Sidcup Rugby Football Club

MINI RUGBY at SIDCUP RFC

Welcome to the Mini’s Section of the Sidcup Rugby Club website. We hope you find the information you are looking for and that everything is clear; should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the minichair@sidcuprfc.co.uk who will be happy to answer them.

Mini Rugby is for boys and girls between the ages of 3 - 11. It caters for all shapes and sizes and is a sport everyone can play and enjoy. All players will make friends, be part of a team and above all else will have FUN!!

At Sidcup RFC we promote the ‘Spirit of Rugby’. This means the enjoyment of learning a challenging team sport that values effort as much as achievement. We do not encourage a ’win at all costs’ culture to the exclusion of the wider traditional values of the game including Teamwork, Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship and Respect for the efforts of others.

Mini’s training sessions and matches take place on Sunday mornings from the beginning of September to the end of April between 09:15am and 10:45am.

The aim is to teach and develop each young person’s basic skills by:
• Implementing Rugby’s Core Values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline & Sportsmanship.
• Introducing the game in a safe and friendly environment
• Developing the skills of the young people progressively according to their ability, using appropriate coaching methods.
• An understanding of the Laws of the Game and the Player’s Code of Conduct.
• Encouraging a good standard of behaviour on and off the field
• Encouraging fair play and good sportsmanship.
• Avoiding overplaying of players, by using a squad system.
• Ensuring development comes first, winning second.
• Ensuring that all equipment and facilities are safe and appropriate.

All our coaches are RFU qualified, have undertaken child protection training; hold an enhanced current Disclosure and Barring Service (previously CRB) Disclosure documents, as have our team managers and first aiders. All volunteers working within SRFC’s Youth Section are encouraged to work to high standards and adopt best practice wherever possible. The club has its own policies and guidelines which you can view in the Youth Players & Parents Information Pack on the club’s website www.sidcuprfc.co.uk - click on ‘INFORMATION’ on the blue banner at top of home page – click ‘DOCUMENTS’ and then click on ‘Youth Players & Parents Information Pack’ – then click ‘Download’

The welfare of your child is of paramount importance to us.

At Under 6 to Under 11 Age Groups Boys & Girls play in the same team. The objective is to develop the playing ability of all players both boys and girls through developing individual skills, team skills and team play along with an understanding and knowledge of the laws of the game and its traditional values as outlined above.

All players no matter their age or ability want to participate in some form of competitive game. To cater for this the shape of the Mini/Midi game for each successive age group has been structured so as to follow a clear pathway for the player’s development taking into account the ability, attitude and the maturity level of the players so that all can participate purposefully.

At U6 or Pirates & Micro’s children are involved in various non-contact rugby-game related activities. There are no matches at this age group.

At U7 children will play non-contact ‘Mini TAG’ Rugby (4-a-side)

At U8 children will play non-contact ‘Mini TAG’ Rugby (teams of equal number of players not less than 5 or more than 7-a-side).

At U9 children play ‘Transitional Rugby’ (teams of equal number of players not less than 6 or more than 7-a-side) and progress with the introduction of tackling.

At U10 children play ‘Transitional Rugby’ (teams of equal number of players not less than 7 or more than 8-a-side) and progress to uncontested scrums and develop 1v1 contests for the ball on the ground.

At U11 children plat ‘Transitional Rugby’ (teams of equal number of players not less than 7 or more than 9-a-side) and progress with 3 players can contest for the ball on the ground a mini ruck, kicking and restarts introduced.

There are no leagues in ‘Mini TAG’ or ‘Transitional Mini / Midi Rugby’.

A number of fixtures and festivals are arranged against other clubs by age group, these will be either at home or way. However, there is a balance between games and practice/teaching sessions. It is our policy to make sure that every child is adequately trained and ready to play in matches before doing so. These games are Mini TAG, Transitional Mini or Midi rugby however, all games whether they be within the club training sessions or fixtures/festivals against other clubs will be played under the rules of the RFU New Rules of Play. All practice, teaching, training sessions will only be structured as outlined in the New Rules of Play and the RFU Regulations.

Details of this years activities (fixtures, training/practice and festivals etc) can be found on the club web site www.sidcuprfc.co.uk – click on MINI (U7-U12) on blue banner at top of home page – click ‘Fixtures & Selections’ for the age group you require - click ‘Fixtures & Statistics’.

Which Age Group for my child? – Please use the table below to see what team your child would play in and please feel free to contact the relevant Manager for that Age Group if you have any questions, full contact details are available in the Contact section of our website:

Mini Rugby Age Group / Equivalent School Year
Under 11 / Year 6
Under 10 / Year 5
Under 9 / Year 4
Under 8 / Year 3
Under 7 / Year 2
Micros (Under 5-6) / Year 1 & Reception
Pirates (Under 3-4)

Mini Chair, Sidcup RFC
minichair@sidcuprfc.co.uk