The Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s Winter indoor touch programme came to an end on Saturday with the final festival at Leeds Sports Centre of the programme that has run since November and involved children from under 7’s to under 11’s.
The popular touch tournaments have been organised by Leeds Rhinos Foundation Community clubs development officer Sam Horner, who devised the concept to keep the amateur juniors playing through the winter months and with the larger aim of improving the skill development of junior players aged six to 11.
Leeds Sports Centre have provided the venue for the tournaments that has involved as many as 102 players and 19 teams at the recent under 11’s tournament on February 7th, as part of 10 festivals dating back to 22nd November.
The format of 5 a ‘side touch rugby has been designed to run alongside the new 7s format that the community clubs are playing in the local leagues and works on improving elements of the game such as speed, agility, teamwork, communication and technique, with the added advantage that all players are involved in the games with clubs entering 1, 2 and 3 teams.
The schedule has seen all age groups from under 7’s to under 11’s take part in two tournaments each with clubs, volunteers and coaches buying into the concept from the start, to provide another rugby league development platform for the next generation of players under the Leeds Rhinos club ambassador scheme.
Sam Horner commented on the potential impact of the winter indoor touch programme:
“It’s been a great programme, we’ve had good feedback from the coaches because of the way it promotes skill development, so from both points of view it’s been a success as it improves the development of the game and widens the net of young players coming through at a higher standard as they grow into open age Rugby.”
The Leeds Rhinos Ambassador clubs scheme has played a big part in allowing a network of clubs to come together for the tournaments and all take part in the benefits of being part of the scheme.
“As part of the ambassador scheme we have 29 clubs signed up now, and this year we’ve had the heavy woollen sides come on board, Shawcross, Dewsbury Moor, Birstall, Dewsbury Celtic, Thornhill and Batley Boys . The clubs are receiving all the benefits of being in the scheme and hopefully these tournaments will carry them through to our big Rugby Festivals in the summer.” Said Sam.
Adele Crossley from Dewsbury Celtic, who have been regular attendees of the tournaments commented on being new members of the scheme:
“We became ambassadors for the Leeds Rhinos Foundation just before Christmas, I have a son in the under 8’s and in the under 11’s as well. Quite a few of our teams have done these tournaments (indoor touch) today and we are playing at half time in the Leeds vs Wigan game, so the kids are benefitting loads at the moment.
“The tournaments are brilliant, and for quite a few players it’s their first season as under 8’s, so today has been brilliant because they have had chance to look for gaps rather than trying to drill the ball straight through the line, so they have been coming on loads by not being able to tackle and force their way through.”
The Leeds Rhinos Foundation would like to thank all the volunteer referee’s, admin staff, coaches and parents for their support of the program and hope to see all the clubs back for their match day activity this season and in the upcoming summer Rugby Festivals.
A video for the under 8's Indoor Touch Festival on the 22nd February can be seen below:
For more information on the Club Ambassador Scheme contact Sam.Horner@LeedsRugby.com