CUMBRIA U18'S 2011 / 2012
Dear Trialist,
I am very proud to be writing to you to introduce myself as the new team manager for the Cumbria County U18s. Over the next twelve months my job will be to fully support Head Coach Martin Grealish and his assistant Kieran Marshall by putting an infrastructure in place which will make the County set up at U18s more professional, so that all changes can be made in time for the 2012/13 season.
For some players if good enough to be selected following the selection and trial game process playing for YOUR County Cumbria will be the highest level of representative rugby you will ever achieve. Players should not be put off playing for THEIR County by any school, coach, or club by diminishing the player’s achievement in aspiring to be selected for THEIR County, (no school/club/County shirts to be worn to training sessions). At no time will any favours be shown to any player, parent, club, school, or geographical region of the County in the training, selection or playing process. In order to do this numerous changes must be made in the County training, selection and match day preparations. So from now on training and playing will be spread around the County in order to give all players the chance to access the opportunity to train and play for THEIR County. At the third training session of this season a short trial game will take place as well as a fitness assessment of each player before the final squad is selected for the games and final training session. We will be taking names of all players who are under 17 this year and available for the under 18s next season so that we can build on the improvements we will make this season. (Training shoes should be brought to every training session and the Cumbria RUFC website must be checked by players constantly for updates on training and playing times, locations and team selection).
We thank parents in advance for their help, but we politely make this request. The county training sessions are a stressful time for players and coaches, with some players feeling either the pressure to be selected or the disappointment of not being selected hard to take. While we welcome parents transporting players to training we request two things, firstly that they do not stand at the side of the pitch but wait either in the clubhouse or to return at 8.30 to collect players. We also request that NO parent talks directly to a coach about any matters relating to players, training or selection. All queries of this nature should be directed to myself, and I will discuss their concerns with either the County coach or the players club or school coach.
At least 75% of training sessions will have to be attended to be considered for County selection, or a note produced from a doctor, physio, or parent that should be produced on the night by the player (attendance records will be kept). Players will only be considered if they are good enough and either were born in Cumbria, live in Cumbria or are registered and play for a Cumbrian Club, NO one will play for this County team under a flag of convenience.
If a player is selected he must sign a contract of behaviour, which will include No alcohol the night before a game, and will commit them to being available for all three County fixtures during which time the highest standards of behaviour will be expected at all times. In return each player will receive a full new kit, which will be supplied at cost (or less if I can find a sponsor for the team).
This season will be extremely difficult, be ready for and accept change, because I can promise you two things. The County jerseys that are worn will be hard earned and will be worn with pride, and in the future the selection and playing for Cumbria U18s will be both fair and organised in a more professional manner. If we don’t change things now in the near future we might find that you won’t be playing for Cumbria, but for a three Counties team made up of Durham, Northumberland, and Cumbria (the only thing worse would be to be playing for Yorkshire, no chance of a free County tie).
Finally can I wish you all good luck, and hope that those who are selected appreciate what a great honour it is to play for YOUR County.
Regards
Andrew Brown - Team Manager - Cumbria County Under 18s
ENQUIRIES TO:
ANDY BROWN - TEAM MANAGER - 07786631456 / cease.fire@hotmail.co.uk
MARTIN GREALISH - HEAD COACH - 07841330183 / martingrealish@therfu.com
THE FOLLOWING PAGES CONTAIN DETAILS OF THE COUNTY U18'S FIXTURES / MATCHES / SQUADS WHICH WILL BE UPDATED ON A REGULAR BASIS.
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