FESTIVAL FORMAT

Here is some information about the matches you'll be playing and what to expect on the day.

We will be running the festival in accordance with the guidelines provided by the RFU in Regulation 15 and its associated Codes of Practice from here: www.englandrugby.com/governance/regulations/ Here’s a summary of the parts that are relevant to our festival:

1. Playing time

The maximum allowed playing time for each age group is as follows:

2. Team size

The maximum size of the team on the pitch is: about players swapping between squads, within their age group, but please ensure no player exceeds the maximum playing time as set out above.

4. Mixed ability

From the RFU Codes of Practice:

“The RFU believes in the playing of mixed ability teams, especially at primary school ages. Players should be grouped by their confidence, competence in the contact elements of the game, and emotional capability.”

We will not be separating the festival into streams, either by ability or experience. We are instructing referees to stop one-sided matches if the score difference exceeds six tries.

5.

Scoring

No score for any match will be recorded by the festival organisers. The players know perfectly well who's won any given game.

6.

Format (U7 - U10)

You'll see from the schedule (handed out separately) that each team is in a group of 5 or 6 teams depending on how many teams entered. Every group will play a round robin: each team will play all the others in the group.

The duration of each match will be the number of games divided by the maximum playing time (e.g. U7 teams in a 6-team group will play 5 matches of 10 minutes). We'll play the games straight through without a half time to ensure the festival keeps to schedule.

3. Squad size

We're expecting 2 substitutes per team in each age group except for U10 & U11 where there may be three. There will be enough commemorative patches for this number of players. We are relaxed

The U11 competition may involve smaller groups and longer matches with a half time. You'll be given full details in a separate sheet.

Enjoy your day at the Blackheath Mini’s Festival.

Your Match Day App

Blackheath have continued to embrace new technology with the development of our ‘Match Day App’.

If you havent got a QR reader on your smart phone then you can download one from your app store. Then all you need to do is start your QR reader app, point the phones camera at the QR code below and you are all set. This will give you access to our smart schedule which you will be able to connect with at any time during the day for detailed fixture information.

Here is a list of links which you may prefer to use instead of the QR code by going directly via one of these links through your browser.

https://aka.ms/blackheathminis https://aka.ms/u7 https://aka.ms/u8 https://aka.ms/u9 http://aka.ms/u10 https://aka.ms/u11

If you havent got a smart phone then pease talk to your pitch marshall for a paper copy.

Musings from long retired Mini coach Richard

Dinkeldein.

Some 30 years ago, with a few like minded parents and a similar number of boys, we started Mini rugby at Blackheath FC. From these small beginnings the Mini section gradually grew in size until it had players in all age groups. The commitment of parents (aka coaches, refs, managers, supporters etc) to turn out every weekend in all weathers was as strong then as I am delighted to see that it is now. It is also heartwarming to note how many youngsters are now playing for the Club and to see them enjoying themselves and supporting their mates whilst they learn the skills needed to play this wonderful game. Well done to everyone – past,

present and future! Long may it continue

It’s great that Hervey Road Playing Field was re-opened in 2018 as a new home for the Minis. The 100 year old ground was in danger of being built over in 2006, but a hard fought twelve year campaign by a group of tenacious local residents succeeded in keeping it open for sport and it is protected forever by a Deed of Dedication.