\\ IN THIS WEEK'S UPDATE //
Weather Warning >>>
Pitch Plan >>>
Is your child fit to play?
\\ IN THIS WEEK'S UPDATE // Weather Warning >>> Pitch Plan >>> Is your child fit to play?
***START TIME CHANGES THIS WEEK ONLY***
Please check the timings of this week’s home training.
Due to the frost that's forecast overnight one Saturday we believe the pitches will not have defrosted until 10.30am.
Our purpose is to get kids playing rugby, safely, so as a result of the extreme cold weather we are running later and shorter sessions on Sunday for the Minis and later sessions for the Youth.
Our coaches will be keeping sessions active so there is no standing around getting cold, however please make sure that your children wear weather appropriate kit - lots of thin layers and hats (bobble hats always look good).
We ask parents to stay close by and for all adults to help our coaches by keeping an eye out for any children struggling with the cold (especially Minis) and flag to the coaching group as appropriate.
The most important thing is that our players are safe, have fun and that we don’t deter our players from coming back.
Stay tuned for updates from your head coaches as the weather evolves ahead of Sunday, as plans may need to be changed at short notice.
UPDATES
FIT TO PLAY
At this time of year, it is not unusual for our communities - young and old - to have higher incidences of illness, such as coughs, colds, flu and, of course, Covid. You may have seen in the news that there are also currently higher than usual cases of other airborne infections.
Please do not bring your child to rugby if they are unfit to play (for any reason) or if they are (or you suspect they may be) infectious in any way. This means that any child with a temperature, headache, persistent cough or who has vomited or had diarrhoea in the prior 48 hours should not attend rugby.
Also help reduce the spread of disease by encouraging your child to take simple precautions like washing their hands regularly and ensuring they avoid coughing over others (do the 'vampire cough'!).
If you have any concerns about symptoms, please refer to NHS online or call 111 for advice.
Stay healthy Mighty Oaks!
MEMBERSHIP CARDS
Don’t forget that paying your membership subscription entitles you to a membership card for your family. This card enables you to get a discount at the Clubhouse bar and kitchen.
You can pick up your card from the bar this weekend!
Replacements and additional cards can be purchased by paid up members for £5.
COME ALL YE FAITHFUL
… to the Club Carols on 17th December 5pm.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and we are pleased to once again welcome all our rugby friends to the Club Carols. All are welcome - from our Minis, Youth & Academy players to our wonderful parents, coaches and volunteers.
It’s a very special festive event with a live brass band and carols galore.
Keep an eye out for the jolly fat man!
PITCHES FOR THIS WEEK
This week’s pitch plan has been finalised and can be found below
COMING SOON
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A family favourite each year - with a traditionally warm and festive atmosphere. Enjoy a perennially heartwarming rendition of Little Donkey performed by our youngest oaks or rousing rounds of the 12 days and God King Wenceslas. Mulled Wine and minced pies a-plenty await all who attend…. and keep an eye out for a jolly fat man in a red suit!
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Volunteers required to help organise our funday in December!
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COACH STASH & TRAINING
This year qualifying coaches will receive a polar fleece - the best stash we have ever provided!
To qualify, coaches must have:
paid their child’s subs
have an up to date DBS (or be in progress)
completed the annual training (both head case and safeguarding)
Your age group leads will have received a list of what coaches have completed and what is outstanding (or have been asked to confirm who is still coaching in their group).
The first batch of coaches who have qualified will have received an email from Hendo asking to confirm their size.
To update your DBS, please see Andy Clark in the committee room on Sunday mornings, bringing the appropriate ID.
To complete your training, please use the links below - remembering to ensure you do so logged into GMS so it shows on your record.
RFU COURSES
There are still plenty of opportunities for coaches to attend RFU coaching courses - check them out below.
We do have a limited budget available for coaches to attend courses appropriate to their age groups. Please contact Hendo for more information
SAFEGUARDING
All our volunteer coaches need to be DBS checked in order to coach at the Club and the club regularly monitors that its coaches are up to date. With the first check being completed this week, coaches can proactively check their status on GMS, or check with Hendo.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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All of our amazing parents should have received subs requests direct from Spond and most have paid.
It’s vital that all players are members, in order to be covered by the Club’s insurance and whilst there is a short grace period (primarily for members who are new to the club) we ask that this is paid as soon as possible as we enter weekend of fixtures and festival.
If anyone hasn’t received a request – we recommend checking the contact details on Spond in the first instance.
If there are any other issues, anyone can contact their age group lead or Andy McClinton, which includes anyone who needs financial support.
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Sevenoaks Rugby asks all parents of Mini players in the U5s, 6s, 7s, 8s and 9s to remain on site and pitch-side during training and matches. Only by exception can they be absent and then they must nominate another adult to take responsibility for their child and inform the relevant coach and the player.
We find that some players in these groups can get upset if they are left alone and sometimes need emotional support from a parent or adult they recognise.
For parents of Mini players in the U10s and 11s that do not remain pitch side they must inform the coach and the player and remain contactable (or nominate another adult to take responsibility).
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Padded headgear / scrum caps has never been approved or marketed by World Rugby or the RFU to reduce the risk of concussion and there continues to be no conclusive evidence that wearing headguards reduces the chances of sustaining a concussion while playing or training.
Wearing a headguard should be the personal choice of the player and/or parent. While a headguard can provide some protection (e.g. covering the ears) and confidence (e.g. when introducing players to contact); there is a possibility that wearing protective equipment could potentially change a player’s behaviour (i.e. making them over confident and thus neglecting correct technique and risking further injury to themselves or others). Therefore, players and coaches are encouraged not to neglect correct technique, particularly in the tackle and ensure that players are aware of the purpose of headguards and their limitations.
We recommend that players talk to their coaches about the relative confidence of their child, when deciding whether a headboard is appropriate for them.
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Headcase is one of the UK’s leading concussion awareness and education resources. We take player safety extremely seriously, and this course is aimed at helping us prevent and manage suspected concussions.
COACHES
All of our coaches are required to complete “Headcase” training annually to be able to coach at the club and receive their free stash (which is on the high seas and on its way to us). Coaches can now see on their GMS dashboard whether this is up to date. You should log into GMS course finder (filter for “virtual”) to complete the course.
https://gms.rfu.com/GMS/coursefinder
PARENTS
We also invite the parents of mini and youth players (and youth players) to also complete the training or check out the guidance - it will help prepare them for if the worst should happen and give them insight into the return to play process.
https://rise.articulate.com/share/nc3KPjesYQrj5WjJ4tGS6Grs_ERkPY2Q#/
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The standard process is for a pitch inspection to be completed at 8am on Sunday mornings - NB this does NOT mean that a message will be sent at exactly 8am.
Often an inspection is also made the day before, if not sooner, with the aim of giving people as much notice as possible.
A message is sent to age group leads as soon as possible for them to cascade to their groups. Age groups should not make a unilateral decision to cancel home training or matches without consulting with the Head of Minis/Youth or the DoR.
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Rugby’s values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship are what makes the game special for those who enjoy the environment and culture they create.
They define the game and define England Rugby
Please remember that it is our collective responsibility to uphold and role model the values of our sport. Whether we are players, coaches, parents and/or spectators; we have a duty to role model the values to those around us, including our mini and youth players. So, please always show respect to each other on and off the pitch, to opposition, officials, staff and our fellow members.
