RFL Chief to meet clubs over kids format row

[LordCharles]

http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_19492-rfl-chief-to-meet-clubs-over-kids-format-row.html

 

Ralph Rimmer, the RFL’s Chief Operating Officer, is to meet community clubs in the North West on Monday to discuss an ongoing dispute over the format of the junior game.

The North West Counties Juniors League has refused to take up the RFL’s recommended format for Primary Rugby League from 2016, devised to increase participants.

It recommends that at the Under 7’s age group, games will be played with a maximum of five players per side, increasing to maximum six-a-side for Under 8s and maximum seven-a-side to Under 9s in future years.

The format, which has drawn praise in certain areas of the country, was voted in by the RFL’s community board and is recommended by the governing body’s Operational Rules.

It is designed to allow “all kids to play for all of the time”, with multiple games being played at the same time, rather than meaning players are left out. In a squad of 25 players, a game in the previous format (9-a-side) might mean up to 16 players would be left stood on the sidelines and potentially lose interest and be lost from the game.

However, the North West clubs have instead internally agreed a new 7-a-side format as a compromise, which has been “unanimously accepted” throughout the region.

Last month, a letter was sent to North West clubs stating that their existing insurance cover may no longer apply if they refused to adopt the new formats.

It has resulted in a stand-off between the league and the RFL, while it could also compromise financial agreements involving professional clubs through the Sky Try scheme.

Sky Try funds 24 “deliverers”, primarily through club foundations, including north west clubs Salford, St Helens, Warrington, Widnes and Wigan.

As part of the agreement, clubs are required to hit targets on participation, something which may be compromised should their relationships with community clubs break down due to the ongoing dispute.

Rimmer, one of the RFL’s most senior officials, will attend Leigh Miners Welfare on Monday to discuss from the governing body’s perspective why they feel the format change is necessary.

At least one club foundation, believed to be Warrington, has already reached out to its partner community clubs to try and maintain relationships.

The Sky Try scheme is delivered in primary schools, targeting 8-9 year olds, who will receive a minimum of five weeks consecutive coaching, followed by a recruitment event such as an assembly or participation festival.

After capturing the interest of children, the idea is that the schools then signpost them to their local community club.

The new Primary Rugby League format has been adopted as part of the scheme, with mainly touch being played in the schools due to the involvement of children with varying degrees of skill, ability and size.

It is almost two years since the new format was devised, with Australian World Cup winning full-back Billy Slater used as part of a promotional video to inform about the format.

Rugby league suffered significant cuts in its funding from Sport England due to decreasing participation numbers, which prompted the new format.

Such is the fall-out over the issue, talks have already been held about the North West Counties league walking away from the RFL altogether and continue as a standalone association across all age groups from Under 7s to open age.

As yet, it’s unclear what a possible compromise solution could entail. However, the primary concern is ensuring that children exposed to rugby league in schools are able to be retained within the game at their local community clubs.

[Guest]

the primary league format is a joke and the I don't think they are the only league not following the primary league playing format,  

[TaxiEgg]

We have 60 teams registered at U7 and over 800 kids registered .

Playing to a format agreed by the clubs ( 7v7 ) as a compromise to the old mini 9 aside and the 4v4 format .

Which in our opinion is closer to the 50 page document which took the RFL two years to make available to us .

The RFL think now that there is no point in discussing that document you can draw your own conclusions on that .

League reps voted on a watered down version of the full document which was one sided and the leagues were mis lead and the full information withheld .

That's what the RFL refer to as democracy .

We the Nw have challenged the process and our administrators and coaches being labelled as idiotic buffoons who are ill informed by one very self opinionated RFL employee .

So much for building relationships .

The chaotic management of the RFL is destroying the very fabric of our game .

We are not interested in the commercial needs of a failing management .

All we are interested in is building our game from the bottom up and filling our community clubs with players and spectators a message the RFL clearly do not understand their policies are emptying clubs and putting the future of our game at risk .

[RobL]

TaxiEegg, would you mind dropping me a pm, would like to take something off line, your inbox is full.

[TaxiEgg]

You could email me nwc.chair@gmail.com

Can't seem to clear my inbox Rob

[TaxiEgg]

My posts are not intended to offend anyone , they are a direct result of frustration dealing with people who take for granted people like me and show a lack of respect for opinions other than theirs .

I know my posts are being monitored if the people monitoring me have issues with any thing i post then please contact me you have my contact details .

Its good to talk .

[Guest]

Think it would be a idea to contact other leagues and ask them what formats they are using, but the following puts it all in to prospective,

 

It has resulted in a stand-off between the league and the RFL, while it could also compromise financial agreements involving professional clubs through the Sky Try scheme.
 

[Back In The Good Old Days]

So now the truth comes out about who is calling the shots here n by the sounds of it SKY are now telling the RFL how to run and manage the game.

[Guest]

Again the RFL are putting cash before the game, at the end of the day the amateur coach's that have produced thousands of international and professional players are been told they have been doing it wrong,  Mr Rimmer and Woods bottoms will be twitching now, 

[Back In The Good Old Days]

A no win situation for either party this one

However without the volunteers in the amatuer game in all capacities the game just won't exist.

It's pretty galling when you have a person on a very good salary whom cant hold a rugby ball dictating to a seasoned volunteer with over twenty years of coaching and playing the game.

The RFL NEED to take stock of the situation and re assess or the club's will just break away.

The insurance policy that they offer is like having your car covered third party only as my son found out a few years ago having suffered a badly detached retina in one eye - you guessed it he got nothing!!!

And the RFL are wondering why young people are put off by our game.