Parent Welcome Package Flag Rugby for Children from 4 to 14
Welcome to Niagara Flag Rugby's Parent Welcome Package. On behalf of all of the coaches, volunteers and players we would like to thank you for joining our club. Niagara Flag Rugby was established in 2009 as an independent rugby organization that offers sport to children throughout the Niagara Region. Flag Rugby is a non-contact game that promotes fitness, fun and teamwork for boys and girls from 4 to 14. It introduces the fundamentals of rugby and offers an alternative to traditional summer sports. The objective of this package is to help you to understand how rugby is organized and what to expect this season. If you have any questions, or comments please don't hesitate to ask. Sincerely, Caleb Smith President Niagara Flag Rugby caleb_s51@hotmail.com 905-357-9233
Player Code of Conduct: Play for enjoyment. Play hard but fair. Play by the laws of the game. Be committed to your team. Attend all practices and matches. Never argue with the referee. Control your temper at all times. Work equally hard for yourself and your team. Be a good sport. Applaud all good play whether by your team or your opponent. The goals of the game are to work hard, have fun, and improve your skills and to feel good. Coach code of conduct: Positively reinforce the actions of players. Lead by example. Be honest with yourself and your players. Create an enjoyable environment in which to play the game. Develop team respect for the referees. Give all players the opportunity to participate in games. Insist on fair play and discipline. Be reasonable on the demand of players' time, energy and enthusiasm. Encourage sportsmanship. Parent/Spectator code of conduct: Applaud the performance on both teams. Be positive with the referee. Acknowledge the efforts of the referee. Let the players play their game, not your game. Praise efforts, not results. Set a positive example for the players.
No smoking near the playing fields. If you have any problems with coaches, other spectators or have questions please seek out your clubs head coach or the league president Caleb Smith. Uniforms: Each club has a distinctive uniform colour. Some clubs have enough children within an age group to create multiple teams. When this happens we will create multiple squads within the club with each new team having their own colour uniform. The uniforms come in many sizes and we encourage you to try and find the size that is right for your child. Please mark your online or paper registration form with care. The uniforms will be available for pick up at the first or second practice of the season. Sometimes uniforms are ordered for the players and they don't fit. What should you do? 1. First, tell the person who is handing out the uniforms about your sizing issue. They may have an extra shirt that will fit your child. 2. Second, you could trade with another player who needs or size and you need their size. 3. If this fails then contact Caleb Smith at caleb_s51@hotmail.com and let him know about the sizing issue. We will try to replace the jersey but, we cannot guarantee that a new jersey can be found. By May it is often difficult to obtain new jerseys because soccer and youth rugby clubs across Ontario generally order from a very few available jersey outlets and they do run out of certain colours. Tournaments: There are six tournaments held throughout the summer months. Most of the tournaments are held on Saturdays and a few are held on weeknights. These tournaments last from 2 hours on a weeknight to 4 hours or more on a weekend. Some of the tournaments are purely for fun while others will be for competition. The final tournament of the season will see the first and second place finishers receive medals and all participants receive ribbons.
Tournament Dates and Cities: (times and locations still to be determined) June 15 Grimsby at the Grimsby Rugby Club July 6 Fort Erie, Ferndale (Bertie Centennial) Park in Fort Erie July 20 Niagara Falls, Niagara Wasps Rugby Club July 31 St. Catharines August 10 Fort Erie, Ferndale (Bertie Centennial) Park in Fort Erie August 17 (Championship Day) Grimsby at the Grimsby Rugby Club Question: What if the club my child plays for does not have enough players in his/her age group to enter a full team in a tournament? Answer: As a parent you have three options for your child if this situation happens. 1. Your child can be placed on another team to compete in the tournament. 2. Your child s team and another team in the same situation may amalgamate for the tournament. 3. You can switch clubs and join one that has more children in your child s division. In all scenarios your child will be treated fairly and given as close to equal playing time as possible and will be treated as one of the team if placed on another squad. Tournament Confirmation Sheet: Prior to the start of the season the parents will receive a form listing the tournament locations, times and dates. Please see the form on the last page. The parent will then review the list of tournaments and mark the tournaments that their child(ren) will be attending. On this form will also be a spot for the player s name, age group and club name. These forms will be either scanned and sent to Caleb Smith at caleb_s51@hotmail.com or given to your child s coach to be sent to Caleb later. This system will help us to determine which clubs and teams will in fact be participating in tournaments. 2 weeks prior to a tournament: An email will be sent to coaches to confirm the attendance for teams/individuals to be at the tournament. If a team can not field a full squad then we can amalgamate those players with another team so they can play.
1 week prior to the tournament: The schedule for the tournament will be sent out. The schedule will be adhered to. Please review the schedule so your child can arrive at the tournament in time for their game. First Aid: Each club has a first aid kit and the coaches are expected to bring this kit to all tournaments. We will make efforts to identify a person or people who can man a first aid station at the tournament. Photographer: This season we will be having a photographer take team photos of your child s squad. The photographer will also be taking individual photos as well. You will be able to order these photos if you wish. There will be package options as well. You are not required to purchase these photos. On the team picture day your child is required to wear their uniform to the session which will take place at a practise. You will be notified prior about the picture day and given the order form on the picture day.
Tournament Confirmation Sheet Please fill out your child s information below. In the spreadsheet please check off which tournament your child will be available for. Please give this sheet to your coach at the first practice or scan and send it to Caleb Smith at caleb_s51@hotmail.com. Name of Child 1: Team: (Please circle age group) Age Group: Jk to gr 2, gr 3 to 5, gr 6 to 8 Name of Child 2: Team: (Please circle age group) Age Group: Jk to gr 2, gr 3 to 5, gr 6 to 8 Date Location Child #1 Child #2 June 15 Grimsby July 6 Fort Erie July 20 Niagara Falls July 31 St. Catharines August 10 Fort Erie August 17 Grimsby