Teignmouth Rugby Club Junior Section has upped its Game!
Old Mutual Wealth 'Kids First' has been asking Clubs & Schools to make a public pledge to PUT CHILDREN FIRST.
Aimed at U7-U13 boys and girls, it upskills coaches and creates a great rugby environment, so that everyone stays in the game for longer. Old Mutual Wealth 'Kids First' is linked to a wider review of age grade rugby. It is a coaching mindset that gives boys & girls aged 6-13 the opportunity to prosper through rugby. It does this by fostering an environment for having fun, learning & building confidence.
We’re asking rugby clubs and schools across the country to take the Old MutKids First pledge to commit to a range of high quality standards and Teignmouth RFC is totally on board! Our commitments are:

⚫️ Dedicating itself to putting children at the heart of everything.
⚫️ Encouraging fun on the pitch, through equal opportunity & realistic expectations of our children.
⚫️ Developing children’s confidence and character as players and as people, challenging any behaviour that conflicts with this.
⚫️ Building the skills of our adults to provide a safe, healthy, respectful and enjoyable environment for kids.
⚫️ Championing rugby’s core values, inspiring a lifelong bond between children, adults and our sport.
⚫️ All adults, coaching at TRFC will have a minimum of three qualifications, understanding important elements of what effects the modern game predominately in safeguarding, concussion prevention and RFU 'Return to Play' procedures, proactively changing the culture surrounding the handling of cases and the foundation of a 'Rugby Ready' A 'Face to Face course, intended to raise awareness of good practice and help stakeholders manage the inherent risks of a contact sport by putting appropriate safeguards in place.
⚫️ All coaches will be easily identifiable with matching and correct coaching attire.

Brad Kitson, Chairman of Teignmouth RFC Junior Section said 'We have building towards this for a while, our coaches are extraordinarily proactive and modern Rugby demands it. A sport that's been in the news recently regarding how schools handle contact, we are already one step ahead, ensuring all coaches are on the same page as a united front, looking after our players. With a continued amazing effort from our coaching coordinator Colin Aldworth, the support of the committee and entire club, we will continue to take massive strides towards excellence, the club deserves it, the parents deserve it and the children playing ABSOLUTELY deserve it!'

In addition to the this Pledge, Teignmouth RFC will be promoting in partnership with Withycombe RFC a #silentsidelinesunday campaign. On the 29th October 2017, the Juniors of Withycombe RFC and Teignmouth RFC play at Bitton Park/Broadmeadow Pitches and Colin Aldworth, Angelique Aldworth and Glenn Channing of Withycombe RFC will be enforcing a 'silent sideline' supporting the RFU and the proven positives of allowing children to make their own decisions on the pitch, play with no pressure and reinforcing Rugby values connected to respect for officials, players and coaches.
Angelique Aldworth said 'It's incredible hard not to Coach from the sidelines, shouting instructions and thinking it helps, I've done it in the past myself without thinking. It's proven to destroys confidence long term and we want to empower our kids. So clapping only please! - we are asking all clubs in Devon to join us on the 29th October, so tweet, FB and blow the internet up with #silentsidelinesunday!'