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Attempting to make Kids rugby more acceptable & safe to enjoy

(7 posts)

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    Posted 1 year ago

  2. Toothlesstiger
    Moderator

    Read the following article and as the topic title suggests, we have to look at what is best for the game to grow.

    Our game has a stigma attached to it . It is a "too" rough a game of my kid to play.

    Rugby is played by a "bunch of beer swilling" ruffians.

    With Ontario' new funding from the Ontario Goverment for "Startrugby" (see the Rugby Ontario website) the Ontario clubs and volunteers will be confronted when approaching the elementary school system with all of the above negatives and the usual,"lack of coaches".

    The following article provides them with a "heads-up" in how to introduce & dealing with in an appropriate approach addressing these issues while introducing the game to the prospective market of 10,000 children (boys & girls) in grades 6,7 & 8.

    "Call to ban rugby scrums at schools
    Last updated 4 Jul 2010 - 12:45 pm

    Rugby scrums and high tackles should be banned in school sportRugby scrums and high tackles should be banned in school sport, a public health professor has said.

    Professor Allyson Pollock, director of Edinburgh University's Centre for International Public Health Policy, called for the ban after research revealed injuries sustained by youngsters playing the game.

    The study included 470 rugby players at five schools in Scotland during the second half of the 2008-09 season, from January to April last year.

    There were 37 injuries recorded, 26 during matches and 11 in training, including 20 which needed a trip to the accident and emergency department.

    The tackle was the "commonest phase of play causing injury" with head and face the most injured body part and sprain/ligament injury the most common injury, the study found.

    Professor Pollock, one of the study's authors, said: "High tackles and scrums should be banned. The sport is not safe enough for schoolchildren and not enough is being done to protect the safety of children.

    "We know that most injuries occur in tackles and the scrum so there have got to be much greater safety measures in these areas.

    "It may change the game but it's better to have a safe game than a dangerous game.

    "Concussion is under-reported because it's not being monitored properly. Repeated concussions may have severe long-term consequences.

    "Rugby is compulsory in many schools - and schools, teachers and coaches have a duty of care towards children."

    © Press Association 2010"

    Posted 1 year ago #

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  4. Harry Craig
    Member

    Where are her facts to back up her assertions. High tackles are illegal and subject to penalty but a properly executed scrum will seldom result in injury.

    Posted 1 year ago #

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  6. Frank Levick
    Member

    Startrugby is 'flag rugby', yes?

    Posted 1 year ago #

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    Posted 1 year ago

  8. Toothlesstiger
    Moderator

    Guys, it is the perception in the minds of the mis-informed masses that we need to attract to the game be it "STARtrugby" or OFSSAA's "Bridging the Gap" both funded by the Ontario Government.

    Hitting the streets or our elementary school systems unprepared, worse still armed with my learned friend Harry's or Franks responses will not cut it with parents, school councils and teachers, all possibly well educated and perceived to be well informed.

    The volunteers taking these programs to the younger community of potential players from a very much more varied ethnicities will to be successful, and the ORU press release has suggested reaching out to 10,000 of such potential future players of the game will have to have materials, power point presentation materials and deliverable skills. Finally, walking in the front door of any school, high or elementary to pitch at a teacher whose only exposure to phys-ed is what is doled out in a semester at teaching college are not going to be the decision makers and deal breakers.

    In todays world you will not find characters like Glenn Tarver or Dominic Scuglia behind many desks that already have an understanding and passion for the game. This will require to be pitched at the school boards and their superintendents before hitting the individual schools.

    I know, I spent most of last Spring 2009 doing just that.

    In any event I wish and hope all will go well and the outcome is a roaring success.

    And, Harry if we wait long enough we always will get the other side of a story. Enjoy the following rebuttal to the article I previously posted on this same subject opening this thread.

    [quote] 8 Jul 2010
    Two academics from the same university have become embroiled in an embarrassing spat over their own research.
    The cross-departmental row at Edinburgh University came as a doctor and a professor clashed after a study on rugby injuries.
    In an extremely unusual move, Dr Alastair Nicol, lead author on the Study of Rugby Union Injuries in Scottish Schools, has criticised comments made by a colleague after publication of the joint research.
    Nicol, medical director at the Fitness Assessment and Sports Injuries Centre at the university, names Professor Allyson Pollock, professor of international public health policy in the school of social and political science, in his criticism in a letter to The Herald.
    Her comments about banning scrums in school rugby came alongside publication of the research this week.
    The study included 470 rugby players at five schools in Scotland during the second half of the 2008-09 season, and found there were 37 injuries recorded, 26 during matches and 11 in training, including 20 that
    needed a trip to an accident and emergency department.
    Pollock, a joint author, was reported as saying: “High tackles and scrums should be banned.
    “The sport is not safe enough for schoolchildren and not enough is being done to protect the safety of children. We know that most injuries occur in tackles and the scrum so there have got to be much greater safety measures in these areas.”
    However, Nicol takes issue with the association of a ban and the study. He wrote: “In recent press reports, Professor Allyson Pollock of Edinburgh University has cited a newly published study on injuries in school rugby to support her claim that scrums in school and youth rugby should be banned.
    “Having reviewed the press reports I, as the lead author of this study, am disappointed at the way in which the results have been inaccurately used as a springboard to launch an unwarranted attack on rugby.”
    He continues: “Referring specifically to the call by Professor Pollock to ban scrums, I would note that in our study there were only two injuries in the scrum, one a knee and one a back injury. Both were back playing within a few weeks.
    “In no way can that be considered sufficient evidence to call for a ban on scrums in schools rugby. Our paper does not make any recommendation for banning or changing the laws around the scrum.”
    Pollock said: “There is no disagreement. I and Dr Nicol are in agreement over the findings of the paper. We must not lose sight of the key finding that it is relatively easy to collect good data on injuries among children playing rugby across Scotland. This needs to be implemented, without further delay.”
    A spokesman for Scottish Rugby said last night: “Rugby is a safe sport enjoyed by tens of thousands of players throughout Scotland and many thousands globally.
    “Player safety and welfare is of the highest priority to Scottish Rugby and indeed Scottish Rugby has been at the forefront of piloting a number of variations to the game’s laws designed to make the game safer and more enjoyable for al”.
    “Scottish Rugby will continue to ensure that the game is enjoyable for players of all shapes and sizes and assist in keeping our nation physically active.”

    Posted 1 year ago #

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  10. Frank Levick
    Member

    Now that, is a missionary position. Joe Public regards Hockey and Football as "contact sports" You can commit acts of unspeakable violence and it is regarded as a good hit with high fives all around. The players are body armoured, particularly the head. Most other sports are regarded as non-contact - basketball, soccer etc. There is a third category, let us call them the hybrid game, tag football, ultimate etc at the co-ed level which is all about fun. School Boards are so risk averse (to anything) I would fancy that most Principals wouldn't mind getting rid of the Hockey and Football if they could. They would definately see flag rugby as the thin end of the wedge.

    Posted 1 year ago #

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  12. Harry Craig
    Member

    On Saturday I was in Ajax to attend my club, the Wanderers, family day. When the kids came on to play mini rugby after the first team game all I saw was kids having fun, which is what we need to make rugby more popular in this country. Speaking to many parents who know little about rugby and a few who have a rugby background they spoke of how much the kids loved it. I am a very proud Wanderer right now. All I saw all day was evryone having fun, as it should be.

    Posted 1 year ago #

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  14. Frank Levick
    Member

    Which begs the question as to why a game of mini-rugby is viewed inside/outside the school system as two very different games! These days if a kid wears his Granpa's WWII beret to school as part of a show-and-tell the school gets put under an emergency lockdown.

    Posted 1 year ago #

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