Inward look at junior rugby

Has the number of kids turning up to play rugby increased? It definitely should have been so over the last number of years. Reports confirm that Sri Lanka has a player base of around 100, 000 pre-teenage and teenage players. This area is an important aspect of the game and for the future of rugby in Sri Lanka It is important because the variety of skills and techniques, needed at the top level has to be fed from the base. That is from junior rugby. This includes all types of rugby at the school level. The level of skills among our own is good from a Sri Lankan spectator view. To be where we want to be in Asia in the future we have to develop our skills and techniques. Starting from a solid base at the junior level is therefore important. The emphasis at the junior level is essential to make their performance worthwhile at the National level.

We all know that Rugby is an exciting, free flowing and spectacular game. Yet it is quite complex and requires the mastering of many different individual and unit skills. This is why the need is there for young rugby players to be introduced to the game through junior programmes. These programmes have to introduce kids to the skills and tactical concepts of Rugby, in a safe and fun manner. Rugby is game where the spirit and fellowship are considered to be important cornerstones Therefore, the young have to be educated on sportsmanship, fair play and safety while developing their sporting skills and confidence.

Games at his level has to resemble the adult version of the game but keeping in mind that it should is more suitable for the player's stage of life, physical capability, health status, skill level while being safe to play yet challenging.

The opportunity at the very junior level should be for the game to be free-flowing running and passing. This should be developed to introduce the young player to the contact elements of the game. They have to be encouraged to understand the need to keep possession, go forward and pressure with emphasis of Support. It should teach the individual skills of passing and receiving; running and tackling; as well as the game elements of Ruck, Maul, Scrum and Lineout. It is thereafter that you should step to the full game.

This has to be done in a structured manner at different stages of the development of the game at he junior level. It has been a part of the long term development plan and needs to be structured to attain the objectives. It should be designed to stimulate interest and maximize participation. These essential features are those of enjoyment, maximizing physical and skills development, encouraging and supporting players to reach their potential and remain involved in the sport.

Players have to be taught to gain satisfaction from participation, improvement and competitive performance - without emphasis on win at all costs. Players should be left to develop skills and learn the game without the presence of external pressure to win premierships. The focus should be on the process rather than the outcome.

In this process refereeing unlike at the more senior levels of Rugby will require a different philosophy. A purely technical refereeing approach to the Laws of the modified games of rugby will be contrary to the spirit of the game. It should be so that referees adopt an encouraging and educative, approach.

What it requires will be for coaching, teaching or refereeing to keep it simple, free flowing and enjoyable so that the players develop skills, with safety.

My question, however, is this possible? Given the way the school section structures its games at the junior level the desire to win is important. They have a trophy or a shield to take home. Can we then have a free flowing game which will help the players to enjoy? Can the referee adopt an attitude of educating than being always technical on the application of the law? The coach on the other hand will need to show results. Satisfaction, participation and improvement will not be key factors that he will be judged on. Neither the coach nor the referee can work on the stated philosophy with old boys' parents and other well wishers screaming to ensure that the children bring with them a trophy.

What are needed are change of thinking and a shift of the patterns of expectations. Do we need trophy tournaments at the very junior level? The school section has a major role to play. They have to be organized in 2008 more than in 2007. They have to be focused on the requirement than spending time on issues that arise from politics within its members. With the help of the SLRFU they could help in the development of this game that is truly wonderful.