Selling Our Game
Rugby is about people and friendships.
At the younger age groups, two things need to happen before a new player becomes one of our rugby fraternity:
- the child needs to become interested in rugby, and
- mum needs to be supportive (or at least non-obstructive).
A child's interest is sparked by its surrounds – family, school, friends, and by what they see and hear through their daily lives. Our task is to spark that interest and to provide them with a desire to experience something special – rugby.
A supportive mum is one who can see that rugby will benefit their child. They see that rugby will provide their child with the opportunity to:
- benefit from physical exercise
- make new friends
- develop social and physical skills
- learn about team work
- become more resillient
- grow in self confidence
- develop life-long friendships.
These mums also recognise that there is a difference between their child being hurt and them being injured. Hurt is a day to day experience that is not uncommon in the backyard and in the playground. Hurt is measured by tears and emotion and some temporary soreness. Injury is more serious and involves medical intervention.
Mums need to be reassured that primary school level rugby is almost without injury, and serious injury is so uncommon as to be almost non-existant. (NSW has had no serious injury claims at primary school age rugby for more than ten years.)