Parents Can Help In Junior Rugby

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29907, 22 August 1962, Page 11

Parents Can Help In Junior Rugby

ONE of the more objectionable features of the highly-organised Rugby competitions for very small boys in Christchurch comes from the attitude of the parents, rather than of the boys. Most youngsters enjoy their game, and take their defeats in the proper spirit. Their parents do not always follow their example. It is not pleasant to watch some of the more anxious parents in action. A little boy, out for a game of football, must sometimes wonder what it is all about when he hears a stream of advice and, often, abuse, coming from the side-lines. Little wonder that a boy’s love of the game is so often killed early, by parents putting too much importance on performance and results and by issuing too much advice. One of the more fortunate

teams in this respect has been the Linwood under sst B team which has been supported strongly by parents, but the activities have been kept in perspective. The team’s coach Mr E. Collett, has been coaching Linwood teams for about 16 years, and he says he has never known such loyal support from parents. Fourteen of the players have had one or both of their parents at every match; the parents have formed their own small committee, which has been largely responsible for planning a trip to the West Coast next month. The Linwood team will play Blaketown on September 15, and 13 of the players will have one or both parents on the trip. The boys have all helped raise money to meet the costs of the journey.