I've redone the survey/registration system so that it includes session timings, a pitch layout, and you can add multiple children onto the single form

https://forms.gle/r4E4aPuLdNiQCdm69

If the weather is bad on Sunday, we will be unable to switch training to indoor facilities. So please watch out for a last minute cancellation email on Sunday morning before 9:30am.

After months of the children running around the house filled with excess energy it's finally time for Sunday rugby training to start again and Corstorphine Cougars Minis will be back on Sunday 30th August.

However, given the state of the country’s recovery from Covid-19 things will be different while the club complies with the rules set out for stage 3 return to rugby as agreed with the SRU. I have included the club’s risk assessment to show how seriously the club has been taking these preparations and all coaches will be supplied with masks for when they need to be in proximity with the children.

To help make this a success and provide an enjoyable return to rugby I would ask everyone to appreciate the structure that the coaches will be applying and follow the rules set out below.

If you want to details and background please review https://www.scottishrugby.org/clubs-and-schools/return-to-rugby

Registration

1. Prior to attending training, we need to gather information to support planning and to assist in possible Track and Trace activities. Included with the weekly email will be a computer link to a survey for each child planning to attend that week, where we need to know: Child’s name, Age group, Attending Adult Name, Contact Phone Number. This MUST be completed before Friday night of that training week.

2. At the start of training the Attending Adults must report to the sign in desk to confirm attendance.

3. For “walk-ins” and new starts who have not seen the computer survey form their Attending Adult must supply the information at the sign in desk.

4. Printed registration records will be held by the club covid safety coordinator in line with government guidelines and then destroyed.

Attendance Rules

5. DO NOT ATTEND IF ANYONE IN THE HOUSEHOLD IS DISPLAYING SYMPTOMS OR SUSPECTS POSSIBLE INFECTION

6. One parent from each housing bubble must attend the entire training session in case they are required to deal with a stoppage. Parents should also hold onto their child’s water bottle to avoid any accidental mixing.

7. After sign in children must be taken to their specific training area (half a rugby pitch to be described later based on numbers). The children must not mix or use equipment outside that area!

8. At the end of training the children are to be picked up from the training area and taken straight away. Again no mixing within club grounds.

9. There will be no changing facilities available and access to the toilets within the club house will be limited to “one in one out”

Training Bubbles

10. A training bubble is a group of up to 15 children. There is to be no interaction or equipment sharing between training bubbles.

11. Coaches will ensure that all equipment used within their bubble has been sanitised prior to training and after.

12. Within a training bubble coaches cannot be within 2m of a child or share equipment

13. Each training bubble requires half a rugby pitch and the entrance and exit points to each area will be clearly marked to avoid children from different bubbles coming together.

14. Training bubbles will cover the following age ranges: P1-3, P4-5, and P6-7

Restricted Games and Drills

15. The SRU has set standards for training drills and actual game time.

16. For drills the coaches cannot be within 2m of the children and may not share any equipment. For actual game time the SRU is advocating a simplified game of touch rugby (no tackling!) that the children referee themselves. No coaches are allowed on the field of play.

17. For P1-3 the recommended game will not be practical and so for those children their session will focus on fitness and fun games.

18. For the older groups the sessions will consist of drills and game time with the coaches providing support from the touch lines.

Stoppage protocols

19. As the coaches are not allowed within 2m of the children any situations where a child cannot join in due to being upset or small knock must be dealt with by the responsible parent. Therefore, the parent must be close to the training area for the entire period of training.

20. The only exception to this will be during an injury where first aid protocols will be followed by the official first aider.

Look forward to seeing the kids again very soon

Stay safe

On behalf of the coaching team – Des Trundle