Fixture Meeting 10th Jan - Diss
Fixture Secretaries Meeting
Further to my earlier communication, I am now pleased to confirm that there will be a YOUTH FIXTURE SECRETARIES MEETING – at Diss RFC on Tuesday 10th January 2011 – 7.00 for 7.15 – the bar will be open !
will run through and explain the Structured Season – and Fixture Secretaries can then have the opportunity to make their matches for next season. I do hope that ALL clubs in Eastern Counties will be represented by those empowered to organise fixtures – and we will, of course, be pleased to welcome Youth Chairmen in addition.
Further to my earlier note, I am now pleased to publish Eastern Counties Youth Structured Season for 2012/2013 - for boys from Under 13 through to Colts, this includes all full Eastern Counties Fixtures, School of Rugby Development Days, Sub-County Matches, Sub-County and Eastern County Cups, Sevens Competitions, and Festivals.
This has involved input from the Performance Group, Adrian Gilbert, Simon Lord and Spencer Smith, representing EC Age-Group teams and School of Rugby, and the 3 Sub-County Youth Chairman, representing the Community aspect of the game, together with RFU / London Division mandated County Fixtures.
[Girls and Under 20s, are not yet included – as we still await information from RFUW and the RFU]
This document should enable club Youth Fixture Secretaries to make their fixtures for next season with confidence, knowing competition dates, and the demands on Representative players.
For example, when there is a County Match or an SoR session on a Sunday, clubs are highly recommended not to organise “strong” fixtures (knowing that their better players may not be available), and may wish to consider playing 10/12 a side friendly games with similarly affected sides, play A/B friendlies, or use those dates for skills development sessions for other players.
Clubs are reminded that they should be careful with the over-playing of young players, and that training / skills development sessions should form part of the Sunday mix, together with Competitive and Friendly matches.
There are several developments this season :
Sub County Matches – we are conscious that there are some questions as to these taking place on Sundays. Following this year’s experiment, all on the planning group believe that this season’s experiment has been a huge success for those involved, and made these games very much more successful. We respect that these will not work so well for all clubs, but would suggest that the dates involved could be used as the training / skills development session dates for others.
Development Festivals – following very successful experiments in Suffolk, each Sub County will stage 2 Festivals next season, at Under 13 (on 10th March) and at Under 14 (on 3rd March). These will run at 12-a-side, be non-competitive (4 x 9 minute each way games), aimed at smaller clubs, “B” or “Development” sides of the larger clubs, or “bottom-up” selections from the medium sized clubs – EC / EPDG / SoR players should not take part. These will allow smaller clubs to develop, and allow more modest players their “special day”.
Eastern County Cups – for Under 13 / Under 14 / Under 15 / Under 16, there will (on March 24th) be separate 3 way-festivals both for the Winners of each Sub County Cup, and also the Runners-Up. The Plate Winners at Suffolk and Norfolk will also meet each other on 24th March.
