FROM 3 YEAR OLDS TO U11s
KIDS FIRST
Hi, I’m Andrea and I’m the Head of the Kids First section at Old Ruts.
I first got involved in Rugby at a very young age growing up in Wales, obviously it is part of the heritage, along with singing!
I first joined Old Ruts as a parent of a 2 year old looking to play rugby…the club only offered from U6s so I took it upon myself to initiate ‘RugRuts’ to fill the gap! We started small and 6 years later we are inundated with little ones, loving the game and without a promotional flyer in sight!
Kids First is a relatively new name for our section which covers U3-U11s. It used to be called Minis, but in line with the English RFU we pledge to put kids at the heart of everything we do and promote the core principles and values…Kids First.
TEAMWORK
RESPECT
ENJOYMENT
DISCIPLINE
SPORTSMANSHIP
Get involved!
All of our coaches are volunteers and we’re always looking for more. You can also get involved by helping with admin or becoming a volunteer first aider. We had a great time last season, but the old adage that many hands make light work is still very true.
You don’t need to be a rugby player, or have any rugby experience. Much of the training is about giving encouragement. The club will also pay for you to attend coaching courses to give you specific training knowledge. There’s a role for everybody!
When we’re training at Poplar Road, there’s often a BBQ offering bacon butties, hot dogs etc so you can enjoy a Sunday morning brunch. The BBQ is run by parents on a rota so when your turn comes, please put your hand up to volunteer for half an hour or so – the BBQ is of course a great place to warm up on a cold day and it’s under cover too.
Please contact the Team Manager for your age group if you can help.
Hopefully you’ve got a flavour of what we’re about! I’ve answered some frequently asked questions below that may help further or you can send me an email or contact and age group team manager directly
It’s a good idea to invest in a cheap pair of rugby/football boots (studded rather than moulded and not for astroturf) for the kids because the grass we play on will be slippery for much of the season.
Club shirts/shorts etc are not compulsory for training but your child will need a club shirt to take part in Festivals (though we must point out that our club kit looks great!). A set of skins to go under their kit and a water bottle (marked with their name) are also a very good idea. Boots and most kit is cheaply picked up from local sports shops or online. Club branded kit is available from the shop at the ground in Poplar Road (open on Sunday mornings).
From U9s we start introducing contact (tackling). As such, your child MUST have a gumshield before they take part in contact activities. You can also buy them under-layer body padding and scrum caps – these are not essential but can help build confidence.
At the end of the season, usually over the first May Bank holiday weekend, the club goes on tour to Brean Sands (Somerset) where we take a huge number of kids from U7s to U13s to play in the Burnham-on-Sea Rugby Festival. If you are interested in going on tour please watch out for details from your Team Manager.
Please aim to arrive in good time. Whilst the SatNav might show a relatively quick journey time for a Sunday morning, there are literally hundreds of other children and families driving to the festival so there is always a traffic jam once you get near, and the parking can be a short of a walk from the venue itself. Car sharing is an excellent idea if you can arrange it. If you are struggling to make plans to get to a Festival, let your Team Manager Ali know as we may be able to get you to car share with another family.
There’s sometimes time standing around between games, so camping seats are welcome for legs large and small. Books, newspapers can help to pass the time for parents – the children always seem to find things to do.
There’s always food available at festivals (burgers, bacon butties etc) but if that’s not what you/your child would go for, a packed lunch and nibbles are worth considering. Whilst a water bottle is a necessity, most children at festivals are hot chocolate-powered!
When the weather is extreme we may cancel sessions but a playing in a bit of light rain is quite normal! Do bring a brolly to stand under whilst watching when it’s wet. It’s also a good idea to bring a couple of old towels to dry kids off before getting into the car, or to sit on to keep the mud off the seats.
Usually Rugby boots should be worn for matches but at the start of the season when the ground can be hard and dry still your coach will tell you if trainers are more appropriate. Children should try and avoid putting on any Rugby boots until they get to the ground, so studs don’t get scratched up. Festivals always seem to be muddy! Wellies or waterproof boots for adults and kids are a good idea, or crocs if it’s a bit milder.
Skins or other thermal tops/leggings are well worth wearing (for kids and adults!) – they add warmth and a little protection. No zips or tags that could snag or catch someone! A spare fleece, trackie bottoms, coat are all good for keeping warm (and dry) in the time spent between games.
Kids First Training
Kids First covers age groups from RugRuts (U3 – U5) to U11 (Year 6). We usually play at either the Club or the Rutlish School (5 mins away).
The Club play at festivals with other clubs throughout the year and team managers will try to ensure that all players get the same number of opportunities to play over the course of the season. We can’t usually field an entire age group in one festival, so if your child hasn’t been picked yet, don’t worry – his or her turn will come! Players not attending a festival might still have training at home if there are sufficient coaches available; your team manager will let you know if this is the case.
These are the planned training locations for this age group. Last minute changes may not be shown on this page but your team manager should always let you know if they are different.
| Date | Event | Venue | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6th | e.g. Training | e.g. Rutlish School | |
| Sep 13th | e.g. Festival | e.g. Dorking RFC | |
| Sep 20th | e.g. No training, hols etc | ||
| Sep 27th |
These are the planned training locations for this age group. Last minute changes may not be shown on this page but your team manager should always let you know if they are different.
| Date | Event | Venue | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6th | e.g. Training | e.g. Rutlish School | |
| Sep 13th | e.g. Festival | e.g. Dorking RFC | |
| Sep 20th | e.g. No training, hols etc | ||
| Sep 27th |
All of the fixtures and results for this age group are shown below only if they have chosen to publish them
| Date | Event | Venue | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6th | e.g. Training | e.g. Rutlish School | |
| Sep 13th | e.g. Festival | e.g. Dorking RFC | |
| Sep 20th | e.g. No training, hols etc | ||
| Sep 27th |
These are the planned training locations for this age group. Last minute changes may not be shown on this page but your team manager should always let you know if they are different.
| Date | Event | Venue | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6th | e.g. Training | e.g. Rutlish School | |
| Sep 13th | e.g. Festival | e.g. Dorking RFC | |
| Sep 20th | e.g. No training, hols etc | ||
| Sep 27th |
These are the planned training locations for this age group. Last minute changes may not be shown on this page but your team manager should always let you know if they are different.
| Date | Event | Venue | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6th | e.g. Training | e.g. Rutlish School | |
| Sep 13th | e.g. Festival | e.g. Dorking RFC | |
| Sep 20th | e.g. No training, hols etc | ||
| Sep 27th |
These are the planned training locations for this age group. Last minute changes may not be shown on this page but your team manager should always let you know if they are different.
| Date | Event | Venue | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6th | e.g. Training | e.g. Rutlish School | |
| Sep 13th | e.g. Festival | e.g. Dorking RFC | |
| Sep 20th | e.g. No training, hols etc | ||
| Sep 27th |
These are the planned training locations for this age group. Last minute changes may not be shown on this page but your team manager should always let you know if they are different.
| Date | Event | Venue | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6th | e.g. Training | e.g. Rutlish School | |
| Sep 13th | e.g. Festival | e.g. Dorking RFC | |
| Sep 20th | e.g. No training, hols etc | ||
| Sep 27th |