COFFS HARBOUR CRUSADERS JUNIOR RUGBY UNION
Welcome to another season of junior rugby. We hope you and your family have a wonderful time.
Draw
The draw will be available online by Tuesday 21 July . It will also be online on the Coffs Crusaders Facebook page or from your coaches via email.
* Under 8s (8 teams x 10 rounds)
* Under 10s and 12s (6-7 teams) – 9 weeks plus 1 week finals
Laws and rules
The laws for under 8s, 10s and 12s are governed here – see link
http://www.rugbyaustralia.com.au/Portals/22/2016%20Laws/ARU%20Kids%20Rugby%20Laws%202016.pdfPoints will be awarded as per the MNC zone system (no points for under 8s though) as 4 win or forfeit, 2 draw and 0 loss.
JUNIOR COMPETITIONS RULE CHANGES (MNC endorsed)
1(b) v. If one team doesn’t have the full 15 for under 12s, 12 for under 10s or 7 for under 8s, the opposition team MUST lend players, so that the game has equal numbers on each team. If there are an odd number of players, the team with the most players will have the spare player as reserve. The final score at the conclusion of the game will stand.
1(b) vi. Mercy Rule – if one team is leading by 35 points or more at halftime, the winning coach MUST speak to the opposition coach and lend/swap one or two stronger players to help balance the game. The winning coach can swap these players with other players in his/her team at any time during the second half.
1(d). Position in the competition table shall be determined by competition points in under 10s and 12s only
Referees
Our referees are young and they will make mistakes but they are learning. We also have some very good experienced senior men’s referees. See your coach and manager who will then liaise with our referee coordinator Lance Smith if you have any issues week to week. We certainly want our players and referees to learn and have fun and our parents and coaches to feel like a good job has been done.
Dispensations
Our level 2 coaches have been busy doing these and making sure we tick all the correct boxes through the Rugby Australia guidelines. There is a lot of paper work to get through for RA and we don’t want to leave ourselves as volunteers liable. All dispensations need to be submitted and completed by round 2 by each team. All level 2 coaches would have completed the online assessment course.
Sign on sheets
This occurs in Coffs, Dorrigo and Grafton before each game. Sign on sheets and referees cards are used every game. The sign on sheets will have the players jersey number to be entered, name, DOB and a signature column and if any dispensation has been awarded. Due to covid restrictions, managers can fill the sheets in for under 8, 10s and 12s and hand them back at the desk at the end of your game. If any child hasn’t registered they need to do so through the rugby explorer app before playing because if they get hurt, they (and we) are not covered and neither are the kids around them playing the same game.
Washouts
Where possible we won’t be cancelling any games unless torrential rain has been on the grounds for a few days. If games are called off in Coffs, Dorrigo or Grafton, details of the cancellation will be up on each Facebook page prior to lunch time on game day. The Coffs Harbour Crusaders Committee has the right to move games to another location. Where torrential rain has closed the grounds prior to Friday we will put the cancellation up on the Crusaders Facebook page on Thursday. Our aim is to play through as much as we can this year.
Canteen
Please enjoy our wonderful canteen and support the covid restrictions when lining up. Our canteen is our biggest sponsor. This is how we help reduce costs to registrations and purchase equipment.
Coaches and managers
We liaise with our coaches and managers every week including putting them through a coach’s course so that your child can be taught the current laws of the game. Each week we will endeavour to get around every coach and manager to ask what is and isn’t working so we can refine some of the processes.
Gear
All kids under 8-12 players should wear a mouthguard and head gear.
Issues during the season
Undoubtedly there will be problems during the season. Please talk to your coaches and managers who will in turn talk directly to the committee and we will make sure that it gets solved. We don’t want anyone unhappy.
GALA day (Coffs Harbour and Armidale)
THE 2020 Gala day has be cancelled due to us having more thn 500 people on site during the day.
We will still be playing in the Armidale Gala day in September as the Coffs Harbour Crusaders in under 10, 11 and 12s. The kids (outside Dorrigo and Grafton teams) cannot be selected to play in the Coffs Harbour Crusaders team for this competition. Further details on this day will be available later in the season. Under 8s will attend the Armidale Gala day only as their Friday club team.
Merchandise
Coffs Harbour Crusaders Representative jerseys and hats will be available on Friday nights from the canteen.
First aid
Please see Scott Collins our first aid officer (in the fluro vest) if you have any questions about injuries. At no stage should an ambulance be called without consultation with him or a committee member first.
Rugby – our competition
We encourage all kids to shake hands before the game and after they tunnel each other off (losing team first through the tunnel). It’s something we all do as older players and the kids have fun doing the same. It also sets them up so that at the end of the game they are all still mates having fun.
Club information
Please join our Facebook page and Team app ‘Coffs Harbour Crusaders Junior Rugby Union’ for all the latest information and read through our competition guide so you understand what you have signed up for.
Helping out
We thank you for being part of junior rugby. Rugby involve everyone so please set aside 30 minutes per week to help out at rugby. This might be filling drink bottles or taking kids to training. If you have any other questions please ask. We are all volunteers and if you can lend a hand in the canteen, picking up rubbish, setting and packing up we would love your help.
Kind regards
Paul Butcher (Coffs Harbour Crusaders – president
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