We (Oulton Under 8's) started the season well against a very young Swillington side - many of them playing a year up, it was a bit of a mis-match really although they didn't give up. Much better playing under this season rules when errors result in a turnover - will be interesting how some of the teams who threw the ball absolutely anywhere cope with these, although we do have a couple of boys who run straight into touch - and as a team we have a tendency to try and run round the defense rather than through it.

Our timing was still well off, we tried and put a couple of dummy runners in towards the end of last year but the lads lines' and timing were wrong - but improved at training last night so fingers crossed they keep improving.

Does anybody else have any suggestions for teaching them to keep them away from the edges? Had a game in training last night, taking off players who ran straight for touch and this seemed to work but come Sunday I think we could have the same problem again.

This week we have East Leeds away, so no idea what to expect as we didn't play them last season.

I wouldn't even entertain working on dummy runners in training or in matches as it confuses the hell out of them and takes their concentration away from what mini/mod rugby should be about which is doing the basics well. Through games I teach play the ball, start points at first receiver, dummy half pass, moving on to the ball and later introduce a simple plus 1 (short pass). That combined with speed, agility, balance along with catch, grip, carry and tackling is as far as it should go.

As for going into touch all you can do is reinforce that its ok to get tackled and not to score on every play as its a learning process that they will eventually get. You could also use a conditioned game where by the attacking team have unlimited tackles until they make an error/go in to touch, which is more of a positive message about what youre looking for than taking the players off the pitch. Failing that its an electric fence around the pitch!

Do what I do with my 9's and put barbed wire down either side of the field!!

I am introducing dummy running and miss balls in training some of the kids are really taking to it, some struggle.

I am also bringing in first man plays as they all now have the basic ability to catch, pass, drop off etc although we do not use them in a match until I say, usually 3 or 4 minutes before full time when it is not going to have too detrimental an effect on the result should it all go wrong.

Thanks, to be fair the majority of the lads have taken really well to the dummy runners in training, and in the Rhino's indoor league - we stick to a dummy runner from the half back, simple calls nothing flash - taking the pressure off the runner and giving him more time to pick his gap. I don't think they are confused with it, just making them realise as you say that there is more to the game than scoring. They just seemed to have their timing off on Sunday, but on Saturday (and also last night) it was bang on! Clearly not all the boys can do it, and some of them we stick to the basics of running off the half back.

You're not the team who keep trying to encroach on our session by pinching land on a Monday night are you?

Ha no, we're U14s and train on a Tues and Thurs.

should results really matter at that age?

Imho results dont really matter that much in the 9s indeed you should tread carefully with score lines and naming especially large scores . This is ehy there is no real record kept.

However enthusiasm is something that you will never take away from dads etc and without trying to be condescending to my Wigan supporting ex forum sparing partner he eill realise the error of his ways when they are playing real rugby aged 12

I understand East Hull beat West Hull in their own backyard 8-12.
Well done to both sets and all the boys playing to such high standard.

Correct easts won 12-8 in a very good game, which could have even been more but bombed 4 good chances.

Panthers 14s had a comfortable 6-32 win at shaw cross. Still plenty to improve on and bigger tests will come in the coming weeks.

Great win for east hull over wests I can really see it been nip and tuck all year.

Same its better to have close games then runaway scores? we have Shaw Cross at home next week, then Siddal in the quarters week after so some good games coming up, good luck for the season buddy.

Crigg 14s lost 44 0 at home to Hunslet.

Whats left to say

Not sure what to make of that scoreline.it appears from the outside looking in that confidence must be at rock bottom.

West Hull this week then East Leeds for Crigg

The sharks can smell blood.

nice contribution

think he could be on about the exodus snowie! at least another 2?

Personally I think scores do matter at this age they certainly do to the kids. It is all about performance but the kids certainly enjoy it more and buy into training more if they win.

The kids work hard in training on their skills and it is great to see them rewarded for it and it also brings them confidence as they improve.

I am not one of these coaches that has players picked out and playing positions at this age, which some do, every player gets a run in every role and every player gets on the field for the same length of time regardless of their ability, again something that I have seen does not always happen. Due to the number of kids we have it is damaging to our team and the result to switch players on and off but it would be totally against the principle of development not to.

I think it is important though to build a unit of togetherness from this age working towards the competitive stages and being rewarded and acknowledging a good performance and win is part of building that, I would go one step further and say not recording a win is damaging to a child's athletic and personal development, and plays a major part in the apathetic society that we currently live in.

My kids play tough, with class when they win or lose and have fun.

Oulton Under 8's played a very tough East Leeds team at the weekend and struggled a bit against their defense. Uphill in the first half, we couldn't really get on the front foot against them, they hit very hard - certainly harder than any other team we have played. They moved up in defense, tackled hard, hardly ran into touch and had good ball retention.

Our lads stuck at it, and got going a bit more in the second half and closed the gap but we still had a bit too much to do. We asked the boys to keep hold of the ball and not go into touch, and they did this very well - so a pleasing improvement on the previous week in the areas we worked on in training. The lads showed plenty of bottle against a team very different and much tougher than they have played against previously, so we learned a lot.

Their parents said that this team had played under 8's for the last 2 years - don't know how that would have worked, but they certainly appeared much more hardened than other sides we have played against. It does appear though from talking to other coaches that a fair few of the "new" sides in this years under 8's are in at least their second year at this level so it will be interesting when they split into divisions at Easter.

This is for excited dads , mums etc but I just find it a little bit of a giggle to read some references of the 8s games at the moment.

Its as if the scouts sould be out , sorry no offence . Next year the 8s wont even be scoring as wont the 7s. I think some of the changes made recently do good for the game but our impossible to referee.

I do think when you do your reports at this age its always important to remember how "bravely" the opposition fought etc . Even if you did find it an easy win.

You are dealing with very small children on either side bud.

? Are we on about Shaw Cross or the post above Crigg v West Hull cos im baffled by innuendos.

Is this post aimed at me?

The new rules are a joke. They are aimed at developing skill and stoping individual players dominating games. My youngest tonight scored 9 tries under the new rules, last week he scored 8. Some players don't get the ball because the dominant players were taking it on their own to play between themselves. Players were throwing the ball anywhere pushing rather than tackling and running backwards to avoid contact.

My youngest after tonight asked me if he could give football a go because he no longer enjoys "playing" rugby league he is not alone in his age group of kids who find the new rules, the ref at the end says there are no winners the kids stand round wondering what is the point.

I would be happy for anyone to watch my U9s they play to because they enjoy it but they also enjoy it more when they win. It is not the be all and end all but it is important. Still what would I know.

Genuine question then why does it suddenly become important to start recording or acknowledging wins at 12 more than it does at 7?

I've coached 2 teams now each for about 5 years, including the one I'm currently with. At mini and mod each lost to 'give it to the big kid' rugby, while we emphasised the importance of skill development in all the players regardless of the result, our opponents though took the ball standing still ran zig zags across the pitch all to get a
win with the coaches thinking it was great?! My role was to let the players know it's good to want to win though their long term development is more important than playing crap Rugby to get a win and they 100% bought into this as the players perceptions are very much influenced by the coaches behavior and responses. I'm very proud that both sides progressed from the lowest 'group' to the 1st division through the skills they developed.

Don't forget that at this level of the game the biggest influence over the result at mini and mod especially is physicality, with the bigger sides dominating and their coaches on the side line thinking they're doing a great job. Though when that levels out some of these lads have not a clue how to play due to the reliance on size.

The window of opportunity to develop 'athletic' skill over sport specific skill is 8-12yrs, the intention of not placing too much emphasis on the result is to try prevent coaches living vicariously through their players and doing anything to get a result at the deferment of development. The LTAD model was put together to illustrate the important phases of trainability and what the emphasis should be at each stage, that's why 12s becomes more competitive.