Canadian Rugby Forums » General Discussion

Junior School Rugby

(9 posts)

  1. Ad Bot

    Posted 11 months ago

  2. Moosehead
    Member

    Is Ontario the only Province in Canada that has a Junior Rugby Program in their Public Elementary Schools? or are there other Provinces in Canada that do. If Ontario can do it then should be nothing to stop Rugby being a part of the Elementary School Sports programs throughout Canada.

    Posted 11 months ago #

  3. trentrugby
    Member

    When you say Ontario, do you just mean the Niagara Region and the Timberwolves area? Elementary school rugby is not the easiest thing to start. You need to have a person who will champion the cause within the school board. You must get principals on board and you should show up with enough money to start it up. My group was given enough money from the Niagara Wasps to buy the equipment for every elementary school that wanted to be a part of the league. We had some money the next year because we ran a bingo. We used that money to supply new schools that joined the league with equipment. If anyone wants further details about how to start flag rugby in a school board you can find my e-mail at http://www.niagaraflagrugby.com.
    Caleb

    Posted 11 months ago #

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    Posted 11 months ago

  5. Harry Craig
    Member

    The Toronto school board has had elementary school rugby for at least 2 years, maybe more. Andrew Hall and before him Drew McPherson did numerous clinics for flag rugby in elementary schools across the province so I am sure in some areas there are programs. When I was in High School (many years ago) there was a grade seven and eight 15 a side league with four schools participating. It only ran for 2 or 3 seasons but it did provide some good recruits to Dunbarton and Pickering high schools.

    Posted 11 months ago #

  6. trentrugby
    Member

    I am glad to hear about Toronto. If there are other school boards playing then that is great. I would be game for an elementary school provincial flag rugby championship.

    Posted 11 months ago #

  7. Harry Craig
    Member

    Is there a provincial body for athletics or sports for elemetary schools, like OFSAA for secondary schools. I have never heard of provincial championships in any sport at the elementary level.

    Posted 11 months ago #

  8. Toothlesstiger
    Moderator

    Well with 36 elementary schools participating, grades 7 & 8 touch rugby in Simcoe County they have as a Board /whatever to recognise the game and its appeal to the kids.

    It remains a non sanctioned activity.

    The school system, high schools, have served rugby well with diligent efforts of many volunteers and school teachers with rugby slant.

    The issue today is that as popular as the game has become in the high schools and now in the elementary tier the fundamental flaw is the total lack of the OFSSA and it's other provincial partners have "no need" for a formalised association with R.C. as they have in the original 4 Home Nations where there exists in the case of England the RFSU, Rugby Football School Union.

    I do not for one minute take the Ontario high school program for granted. However, with the existing growth at this level and the appeal it has to both genders I would not antic pate the current momentum to burn out for many years to came.

    There are many situations if a formalised recognition of both R.C. and the provincial unions were acknowledged as the governing bodies of rugby football across Canada at all levels of participation and in return due respect for and recognition (formerly) of the "FSSAs" crucial and significant role in the growth of the game at these critical age grades could be thrashed out.

    One issue which has become significant with the current recession and fiscal hard times upon us, the collecting of monies, participation fees in the high schools as was mentioned earlier this year on this site, are fast becoming a significant burden to the families, in particular those whose kids play multi sports activities throughout the year. This burden is obviously even more difficult for those families with more than one child participating in the school sports programs.

    This will have a backlash on recruiting these same kids to sign up with clubs and fork over almost the same amount of dosh to play for 6 - 8 weeks of rugby or whatever.

    The one thing that all PSOs and school boards have in common is the need to provide insurance. That in our case has been a significant burden which does not look like being any less a burden in the years ahead.

    The Feds, have given a tax break based on $400.00 per year per kid to offset the cost of participation in sports and other activities.

    Surely, if our kids are registered at school and covered for their sports activities there, that the coverage could be shared to cover all PSOs for a 12 month policy year.

    Afteral, our rugby insurance covers us for a full year and if we have the same coverage through another sports body, their insurance will also cover them for a full year.

    How difficult would it be if the Feds & the Provinces were to enter into an agreement to provide a year round insurance coverage in school and as a carry over to the other PSO programs within and outside of the scholastic year (12 month coverage)for sports participation for all kids through to the their high school graduation?

    Why must we constantly duplicate and run up phenomenal extra costs in insurance premiums and paper work. The premiums would be highly attractive as the coverage would be extended to a large group reducing the risk to the fund as we have over these past years seen in the case of our own rugby claims history.

    Just a brainstorming moment.

    Posted 11 months ago #

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    Posted 10 months ago

  10. bdotrugby
    Member

    Are you telling me that Highschool kids have to pay a registration fee?? My cost for 5 years of Ontario Highschool Rugby was about $50 for a shirt and $60 for a pair of cleats. TOTAL!!... We have kids on our club that play highschool then have to pay our junior fees to Rugby Canada. I didn't know they had to pay for the highschool.

    Posted 10 months ago #

  11. winger14
    Moderator

    Not to play school ball...At least not in BC, and I would think that would be true else where.

    Registration fees apply to club and rep ball. Toothless will correct me if I'm wrong.

    Winger14

    Posted 10 months ago #

  12. Harry Craig
    Member

    They don't pay a registration fee but many schools have participation fees to cover buses, referees, uniforms and other cost's plus you ususally have to pay a fee for a student card that allows you participate in other sports and activities as well. These fees are not only for rugby but for most sports and activities. Some schools do a lot of fund raising to keep these fees low other do not.

    Posted 10 months ago #

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