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News from KCRFU Youth Chair – June 2024

All in all pretty successful season in the youth sector. The Kent competition was generally successful with more and more teams entering.

The sevens competition was well attended and all age groups seemed to enjoy the day. Congratulations to all trophy winners and group winners in both competitions. I have enjoyed watching a number of well fought games this season and I look forward to seeing a few more in 24/25.

Turning to next season, links to the entry forms for all age groups are now live on the Kent website. {HERE}. All Age Groups will be using the Electronic Match Card system next season

Some things to be aware of:-

1. Team names entered into the application form need to be available on GMS for your team. Speak to your GMS officer at your club to ensure this is in place before the start of the next season. Help is available via the GMS hub online.
2. Team officials will need access to the competition modular GMS (granted by your club’s GMS officer) and access rights to add scores. This can be done now.
3. All players will need to be registered on GMS by their parents (or the club in extremis) before they can be picked for any team using the electronic match card. This is a requirement of regulation 15 in any event and should be done every season. Unregistered players will not be allowed to play.

I am delighted to welcome  a number of new members to the Youth Committee who will be taking up the competition managers roles next season for each age group.

U12 – Adam Jenner (We will look to recruit someone from the current u11 as well)
U13 – Brett Sandford and Mark Reay
U14 – Jamie Booth-Wilde and Justin Zarb 
U15 – Jamie Calloway and Dave Murray
U16 – Mike Sampson
Colts – Cory Blackmore

The competition rules have been amended for next season and can be found (HERE ) But before we get to next season’s competition we have summer activities to enjoy. 

The RFU have published the summer activity framework which should be followed if any summer rugby is planned. The framework can be found {HERE}

The RFU have also published next seasons amendments to regulation 15 a summary of the amendments can be found {HERE} but you should make yourself aware of the full details of Regulation 15 as well as the changes detailed in the above link.

One key change is that for any Combined Team we will require a development plan to detail the pathway to full teams in the affected age group within 3 years. The total number of older age players on the pitch at any one time cannot now exceed 1/3^rd of the team which is a reduction from last season.

Combining Teams, Playing out of age grade and playing adult rugby

All of the above require constituent body approval which is managed online via forms on the Kent RFU website. This is not to be confused with the RFU online forms which came into being after the Kent online process was in place. There is detailed guidance via pop up information boxes and links to other documents to assist in completion. Please provide as much information as possible to enable the approval team to make an early assessment.

Once approval is granted you will receive a notice of approval sent to the original applicant without which players should not play out of their age grade. This process may take up to 10 working days. Unless you have received written approval from the KCRFU, approval has not been granted and no changes to the norm should be made.

Clubs wishing 17 year olds to play at senior rugby should seek club approval via the online forms prior to applying for player approval. 

The approval process for next season will open on 1st July 2024, applications made prior to this date will be deleted.

I wish all of you a restful summer I look forward to another successful rugby season in Kent starting in the autumn.

Alan Erskine
Youth Chair KCRFU

Links to competition entry forms can be found on the Youth Competitions page.

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COACHES ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE ACTIVATE

• The RFU’s Injury Prevention Exercise Programme that can be integrated into training and pre-match sessions, to improve functional and core strength, balance and agility, helping players with the game’s physical demands. Go to the RugbySafe Activate Toolkit to access the free resources including:
• Activate Kids for the U7 – U12 age groups 
• Activate Youth programmes for U13-U14, U15-U16 and U17-U18

https://keepyourbootson.co.uk/rugbysafe-toolkit/activate/

Clubs are reminded of the maximum time for training and matches per day is regulated by the RFU as follows. Please ensure you are abiding by this requirement.

15.11 Duration of Matches, Coaching and Training Sessions

15.11.1 All players, match officials, schools, colleges and clubs must ensure that no player plays more than 35 matches per Season and in respect of all matches and festivals, plays no more than the maximum playing times set out in the below table.

Competition Rules