TOMASZ CHADWICK’S JUNIOR REPORT: Big freeze highlights importance of facilities

With the temperature dropping consistently since the start of the new year, every weekend we are seeing the benefits of having our very own sports hall here.

The children are able to continue training without fear of being too cold and our coaches have license to use other forms of coaching methods to bring out the best in our youth.

A parent even mentioned to me on Sunday that being able to sit inside and watch their child was also a fantastic bonus to our facilities here.

As very few, (unsurprisingly) would want to brave the cold outside on a Sunday morning.

This weekend our minis will be welcoming Beverley RUFC to Silver Royd to complete the return fixtures.

Meet time is at 10.15am and the games (weather permitting) will commence at 11am.

The following week, (Sunday February 1) all minis age groups will be competing away at Hull Ionians.

Due to the length of travel for this trip, Scarborough RUFC will be hiring coaches to transport all players, coaching staff, parents and supporters to Hull.

However, we do need to get a rough estimate on numbers for the day itself.

If you would be interested in coming along it would be £5 for adults and all players go for free.

Please notify myself or someone at the club if you would like to reserve a place.

Sunday will also see our under-17s take on Driffield in their next league fixture.

Our junior colts had their game cancelled last week due to frozen pitches in Halifax so I’m sure they’re well rested and excited for this next game.

Provided our pitches here are not frozen, kick-off will be at 11am.

If our junior colts win this game they will be one step closer to clinching the league title.

Moving on from our youth section, Jacaranda’s Active Youth Camps will be returning to Scarborough RUFC over the February half term.

On February 16-20, children from the ages of five to 11 will be able to try their hand at a multitude of different sports and activities.

Enjoyment is the main driving force behind everything we do here.

From treasure hunts, sports, drawing and tug of war – to hide and seek, uni-hoc and athletics (and so much more), there is no other aim on these camps other than to keep our youth active, healthy and happy.

Since the camps were launched in the summer the attendance has doubled which speaks volumes of how well the camps are being received.

To book a place, please email [email protected] , charges are only £10 per day, or £40 for the week and the camp runs from 9am-3.30pm. (Including an early bird drop off – get in touch for more details)

Over the last few weeks I have been coaching in Brompton and Sawdon Primary School.

On my first day there I had a little girl walk over to me and she told me not to expect too much from her in the session because “rugby scares me and I’m not very good at it”.

This week it was my final session there and what was so nice to see was this same girl getting as involved as everyone else.

I spoke to her after the session and asked her if she still thought it was scary and she said “it’s not actually scary at all, I just didn’t know what it really was”.

This is not an uncommon problem. Many people (children especially) may see rugby or hear friends talking about it and at times it can put them off every trying it.

But at a young age, where contact isn’t allowed, and tag belts are used for tackling, the sport is a brilliant grounding for any child to stay healthy and learn valuable skills for later on in life.

What’s important is that these children have a chance to take part in the sport and understand that it isn’t as scary as it’s perceived, and this is what the Active Youth Scheme is all about - helping to break barriers that prevent sport’s participation.

This week a representative of the RFU (the governing body of rugby in England) came to Scarborough RUFC to drop off some brand new playing equipment and kit for our women’s section.

We are truly lucky to their institution on board with everything we are trying to achieve.

The same representative has offered to assist me as I target girls rugby in schools over the coming months. Following the success of our women’s team here, we are now hoping to set up an under-13s and under-15s team.

In order to do this we are in desperate need of some volunteer coaches to coach these teams once a week.

As a club we will be putting on coaching courses over the next six months free to anyone that would like to volunteer at the club.

If this is something you’d be interested in, please get in touch with myself at [email protected] .