COACHES BRIEFING: for 13th September 2009

Dear all,

During the registration process we sometimes receive requests for kids to play outside of their designated age group (usually because they want to play with their friends in another group)  and I wanted to share with you some guidance on this matter to make sure we are consistent in our approach:

  1. The HKRFU actively discourages playing up and playing down.
  2. The ONLY reason it is accepted is on safety grounds (ie if a child is at risk of injury or causing injury in his normal age group due to his size or strength).
  3. Play up and play down requests must be approved by the HKRFU minis or colts committee. These committees  meet on a monthly basis throughout the season. I sit on the minis committee and David Peters sits on the colts committee. So if you want to go ahead with a play up or play down request, please fill out the form and pass to me.  There are separate minis and colts forms to fill in which are on our website. The club Chairman has to support the request.
  4. Play up play down between minis and colts at under 12 or 14 level is not allowed. Play up or down players at colts level are automatically disqualified from representing Hong Kong.
  5. Once a player is registered for play up or play down, he MUST play in the new age group. Coaches have the duty to notify referees of these players before each game.
  6. The rules above apply for kids playing in minis and colts festivals and there is more flexibility for what we do internally in training. But my request and guidance to you is that we stick with the above at all times (even in training) and if you have an issue with it, please let us discuss. From my perspective it is up to the Head Coaches of the various age groups to primarily decide whether or not an application is made. The support of the Directors' of Rugby is also important.



    Regards, Bob