"Non-essential" training is cancelled this week (and ongoing) for Youth & Minis....what is "non essential" I hear you ask.....well until further notice I would suggest if you are an u10-u12 team that this would be deemed as such.

Why is this the case, I hear you or your players parents ask? Well that big mound of earth which used to be a pitch is one reason, the main reason being a loss of light - we addressed this with the committee agreeing to invest in portable lighting (we probably know question that as the "good deal" is less of a good deal having been beaten by the weather!).

The upshot is we have 6 portable lights that allow us to light (using 4 lights) half a pitch (e.g. 2A or 2B as well call it) and with the further 2 lights light half of "Area 5" (e.g. 5A or 5B).....for this week (and likely going forward)....the Seniors will be training using the half a fully pitch from 19:30 "until close" on a Tuesday and Thursday meaning that we have that space from as early as you like and CLEAR BY 19:25 for those with games coming up and suggest an early (18:30) and late (19:30) shift on Area 5 for small space training.

For u13 & u14 as your fixtures are all (except Waterfall Cup) non competitive I'd question how essential it is to train midweek in the current situation (this really is a SHORT TERM PAIN for all of us) and I can only apologise to your and your players and parents for this upheaval....wet and cold weather conditions have further compounded this with very little Sunday action in 2018.

I see a case for the girls training tonight (18:45) in preparation for their Area Cup Final and likewise our u17s on Thursday (18:45) who prepare for an important league game against Mavericks Sunday and as they have also reached the Final of the Essex Cup.

This week we also have the u15s with a League match against the Basildon (tbc)....so I believe they will train with "small space" tonight from 7pm.

I would therefore expect our u16s to take their Thursday slot :18:45 - 20:15 using "small space"

For others of you what about Wednesday as a solution? Changing facilities can be provided but I am conscious that the class bhoise / bar may not be open due to "Kung fu club!".....let me know of this is something that you would like to take up / consider?

Most important, as our feet on the ground is that you communicate and work with one another like any good rugby team would.....can you make happen between you (involving me, Richard M, Ged or Ian Edwards where necessary).

I appreciate training and development is important to our young people, not least for camaraderie maybe there are some opportunities to do "other things" again I am sorry for the inconvenience and can only hope and assure you it will be a worthwhile pain as we move to the next level and some even more exciting times ahead!

Training is OK for Sunday as we stand....Hollis (u16) I will know later if we have space for a sensible time ko (12:30) once I know if the u15 game v Basildon is on.... you may wish to play away?

Also let's remember it's a day to honour mum's this Sunday....everyone does this differently so whether at rugby or not let's remember those mother figures in ours and our young peoples lives.

UTM

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