August 2008 Newsletter
WELCOME BACK:
The brand new season is now only a few weeks away and we are all back in pre-season training. Hopefully you will all have seen some of the improvements made to the clubhouse in the closed season. An enormous amount of work has been put in to modernise the changing rooms and toilets….and doesn’t the wooden floor look great in the main room? Even more projects are planned before the end of the year, and they are all designed to make LSH the BEST amateur sports club in St Helens.
On the field, this year sees the introduction of ELVs (Experimental Law Variations), some of which will affect our older teams and is sure to be a talking point throughout the sport. The ELV Briefing Notes have been emailed to all the coaches, so all the players will be fully conversant with the new rules before a ball is kicked….. Even if the referees aren’t!!!!
Referees & Appointed First Aiders.
Yes…talking of referees….. there should be no shortage of qualified referees this year as thanks to funding obtained last year we have been able to finance the cost of ELRA Courses for representatives from all our teams…. So no need to rely on the opposition to provide referees all the time!!!
Trude also organised a First Aid Course last month which resulted in another 6 coaches achieving this essential qualification which helps ensure our young players continue to play in a safe sporting environment.
We have also commissioned an audit of the club’s on site medical and emergency equipment. It is our aim to exceed the minimum expectations in this area at all levels within the club, and to ensure that all our players have all the appropriate medical equipment at their disposal should it be required.
Coaches & Teams 2008~9.
Once again, we would like to remind everyone that we took the decision at last season’s AGM that this year our players would play within their appropriate age groups unless special dispensation has been granted by the RFU. Each Coach (or Team Rep) has been issued with a list of eligible players.
This clearly highlights a priority recruitment need at Under 15s and this is will be addressed as a matter of urgency throughout the summer. In the meantime, any of the U15s are welcome to continue training with the U14s (but they would NOT be permitted to play for that team) or they may elect to train with the U16s on Tues & Thursdays. Players choosing to train with the U16s would be eligible for selection in competitive matches for that team until there are sufficient numbers to field an U15s side. Continuum rules must be followed and the required parental permission has been obtained.
If any parent or player has any questions regarding this issue, please do not hesitate to contact your team coach for clarification.
Due to the continued growth of Junior Rugby at LSH, there are a number of coaching vacancies that we would like filled before the new season. The revised list of teams and coaches (as I understand it) is listed below:
Under 7/8s ~ Jayne Thompson, Kevin Boyce & Laura
Under 9 ~Tony Webster & AN Other
Under 10 ~ Mark Fisher …UNTIL SEPT/OCT..VACANCY EXISTS
Under 11 ~ Phil Kearns & Alan Chadwick
Under 12 ~ Tommy Jackson & Barry Ford
Under 13 ~ Kevin Simms & Ian Tinsley
Under 14 ~ Roy Arkell & Andy Stuart
Under 15 ~ Ashley Stuart & Gary Bennett
Under 16 ~ John Foster, Ste Metcalfe & Andy Knowles.
Girls U12/13/15 ~ Becky Armstrong & Kieran Tucker.
Our objective is for each team to have 2 coaches, 1 team Representative and 1 qualified Referee by the start of September 2008. Nothing like being positive is there???
We would also like to thank Mark & Carol Fisher for their valued and continued support of Junior Rugby at LSH. As some of you may already know, the family will be leaving the area in autumn as Carol has been offered a new job. I hope that you will join me in wishing them every success for the future.
Kitchens.
The funding application to have the kitchen totally refurbished has now finally been submitted. We have a really strong case and we believe our proposal is a robust one. If successful, we could have a brand new fully operational kitchen capable of delivering good volumes of healthy food options as well as the traditional fare before Xmas. We expect to get a decision in October and we will keep you posted. In the mean time, we need to make the most of what we have….there is now a rota for helping to staff the Kitchens on training nights and match days…please help out where you can. It’s a simple equation…if we don’t have enough help….we close the kitchen.
Girls’ Rugby at LSH.
WELL DONE to the 15 or so girls that have been down training at LSH for the last few weeks. There are definitely some classy players amongst them ~ as Barry Ford’s U12s team will testify. At the end of training last week, the LSH girls took on the lads at Tag Rugby and beat them convincingly 4 tries to 2 !!!! Needless to say there were lots of grumbles about the referee….but hey…a win is a win, eh?
There are also around a dozen or so girls from the Haydock area that have expressed an interest in joining the team….so if you know someone that can help out with transport etc…please contact Becky on 07729305225 or becksarmstrong007@yahoo.co.uk
Summer Rugby Camp August 12th & 13th.
As you will be aware, we have been forced to cancel this year’s Summer Camp due to low numbers. Naturally, we are all disappointed as these Rugby Camps not only are a significant income stream for the MJS (thereby enabling us to keep subs so low), but they offer an opportunity for the children to receive coaching from Paul Woodward, First Team players and RFU coaches.
Please help us to understand WHY this year’s event wasn’t appealing…. Was it the cost? Was it the dates? Was it the format? Please let us know your thoughts so that we can take the appropriate action next time.
Annual Subscriptions.
Yes…it’s THAT time of year!!! I’m sure you will agree that these prices represent unrivalled value for money when compared to other sports clubs in general and rugby clubs in particular. A Membership Renewal Form is attached and you will see that we have negotiated a special discounted rate for non-playing members and helpers.
Existing players can give these completed forms and payment to their Coach/Team rep or to our Treasurer, Elaine Smith.
New players, who are registering for the first time, please contact Elaine as there are some additional forms that need to be completed.
Elaine Smith 07784890684.
The brand new season is now only a few weeks away and we are all back in pre-
On the field, this year sees the introduction of ELVs (Experimental Law Variations), some of which will affect our older teams and is sure to be a talking point throughout the sport. The ELV Briefing Notes have been emailed to all the coaches, so all the players will be fully conversant with the new rules before a ball is kicked….. Even if the referees aren’t!!!!
Referees & Appointed First Aiders.
Yes…talking of referees….. there should be no shortage of qualified referees this year as thanks to funding obtained last year we have been able to finance the cost of ELRA Courses for representatives from all our teams…. So no need to rely on the opposition to provide referees all the time!!!
Trude also organised a First Aid Course last month which resulted in another 6 coaches achieving this essential qualification which helps ensure our young players continue to play in a safe sporting environment.
We have also commissioned an audit of the club’s on site medical and emergency equipment. It is our aim to exceed the minimum expectations in this area at all levels within the club, and to ensure that all our players have all the appropriate medical equipment at their disposal should it be required.
Coaches & Teams 2008~9.
Once again, we would like to remind everyone that we took the decision at last season’s AGM that this year our players would play within their appropriate age groups unless special dispensation has been granted by the RFU. Each Coach (or Team Rep) has been issued with a list of eligible players.
This clearly highlights a priority recruitment need at Under 15s and this is will be addressed as a matter of urgency throughout the summer. In the meantime, any of the U15s are welcome to continue training with the U14s (but they would NOT be permitted to play for that team) or they may elect to train with the U16s on Tues & Thursdays. Players choosing to train with the U16s would be eligible for selection in competitive matches for that team until there are sufficient numbers to field an U15s side. Continuum rules must be followed and the required parental permission has been obtained.
If any parent or player has any questions regarding this issue, please do not hesitate to contact your team coach for clarification.
Due to the continued growth of Junior Rugby at LSH, there are a number of coaching vacancies that we would like filled before the new season. The revised list of teams and coaches (as I understand it) is listed below:
Under 7/8s ~ Jayne Thompson, Kevin Boyce & Laura
Under 9 ~Tony Webster & AN Other
Under 10 ~ Mark Fisher …UNTIL SEPT/OCT..VACANCY EXISTS
Under 11 ~ Phil Kearns & Alan Chadwick
Under 12 ~ Tommy Jackson & Barry Ford
Under 13 ~ Kevin Simms & Ian Tinsley
Under 14 ~ Roy Arkell & Andy Stuart
Under 15 ~ Ashley Stuart & Gary Bennett
Under 16 ~ John Foster, Ste Metcalfe & Andy Knowles.
Girls U12/13/15 ~ Becky Armstrong & Kieran Tucker.
Our objective is for each team to have 2 coaches, 1 team Representative and 1 qualified Referee by the start of September 2008. Nothing like being positive is there???
We would also like to thank Mark & Carol Fisher for their valued and continued support of Junior Rugby at LSH. As some of you may already know, the family will be leaving the area in autumn as Carol has been offered a new job. I hope that you will join me in wishing them every success for the future.
Kitchens.
The funding application to have the kitchen totally refurbished has now finally been submitted. We have a really strong case and we believe our proposal is a robust one. If successful, we could have a brand new fully operational kitchen capable of delivering good volumes of healthy food options as well as the traditional fare before Xmas. We expect to get a decision in October and we will keep you posted. In the mean time, we need to make the most of what we have….there is now a rota for helping to staff the Kitchens on training nights and match days…please help out where you can. It’s a simple equation…if we don’t have enough help….we close the kitchen.
Girls’ Rugby at LSH.
WELL DONE to the 15 or so girls that have been down training at LSH for the last few weeks. There are definitely some classy players amongst them ~ as Barry Ford’s U12s team will testify. At the end of training last week, the LSH girls took on the lads at Tag Rugby and beat them convincingly 4 tries to 2 !!!! Needless to say there were lots of grumbles about the referee….but hey…a win is a win, eh?
There are also around a dozen or so girls from the Haydock area that have expressed an interest in joining the team….so if you know someone that can help out with transport etc…please contact Becky on 07729305225 or becksarmstrong007@yahoo.co.uk
Summer Rugby Camp August 12th & 13th.
As you will be aware, we have been forced to cancel this year’s Summer Camp due to low numbers. Naturally, we are all disappointed as these Rugby Camps not only are a significant income stream for the MJS (thereby enabling us to keep subs so low), but they offer an opportunity for the children to receive coaching from Paul Woodward, First Team players and RFU coaches.
Please help us to understand WHY this year’s event wasn’t appealing…. Was it the cost? Was it the dates? Was it the format? Please let us know your thoughts so that we can take the appropriate action next time.
Annual Subscriptions.
Yes…it’s THAT time of year!!! I’m sure you will agree that these prices represent unrivalled value for money when compared to other sports clubs in general and rugby clubs in particular. A Membership Renewal Form is attached and you will see that we have negotiated a special discounted rate for non-
Existing players can give these completed forms and payment to their Coach/Team rep or to our Treasurer, Elaine Smith.
New players, who are registering for the first time, please contact Elaine as there are some additional forms that need to be completed.
Elaine Smith 07784890684.
