All Golds v Newcastle Thunder KPL1 2016 - FINAL_2

FESTIVAL CAPS OFF
GLOUCESTER PRIMARY SCHOOLS
SKY TRY PROGRAMME
THE UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S OXSTALLS
CAMPUS HAS ONCE AGAIN HOSTED PRIMARY SCHOOLS
FROM ACROSS THE CITY OF GLOUCESTER IN THE
CULMINATION OF THIS YEAR’S SKY TRY PROGRAMME.
Sky Try is the biggest ever
programme of Rugby League
opportunities in schools and is in
its second year of delivery by the
All Golds.
18
Nine schools and around 300
pupils from across the city have
benefited from six weeks of
coaching at Year 3 and 4 level
followed by a festival that was
attended by over 100 children.
The format for the tournament
was based on the RFL’s Primary
Rugby League model, a modified
version of the sport which aims
to introduce children to the
game in a fun, inclusive and
developmental way.
The touch Rugby League format
includes modified rules such as
guaranteeing six tackles for each
team and small squads, which
means that kids are able to play
more of the time and they were
well received by players and
teachers alike.
Speaking after the festival, Julie
Bassett, a teacher at Hempsted
Primary School, was full of praise
for the programme and the
festival: “This is the third year
that Hempsted C of E Primary
School have taken part in the
Gloucestershire All Golds’ Sky Try
scheme and we have thoroughly
enjoyed it. After some amazing
coaching from Lewis and George
this year we took three teams
to the festival at Gloucestershire
University; Hempsted Cherries,
Hempsted Whites and Hempsted
Golds. Every child enjoyed the
experience, played a lot of rugby
and left with huge smiles on their
faces. As usual we had huge
support from our parents.”
Following on from the coaching,
the Community programme
will be running ten weeks of
community coaching, starting in
June, to give those young players
the opportunity to continue their
Rugby League journey.
Programme manager Dan
Garbutt explained: “With so
many players across the city
being introduced to the sport
we’re keen to provide an outlet
for the school game. This club
activity, which will be mirrored
in Cheltenham, will provide just
that and it’s hoped that we can
support volunteers to develop
this coaching into stand-alone
community clubs”.
Parents and players wishing to
find out more info should email
dgarbutt@glos.ac.uk
The Sky Try programme for the
county now changes its focus
to secondary school level, with
the upcoming 1908 Cup and
Golden Fern Cup taking place
in May, before it switches back
to Primary level in June as
Cheltenham schools get their
opportunity to be involved in the
project.
www.allgoldsrugby.com
@AllGolds facebook.com/AllGoldsRugby