Clubsafe - helping clubs help themselves
Middlesex Rugby is determined to make rugby in the County more sustainable and the Clubsafe initiative aims to help all clubs, but especially those who are experiencing difficulties. The first Clubsafe meeting was held at Pinner & Grammarians in March 2009 where 13 Clubs, predominately from the north of the county gathered to address various issues that affect them delivering rugby at their clubs.
Since that initial meeting further meetings have been held at Northolt in March 2010 and Thamesians in November 2010. This forum is now firmly established within the Middlesex Rugby programme with future North and South regional meetings planned. The next meeting will be at Enfield Ignatians in February 2011, with the focus on northern Clubs.
If you would like more details on Clubsafe or have specific problems at your club then please contact Peter Baveystock peter.baveystock@middlesexrugby.com
Suggestions for improvement
1. Coaching: Clubs should ensure that Club Coach Coordinators' details are up to date on the Rugby First website so coaching masterclasses and opportunities are being received.
2. Scrum8: The CCC will also receive information on the new ‘Scrum8’ session which is designed to assist with front row coaching/playing and is well worth the club getting involved with.
3. Front Row Sessions: Middlesex Rugby is also putting on some front row coaching sessions in the new year so make sure you send current/future front row players and coaches along to such sessions.
4. Community Rugby Coaches: Make sure you are liaising closely with your CRC who is attached to your club. Their role is primarily coaching and education, however they can lead a masterclass or assist in coaching on training evenings.
James Platt (Richmond & Hounslow) jamesplatt@therfu.com
Rory Greenslade-Jones (Hammersmith & Fulham, Richmond)
rorygreenslade-jones@therfu.com
Dan Leek (Ealing, Hillingdon, Brent, Harrow) danielleek@therfu.com
Martin Crossan (Enfield, Barnet, Haringey) martincrossan@therfu.com
James Cooper (Hackney, Islington, Camden) jamescooper@therfu.com
Tony Robinson (RFU Coach Development Officer for Middlesex) tonyrobinson@rfu.com
5. Universities: Some clubs are getting a lot of players by forming close links with universities. Does your club have links with local universities? If not then get in touch with the RFU Student Liaison Officer to discuss how you go about doing this.
Jamie Traxon (RUSLO) email: jamietraxon@rfu.com
6. Increasing awareness: Increasing the awareness of your club in the local community is vital. Contact our marketing expert Louise Latter louise.latter@talismangroup.co.uk. She is happy to come to your club to offer advice.
7. Recruitment: It is widely accepted that the two best forms of recruitment a club can use is through word of mouth and their website. Word of mouth is fairly obvious, your current players bringing their mates down is a very powerful recruitment tool. But it is vital that your website is up to date. When re-doing your website or assessing your website then remember the ‘2 click rule’. If people who are newly on your website can not find the information they are looking for in two clicks then they generally try another website. Think about what a new prospective player might need when he first goes on to your website.
8. Club Development Workshop: The RFU has a new club development workshop which aims to assist clubs in creating a development plan and it is a great workshop. I have personally done this with Hammersmith and Fulham, Grasshoppers, Old Isleworthians, Quintin, Old Grammarians and am in the process of doing this with Chiswick and Feltham. It is well worth attending so the club can identify where it wants to be in 3-5 years time and how best to get there. Speak to your club RDO if you want to get involved.
9. Feedback: Keep sending us back feedback on how the RFU and Middlesex Rugby can support you. We can’t help clubs unless we know what is wrong. The group meetings are a great way to get your voice heard.
10. Volunteering: Getting people to volunteer is hard, in order for people to accept the prospect of volunteering they have to know what it is you’re asking of them. Does your club have formal job descriptions of the key jobs that need filling every year? Does this include an estimate of how much time it will take? You might find more volunteers if they knew it was only 2-3 hours a week you were asking for. Bite size chunks is also vital for prospective volunteers – don’t overload people too much at the start!
Useful contacts
Jo Martin, Regional Rugby Manager – London North
(Essex/Herts/Middx/Eastern Counties)
email: jomartin@rfu.com tel: 07764 960 387
Phil Duffy, RDO – Hounslow/Richmond/K+C/Westminster/Ham and Fulham
email: philipduffy@rfu.com tel: 07736 517 729
Ronnie Barry, RDO – Ealing/Brent/Hillingdon/Barnet/Enfield/Haringey/Harrow
email: ronniebarry@rfu.com tel: 07764 336 718
Neil Sweeney, RDO - Hackney/Haringey/Islington/Camden email: neilsweeney@therfu.com tel:
Rick Bruin, RFU Funding and Facilities Manager – Middlesex
email: rickbruin@rfu.com tel: 07738 029 211
Graham Lee, Middlesex Rugby Funding & Facilities Manager
email: grahamklee@virginmedia.com tel: 01582 662842
Ed Turnill, RFU Referee Development Manager – Middlesex
email: edturnill@rfu.com tel: 07894 783 373
Carly Jackson, RFU Volunteer Executive – Middlesex
email: carlyjackson@rfu.com tel: 07872 672 478
Hugh Godwin, RFU Press Officer – Middlesex
email: hughgodwin@rfu.com tel: 07968 392 688
Clare Cooper, Women’s Rugby Development Manager
email: clarecooper@rfu.com