We welcome any new players both girls and boys - whether they are new to the game, just starting to play at school or have previous rugby experience. If your child will be in Year 5 at school from September 2023 we would love to see you in the Bracknell RFC U10s.

All Coaches are required to be DBS checked, hold an in date Safeguarding qualification and undertake the relevant England Rugby Coaching Award (ERCA) training course.

The U10s meet regularly on a Sunday morning between September and May with most training sessions running for approx 90 minutes, taking place any time between 09:00 and midday (subject to pitch allocations and the weather). Home Training normally takes place at Bracknell RFC in Lily Hill Park and occasionally on the pitches at Calfridus Way or the Garth Hill College astroturf pitches.

The U10s training programme focuses on developing and building on previous knowledge, skills, attitudes and experience to play the game (process and performance) with emphasis on:

Introducing the players to 3 man non contested scrums, rucks and mauls safely.
Maintaining the rugby basics: running, evasion, catching, passing, tracking, advancing on, tackling an opponent safely and exploiting space to score tries.
Attitudes - maintaining the enjoyment of the game and the rugby values (Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship), ultimately ‘let kids be kids’ playing the game for the fun of being with their friends and doing something they enjoy.
Inclusivity - all players will have equal opportunities to play (mixed ability teams but also A and B squads (which includes mixed ability and experience in each) for designated Festivals as stated by the organisers).
Developing individual and team knowledge, skills and rugby experience.

Training Schedule
Example Times Duration Section Discipline

08.55-09.10 10-15 mins Warm up Supervised Play
09.10-09.20 10 mins Warm up Passing Grid
09.20-09.30 10 mins Warm up Preparation and Activation
Water Break
09.35-10.15 10 mins Skill Development Skill Zone 1
10 mins Skill Development Skill Zone 2
20 mins Skill Development Specific Skill Intervention
Water Break
10.20-10.40 10 mins Mini Game Skills Application
10 mins Mini Game Skills Application

Aims for 2023
Understand of game plans for the future
Move ball away from contact
Let the ball do the work
Pass to space
Significant communication
provide basis of a game plan to improve for 2024

November to December 2023 (4 sessions, 2 with Windsor/Thatcham at BRFC)
Skill Development - Continuity
2 Skill Zones
1) Ball Security and support
Protect Ball in Contact
Go to ground timing
Comms from supporting players
offloading
ruck technique
2) Attack reset
how do we want to set up
how to reset at breakdown
attacking formation (different parts of pitch)

January 2024 (4 sessions, only 2 at home and 2 away)
Skill Development - Defence
2 Skill Zones
1) Defensive Line
Reminder of how to set
what formation do we want?
communication line/go to ruck etc
line speed
2) Counter rucking
drive, low to high
look for ball
Communciation on rucker/scrum half etc

Feb 2024 to Abbey Festival (6 sessions, 2 with Reading & Slough @BRFC
Skill Development - Attack
2 Skill Zones
1) Heads up rugby
1st receiver set up/runners off 9
away from breakdown - 3v2, 2v3
draw the player/ pass timing
2) Counter attack
look for the ball
set up in counter
how do we support counter attack

As U10s is a transitional contact age group then Children must not wear hoods, zips or Jewellery (Earrings must be removed or covered with tape). Gum shields are required for contact activities and your U10 will not be able to take part in a contact game unless they are wearing a gum shield.

We also try and organise trips to Internationals & Premiership rugby games, as well as supporting our 1st team ambassadors and have an end of season tour held on the Isle of Wight. There are regular social events for Kids and Adults throughout the season.

Initial BRFC Rugby Trial

If your child is new to Rugby or our club, we welcome you to try a 3 weeks trial where you can pay subs on a weekly basis; we would invite you to join our club, be RFU affiliated (age group registered) and become a paid up member of BRFC so your U10 player can take part in festivals and other U10 team matches. See details of the available memberships offered through the club. Please check with the U10s Team Manager Matt Staley or Head Coach James Lee.

Headcase
As U10 training and match playing involves a degree of contact, we advise parents and guardians to take a look at the essential guide in the RugbySafe HEADCASE Toolkit. Headcase is Recognised as one of the UK’s leading concussion awareness and education resources. The RFU’s HEADCASE programme aims to increase understanding and provide information on concussion and other related topics, including how to manage suspected concussions.

Coming up, the U10's will be taking part in the BRFC Mini's Tour 2024. Due to happen between the 26th to the 28th April 2024, on the Isle of Wight, families are more than welcome to join and the theme this year will be SUPERHERO'S. For more information, visit our tour page here.

For more information or if you wish to attend then please contact either the BRFC Mini and Juniors Chair Stuart Evans or one of the U10’s officials listed below.