Kids First Rugby

The KIDSFIRST programme for Under 7 to Under 11 children was launched on September 14 2013 to coincide with the introduction of RUCKLEY the ambassador for England Rugby and the Young England Supporters Club http://www.rfu.com/ruckley

Towcestrians RFC are the first club in East Midlands to be accepted onto the programme following their excellent work in mini and youth rugby. The core of the KIDS FIRST programme is “Getting the Best out of Every Child” with their personal and social development underpinning and surrounding all other aspects of their development – Physical & Movement, Game Understanding and Skill Focus.

In order to develop confident, competent, positive, creative, decision making rugby players who view making mistakes as a necessary and acceptable ingredient to improving we need to help to develop confident, competent, positive, creative, decision making young people. That is a primary aim of the KIDS FIRST programme. In a nutshell, it is about coaching children through rugby union, rather than coaching rugby to children. A different emphasis which puts the child at the centre of the development programme.

The children are provided with sticker books in which they can record their personal achievements and the coaches with cards which assist them in delivering a child centred development programme. Each age group has a framework for development which provides the core of delivery for the season, and which can be located on the individual age group pages of the club web-site to help parents understand the focus for the season for their child.

The club have signed up to the KIDS FIRST Manifesto and should be congratulated for supporting a child-centred development programme for each and every child.

Rugby First Award