Get to Skolars morning of CCF - cheap beer and walkable to Spurs

[IM2]

big kids tournament in the am and then cheapish beer before a walk to spurs. not a bad option.

[Damien]

Fantastic initiative and it sounds like it could be a great day.

[Northern Eel]

39 teams from 20 clubs taking part: from Brixton to Bassetlaw and London to Leamington. Always a really good event. U7-u11s. 

[Northern Eel]

A terrific festival yesterday. Great to see teams from the North, Midlands and South go head to head. 

In general, the atmosphere was magnificent. It really was a picture seeing so many youngsters playing TGG. Teams at U7, U9 and U11 each played a good handful of games over the course of the morning and then made their way over to the CC Final, which included the traditional pitch-walk, which they also loved.

Aside the many positive engagements and experiences, there were also some isolated scenes that don't belong in our game. There really are some odd people about. Coaches and parents squabbling with the opposition, and coaches shouting and blaring at players in their post-match briefing. It is a kids rugby match, for goodness sake! All clubs had been notified several times in advance of the day of the non-competitive and fun/friendly mission the festival was aiming to promote, yet for at least two clubs, it seemed to be their world cup final. That said, every game we played (Bassetlaw Bulldogs), appeared to be played in good spirits across all age groups. 

[Angelic Cynic]

30 minutes ago, Northern Eel said:

A terrific festival yesterday. Great to see teams from the North, Midlands and South go head to head. 

In general, the atmosphere was magnificent. It really was a picture seeing so many youngsters playing TGG. Teams at U7, U9 and U11 each played a good handful of games over the course of the morning and then made their way over to the CC Final, which included the traditional pitch-walk, which they also loved.

Aside the many positive engagements and experiences, there were also some isolated scenes that don't belong in our game. There really are some odd people about. Coaches and parents squabbling with the opposition, and coaches shouting and blaring at players in their post-match briefing. It is a kids rugby match, for goodness sake! All clubs had been notified several times in advance of the day of the non-competitive and fun/friendly mission the festival was aiming to promote, yet for at least two clubs, it seemed to be their world cup final. That said, every game we played (Bassetlaw Bulldogs), appeared to be played in good spirits across all age groups. 

  Thank you for your post.Thank you for your work at your club and your assistance to others to consolidate interest,and skills,in the sport.

The piece highlighted may explain why participation levels are down.

Even more disheartening when Super League Academies,and semi-professional clubs employ coaches with a similar mentality.

If the clubs and the governing body don't wish to improve things - I hope IMG address this extremely serious issue.

[Northern Eel]

11 minutes ago, Angelic Cynic said:

  Thank you for your post.Thank you for your work at your club and your assistance to others to consolidate interest,and skills,in the sport.

The piece highlighted may explain why participation levels are down.

Even more disheartening when Super League Academies,and semi-professional clubs employ coaches with a similar mentality.

If the clubs and the governing body don't wish to improve things - I hope IMG address this extremely serious issue.

Happily, these were isolated incidents. Those poorly behaved folk reflect on their club, rather than the game of rugby league, as the rest of the teams and coaches behaved themselves brilliantly. 

 

[Damien]

8 minutes ago, Northern Eel said:

Happily, these were isolated incidents. Those poorly behaved folk reflect on their club, rather than the game of rugby league, as the rest of the teams and coaches behaved themselves brilliantly. 

 

Out of interest where these the folk at the Northern clubs?

[Northern Eel]

8 minutes ago, Damien said:

Out of interest where these the folk at the Northern clubs?

The club who stuck out more than any other was. 

Such a shame, because for many, it was a brilliant, brilliant day.

[Damien]

11 minutes ago, Northern Eel said:

The club who stuck out more than any other was. 

Such a shame, because for many, it was a brilliant, brilliant day.

I suspected as much.

Its sounds like a great day was had.

[Templegreen]

2 hours ago, Northern Eel said:

Happily, these were isolated incidents. Those poorly behaved folk reflect on their club, rather than the game of rugby league, as the rest of the teams and coaches behaved themselves brilliantly. 

 

I went to the festival as an neutral observer & it was fantastic to see so many kids from all over the country playing & enjoying the game - really well organised by the southern based volunteers. Was impressed to see Skolars head coach there & one of Skolars players who had played the night before turned up early in the morning to referee

The vast vast majority of teams, coaches & parents were absolutely brilliant & really brought into the ‘maximise everyone’s game time/no scores kept/everyone gets equal opportunity to take part’ ethos that was clearly explained by the volunteers/referees & was apparently also clearly communicated through paperwork issues to teams well before the event took place. Sone really positive club social media showing how much the kids enjoyed the festival the pitch walk & the cup finals.

The very small minority coaches/parents really did embarrass themselves & the clubs they represent. It was equally disappointing to see sone clubs social media boasting of how they won all/the majority of their games!