Phil Dickson-Earle | M&Y Chair | E: pld@lutonsfc.ac.uk | M: 07545 267550

A successful Open Day - and a beautiful day for it!

Open Day Success Last  Sunday’s Mini &Youth Open Day was tremendously success with 60 new players registering. You could attribute part of the day’s success to the wonderful weather that we had, but I assure you that in the main it was all those coaches and volunteers that smoothed the way. My sincerest thanks to all of you. I would like to say an additional thank you to Tom and his helpers on the BBQ.

Hitchin U16, U17 & U18 Academy Last weekend almost 50 players performed in a series of trial games for the new Hitchin Rugby Academy. All the players are part of the age group squads for 16 to 19 year old players at the club. The  trial  game  was  a  key  part  of  the  rugby  club’s  Open  Day  for  mini  &  youth  rugby  and  we  hope provided an interesting backdrop for new parents. PRE-REGISTERING YOUR 2012-13 FAMILY MEMBERSHIP You should have received one or more emails via the WebMail@EasyClubManager.co.uk asking you to pre-register your child for the coming season. If you haven't received one, please check your junk folder first. If it's not there, please contact me at MandYSecretary@hitchinrugby.com

NEWSLETTER – September 12th

Using this online pre-registration system simply asks you to either confirm the information you gave us last year or update it on one single, online form. If you have more than one child playing rugby at the club you will receive a separate email for each boy or girl and you will need to complete a separate online form for each. It is very important that you take the time to pre-register your child as soon as possible. Membership fees Family Membership continues to be a single price for you, your partner and children to join. For the 2012-13  season,  we’re  keeping  it  at  last  year’s  level  of  £50  per  family.  This  includes  all coaching costs, match fees and training for the entire season! So still the best value in the county! For pre-registered members, the season proper starts on Sunday 2 September when you'll be able to pay your membership at the clubhouse by debit card or cheque. As last year, we cannot accept CASH for membership payment. However, it would be much appreciated if you could arrange to pay your family membership by Internet or telephone banking transfer. Details of how to do this are attached below. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday. Michael Emmerson - M&Y Membership Secretary

Sainsbury’s  Active Vouchers

Once again we are collecting Sainsbury’s vouchers and a box has been put behind the bar for any that you can bring along

From them we have obtained bags, cones and rugby balls.

Thanks you

She's  coming…..

Fanny in Stilettos

Make it a date. 8.30pm Friday 4th January 2013

Club Shop The Club shop is open each Sundays for all your kit and equipment needs. The LV= team shirts are on sale to NEW minis at the sponsored price of £10. Otherwise the price is £23 for size 6XS to XS or £27.50 men sizes.

2013  Hitchin  RFC  Mini’s  Rugby Tour What’s �Rugby �Tour �all �about? The social side of rugby is one of the key elements that makes our sport so special. Going on Rugby Tour provides a rare and exciting opportunity for players, coaches and parents alike to get to know each other that little bit better and build team spirit. Camaraderie and banter is second to none and tour memories and friendships last a lifetime. Who can come along? Any U7-U12 player plus their mum and/or dad and/or siblings. When is this seasons Rugby Tour? The middle weekend of the Easter holidays: Friday 5th April to Monday 8th April 2013. Where are we going? In �2013, �the �Mini’s �section �will �be �going �on �tour �to �a �PGL �centre �called �Boreatton �Park, 10 miles from Shrewsbury in the rolling countryside of Shropshire. To find out �more �about �PGL �and �the �centre, �why �don’t �you �visit: �http://www.pgl.co.uk/PGLWeb/individuals/centres/BoreattonPark How to get there? Coaches have been booked and will depart from Hitchin RFC and take you to Boreatton Park. However you can travel by car too. What about the Rugby? There will be matches against local sides on both the mornings of Saturday 6th April and Sunday 7th April. Saturday we play against Oswestry and Sunday we visit Telford. What else happens on Tour?

Other than the Rugby fixtures, the players will take part in activities at the PGL centre; 2 activities on a Saturday afternoon, 2 activities on a Sunday afternoon and 2 activities on a Monday morning. Activities that are currently available include: Abseiling, Aeroball, Archery, Ball Sports, Camp Craft, Canoeing, Challenge Course, Climbing, Fencing, Giant Swing, High Ropes, Jacob's Ladder, Initiative Exercises, Kayaking, Low Ropes, Motorsports, Orienteering, Parachute Games, Raft Building, Rifle Shooting, Sensory Trail, Swimming, Vertical Challenge, Trapeze, Zip Wire. In the evening, there are organised activities for the children to take part in, such as Wacky Races and Ambush, and there may be a Tour Court too!

The Accommodation The accommodation blocks have rooms that hold up to 6 beds plus en suite facilities. Your Tour Reps will ensure that your �accommodation �needs �are �accommodated. � �All �are �carpeted �but �storage �space �is �limited. � �However �we �don’t �expect to spend too much time in the rooms other than when we are sleeping! Included in the price is your linen so there’s �NO �need �for �you �to �bring �along �your �own �bedding! Food Food will be served in a self-service canteen. Please ensure that you note any special dietary requirements on your Booking Form so that PGL can cater for your needs.

Bars There is a main bar on site which is for adults only. However we have also secured a room which is just for our group above the sports hall, for both adults and children, and has a bar included! Clothing Cocktail dresses and black ties please leave behind! Even though it will be mid spring, warm clothing is highly recommended �as �this �time �of �year �anything �can �happen! � �Last �year �was �blazing �hot �but �I’m �not �sure �that �the �balmy �weather can happen 2 years on the trot! Nearer the time, a kit list will be made available. Theme One tour – one �theme. � �This �year �we �are �going �on �‘Safari �in �Shropshire’. � �Please enter into the spirit of the tour and the general �silliness �by �getting �togged �up �in �the �theme �dress �for �the �weekend. �It’s �fun, �honest!

Children’s �Safety The behaviour of your children remains your responsibility at all times. Cost The �total �price �for �next �season’s �tour �is �£153 �per �person. � �This �includes �accommodation, �activities, �food �& �bed �linen �at �PGL and transport. At this price, cheaper than last year, the tour offers great value for your money. The following payments are required in order for you to secure your place: £50 deposit per person By Sunday 14th October £103 remaining balance per person By Sunday 13th January It would be preferable to have all your monies in full but I appreciate that this is not always possible. Therefore, you can pay: £50 deposit per person By Sunday 14th October £50 stage payment per person By Sunday 2nd December £53 remaining balance per person By Sunday 13th January Please �make �cheques �payable �to �Hitchin �RFC �and �include �your �child’s �name �& �age �group �on �the �back. How do I book my place? If �you �are �interested �in �coming �on �this �season’s �Rugby �Tour, �then �please �complete �the �attached �Booking �Form, write a cheque for the deposit and give to your Rugby Tour Rep: U7 tbc U8 tbc U9 tbc U10 Steve Miller U11 Andy Smith U12 Alison Bellinger / Paul Morris Booking for more than one child – what do I do? If �you �are �‘lucky’ �enough �to �be �bringing �more �than one playing child on tour, please book all your siblings onto the oldest �child’s �age �group. A �Final �Note… Lastly, having read all of this I really hope you decide to come on tour. It is a fantastic opportunity for your child(ren) to develop as a rugby player, �bond �with �their �age �group �and �take �part �in �activities �that �they �don’t �normally �have �access �to. � �For �the �adults �it’s �a �great �opportunity �to �get �to �know �each �other �off �the �rugby �pitch. � �It’s �great �value �for �money and I promise that this tour will be one not to be missed! Helen Dudley U12 – 07980 674882

2013 �Hitchin �Mini’s �Rugby �Tour Booking Form

Please fill in all sections in CAPITAL LETTERS

Personal Details: First Name Surname Age

Group or Adult

Male or

Female

Chest Size

(inches)

Travel by

Coach (Y/N)

Any special dietary requirements

Any conditions that require medical treatment

/ medication

Costs: Number of Tourists = @ £153 Total=

I understand and agree that this is a tour booking and that monies are non-refundable Signed Print Name Email Contact Number

To secure your place, please include £50 per person deposit with this form

Player Pre-Registration Please encourage all the players in your squad to register as quickly as possible We now have 313 players registered, but there are 109 unregistered players from last season. These numbers do not include the 60 new players who registered at the open-day. Please take a look at the spreadsheet emailed to you on Tuesday and chase up anyone on the list from your age-group to get them to pre-register. Please let me know of anyone on the list who you know with certainty will not be renewing their membership this year. This is not chasing payment - that comes later this month;) At this stage we just need to get as many on this list to pre-register as we can. Thanks for your help. Emmerson - Secretary & Membership Tour Information Reported to Committee Team managers and coaches, protocol now requires that the M&Y committee be informed of any proposal for annual tours in order to comply with RFU regulations. Pre-Match/Training Checks Coaches are reminded that a copy of the pre match/Training checklist must be completed prior to every mid-week training session. The appointed duty officer will complete the list on Sunday mornings. (Blank forms can be found by the side of the bar or on the website)

Fifty 16 to 19 year old players performed in a series of trial games for the new Hitchin Rugby Academy

Girls Rugby Dear Girls and Parents, Great to see you getting back into the swing of Sunday of morning training, please keep it up!!! This Sunday there will be training as normal at Hitchin from 10.00. In the afternoon there is an open training session for all girls in Herts, whatever their level of rugby, at Welwyn Rfc starting at 1.30, to which you are all welcome to come along to. There will be about 100 girls in U13, U15 and U18 age groups from 6 or more clubs. Every Wednesday, there is training at Welwyn Rfc for girls in years 9 and 10 from 7.00 until 8.30. We have had some new girls start this season, so again, whatever your experience you are more than welcome to come along. Hopefully see you tonight or Sunday. Kind regards Adrian Pomfret Hitchin Girls Rugby 07906863550

Hitchin First XV vs Hackney

The  club  is  proud  to  boast  that  13  of  the  Hitchin  players  in  the  starting  line  up  on  Saturday’s  First  XV  fixture  against  Hackney have come through our Mini & Youth section.

Result: Hitchin 54 - 0 Hackney (All points were scored by former M&Y players)

Tries: James ‘Nuts’  Bolter (1), Heiney Schlemeyer (1), Jack Peachey (1), James Larman (2), Nick Panten (1)

Cons: Jack Peachey (7)

U16s Our match on Sunday is away at Shelford http://www.shelfordrugby.co.uk/content/view/34/34/ The Davey Field, Cambridge Road Great Shelford, Cambridge Cambridgeshire, CB22 5JJ We need as many as possible to turn up please and everyone will play. Please be there by 10am for warm up & an 11am KO If anyone needs a lift, please let me know. See you on Sunday, Andy

Fixtures - Sunday 16th September 2012 Group Locatio

n Type Opponent Kick Off Pitch

Minis Home Training - 10:00

U13G’s Home Training - -

U13's Home Training - - Priory

U14's Home Training - - Priory

U15A's Away Match Shelford 11:00 -

U15B's Away Match Hertford 10:30 -

U16's Home Training - - -

U17's Away Match Shelford - -

U18’s Home Match Shelford 13:30

Ladies - - - - -

Please note - this pitch plan may be subject to changes and a final copy will be posted on the clubhouse door on Sunday

Useful Information SOCIAL CALENDAR Please support our fund-raising efforts by joining in with the many social events we have lined up for this season. Our social calendar dates for your diaries are detailed below. BECOME A VOLUNTEER Players and coaches are vitally important, but successful rugby clubs are more than just teams on the pitch. Volunteers work hard behind the scenes to help make it all happen and there would be no club without them. This club is run entirely by volunteers and a limited or indeed no knowledge of rugby is any reason not to get involved. Please contact Michael Emmerson or myself, if you would like to help out at the club on Sunday mornings. CARS PARKED ON SUNDAY Please continue to show consideration to the resident of King  George’s  Close  by  not  obstructing  access  to  garages  and  by  respecting  their  right  of  access. www.HITCHINRUGBY.com Visit the website, www.hitchinrugby.com for everything you need to know about your teams, club contacts and other club activities. Check your spam filters to ensure that messages from WebMail@EasyClubManager.co.uk are being allowed through. This is essential since mail sent from here will inform much of what you need to know. YOUR CLUBHOUSE Pop inside before and after training for a tea or coffee and a bacon roll. Use the shop for kit and other rugby essentials, have a drink at the bar, meet members of other age-groups, read information from our screens, meet your coaches and your committee members. Clubhouse bookings All requests for clubhouse bookings must be made via the M&Y committee, contact Michael Emmerson or myself. Smelly Boot Stall Andrea will be manning the second hand kit stall that will open every home match day. Please donate any unwanted kit or boots you have and also grab yourself a bargain. M&Y Notice board Our notice board is located outside the Clubhouse every Sunday, filled with Mini and Youth information as well as Saracens and Social events. Please get into the habit of checking on there. There will also be space for you to sign up to help out where you can with these. We are always looking for volunteers. Floodlights Switching will not allow both the pitches to be illuminated at the same time (a condition of the planning approval). The training lights on the reverse of the first XV columns are still operated by an individual switch. Saracens Tickets To avoid an administrative nightmare please ensure that for all future tickets requisition for Saracens games, your order is placed through our Saracens co-ordinator, Justine Welbury (j.welbury@sky.com). Locking Up Procedure On Sundays The changing rooms are still occasionally being left unlocked. Please can Lead Coaches check that all post guards, tackle bags, balls, flags etc, have all been put away after use. Also, can the most senior age group or the last team to play also ensure that the Kit Store, Changing rooms and Field barrier are locked securely before leaving. The bar staff will provide you with the keys you require. First Aiders Accessing the Pitch It is vital that team first aiders wear a high-viz tabard and ensure they speak with the referee before the game. They need to discuss briefly their intentions regards accessing the pitch. Reporting Match Results The league co-ordinator role is still being covered by John Walsh, so please continue to send him your match results and he will submit them to the web site on the Monday/Tuesday following matches. Food On A Sunday Whether you have a game or just training, when you are at home on a Sunday it is important that Team Managers make Sue, John Walsh or me aware of squad numbers so we can make sure there is adaquate provision to feed everyone (bacon  rolls  etc…). Certificate of Courses Attended/Refund of Costs May I remind managers to collect copies of all coaching or other certificates attained for club records. Email scanned copies with receipts to Adrian Pomfret (coaching coordinator), who can then authorise the appropriate refunds. Clubhouse, Match Day & Training Check List It is important that coaches conducting midweek sessions ensure a copy of the Check list is completed before training commences on each occasion. A copy of the form can be obtained from the club website (Until a rack is put up please leave on the bar). Cancellation Of Games/Training, The safety of players is paramount, so when conditions dictate, it may be necessary to cancel fixtures. We try to provide as much warning as we can, although it is not always possible. Unless you are informed otherwise, please assume that training is still on. However, in knowing the players in your squads as you do, lead coaches may decide to shorten or indeed to cancel the session, this will be your call. Watch out for emails, continually check the website or feel free to call me on 01462713828 or 7545267550. Content for Newsletter Keep your photographs of players in action and other content material for inclusion in the newsletter coming please. But what else do your players do outside of rugby? I would like to receive information on all their notable activities and achievements. There is only so much I can say about my own boys or the U13 & U16 . Some of your match reports are still arriving late! Please try to send it to me by the latest on Tuesday at 10:00, as I would like to send the newsletter out on Wednesdays. Texting Using Easy Club Manager Sending a text message using the Easy Club Manager incur costs, can I ask that announcements such as training or match cancellations be made using email or web announcements, as these methods incurs no charges. After Match Dress Code Please remind youth players that following their games, at home or away, they continue to represent the club back in the clubhouse and are required wear a white shirt, black trousers and the club tie. Memembership Fees Reminder You can pay the members secretary by card or cheque in the clubhouse on Sunday morning (please note NO CASH payments will be accepted). LEARN TO BE A REFEREE URGENT, we need more Refs! Take a referee qualification paid for by the club. Parents of younger players! You will develop confidence by starting off with tag rugby. Go on, have a go!