News
Local young people encouraged to ‘try’ tag rugby for free (29/06/2007)
For the second summer in succession, local young people aged between 11 and 17 are being invited to join a free four week ‘tag rugby’ scheme.The scheme, first launched last August, is once again being run between City of Derry RFC (1st and 8th August) and Londonderry YMCA RFC (15th and 22nd August) and supported by the Youth Justice Agency and the Irish Rugby Football Union Ulster Branch.
The programme will run on Wednesday evenings from 7pm and is open to all young people within the area, including Waterside and Cityside. Free transport will be arranged for pick up points throughout these areas.
‘Tag Rugby’ is a non-contact sport that involves learning ball passing skills and builds fitness and co-ordination skills, making it suitable for both males and females.
Peter Quinn, Project Manager for Youth Justice Community Services Foyle said, “We are delighted to be involved in this scheme again this summer. We had a great response last year, allowing young people from across the community to experience a new sport together. We were particularly pleased at the number of girls who participated last summer. The scheme enables local young people to take part in a sport they may not have played before, apply self discipline skills, work co-operatively with each other, challenge themselves physically and mentally and develop positive citizenship skills”.
Bill Lockhart, Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Agency added, “There is substantial evidence to suggest that sport and physical activity programmes can provide a useful vehicle through which personal and social development may occur. There is also strong evidence that sport can play a key role in developing cohesion between individuals and communities and between communities and broader society.
“We piloted the scheme in 2006 with great success and are keen to give other young people the chance to join in again this year. We also developed BIGG (Big Into Gaelic Games) with the GAA, giving young people the opportunity to play Gaelic where perhaps they had never been given the chance”.
Barry Willis, Youth Development Manager at IRFU Ulster Branch said “We at IRFU Ulster Branch are once again delighted to work alongside an organisation with the reputation of the Youth Justice Agency. This partnership provides an excellent vehicle for our own Community Development Initiative (funded by the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure through Sport NI). We are firm believers in outreach work, the like of which the Youth Justice Agency has engaged in and wish the greatest of success to all who are involved".
Four coaches and two volunteers will attend each training night. Young people who complete the four sessions will receive a free t-shirt and rugby ball and will be entered into a draw for free tickets to a forthcoming Ulster v Leeds match at Ravenhill on the 31st August.
The scheme will be limited to a maximum number of 100 young people. This is based on a first come first served basis. Anyone interested is urged to contact Peter Quinn on 028 7136 5593 as soon as possible.
ENDS
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