kids were making. Passing when in contact and passing when not in contact. We were certainly the most passing-ist team in our group.
Everyone got a bit of personal success and everyone did a bit of support and helping out. I was really pleased to see some of the slower, larger kids discover that, now the opposition had to put them on the ground rather than just tag them, they could run through the opposition. Or, even more cleverly, one of the bulkier kids discovering that *he* could go round the opposition just like the fast kids because he could break two or three tackles now that he didn't have to avoid contact.
The kids played very well. I thought the other two coaches from P4 were doing a grand job of coaching.
We won all three of our group games and progressed to the semi-final where we met the hosts, Biggar. The game was a draw, so we had a sudden death, golden try, extra time. Biggar started with the ball. We defended valiantly, and managed to cause a loose ball, but one of the Biggar players was the first to get his hands to it and Biggar won.
Lots of positives to take away from the trip to Biggar, both for the coaches and for the kids. The coaching team aren't much concerned with the result but it is heartening to know that the kids we are coaching are doing well in terms of their skills and attitude. We're determined that no kid gets left behind and that seems to be working. It's also nice to see that the same pacey, crazy, swarming style of rugby that the SRU are trying to instill in the national men's team (and I presume other representative teams, but I haven't seen them play) flows right down to coaching 7 and 8 year olds.
For the kids, they all did really well. I hope they discovered that tackling is something they can all do. They certainly looked like they were getting the hang of it. They all got a chance to do something praise-worthy and respected. They played well together as a team, with some good passing and good support running. They were disappointed not to get through to the final and I think that's a good place to be. They want to be good, and they are, but they want to be better.
As for the Captain, he had a good tournament, some mighty tackles and five tries in the final group game. He discovered that the combination of his running lines, his sidestep and strength meant tacklers would just bounce off him. His try saving tackle in the semi-final earned him a much deserved Freddo Frog for best tackle.
(Although, they aren't supposed to have tournaments at P4-P7 because the format of a group stage and a knockout stage automatically gives more game time to teams who are already good.)
We took a team of 9 to Biggar, some 25-30 miles south, south west of Edinburgh. Biggar is not actually in the Borders but just over the border in South Lanarkshire. It is a pretty wee town, which seemed to be full of local businesses, including a rather lovely ice cream shop. The rugby club is well supported locally, it even has its own charity shop on Biggar High Street.
The kids played really well. They've only had 3 weeks of tackling practice but they got really stuck in. I don't think I could tell the difference between our kids and some of the kids from clubs who stared tackling in late P3. As they warmed up to the idea they got better and better at tackling. What was particularly pleasing was how many passes the BRFC kids were making. Passing when in contact and passing when not in contact. We were certainly the most passing-ist team in our group.
Everyone got a bit of personal success and everyone did a bit of support and helping out. I was really pleased to see some of the slower, larger kids discover that, now the opposition had to put them on the ground rather than just tag them, they could run through the opposition. Or, even more cleverly, one of the bulkier kids discovering that *he* could go round the opposition just like the fast kids because he could break two or three tackles now that he didn't have to avoid contact.
The kids played very well. I thought the other two coaches from P4 were doing a grand job of coaching.
We won all three of our group games and progressed to the semi-final where we met the hosts, Biggar. The game was a draw, so we had a sudden death, golden try, extra time. Biggar started with the ball. We defended valiantly, and managed to cause a loose ball, but one of the Biggar players was the first to get his hands to it and Biggar won.
Lots of positives to take away from the trip to Biggar, both for the coaches and for the kids. The coaching team aren't much concerned with the result but it is heartening to know that the kids we are coaching are doing well in terms of their skills and attitude. We're determined that no kid gets left behind and that seems to be working. It's also nice to see that the same pacey, crazy, swarming style of rugby that the SRU are trying to instill in the national men's team (and I presume other representative teams, but I haven't seen them play) flows right down to coaching 7 and 8 year olds.
For the kids, they all did really well. I hope they discovered that tackling is something they can all do. They certainly looked like they were getting the hang of it. They all got a chance to do something praise-worthy and respected. They played well together as a team, with some good passing and good support running. They were disappointed not to get through to the final and I think that's a good place to be. They want to be good, and they are, but they want to be better.
As for the Captain, he had a good tournament, some mighty tackles and five tries in the final group game. He discovered that the combination of his running lines, his sidestep and strength meant tacklers would just bounce off him. His try saving tackle in the semi-final earned him a much deserved Freddo Frog for best tackle.
