Exhausted. Physically and emotionally drained. Collapsed by the edge of the pitch at Hatfield Sports Village at the end of Herts Youth Games 2005 - the third end-of-season tournament in four weeks – and still one more to come!

But that’s just me. The coach. The girls are fine, having their pictures taken with the latest medals. I’m convinced that watching the games as the coach from the sidelines is more exhausting than playing…

It is, however, a useful moment to take stock and work out how we managed to get here. After all – in a way – this is where it began a year ago.

LESSON 1: Establishing a foundation

The most difficult thing to do is begin. Establishing a girls’ team at Letchworth had always been an aim – but it was an aim that never really got anywhere. There were two 11 year-old girls– daughters of coaches - training and occasionally playing, but that was that.

Our break came web we were offered the chance to manage a girls team at Herts Youth Games 2004, which gave us status, links into local schools, and – with a bit of effort - a squad of 7 tag rugby girls.

Across most of England there are these county Youth Games – and most include tag rugby. Contact your local district council and volunteer to run the girls rugby – they’ll probably bite your hand off.

Outside England you need to make your own luck – and maybe run your own tournament. Perhaps an inter-schools event, or maybe something for the local Scouts or Girl Guides troops.

LESSON 2: Baiting the trap …

Start with a simplified, low-contact, version of the game. Tag rugby, touch rugby, etc. Apart from the fact that these get players playing virtually straight away, you are also much more likely to get the cooperation of schools, parents, etc. who might be otherwise put off by such a “dangerous” game (often strikes me as amusing that schools that send their girls abroad to throw themselves down mountainsides with bits of wood tied to their feet get so very concerned about possible injury on a rugby field).

LESSON 3: … but start sneaking in some contact very early on.

There is a line of thought which says “introduce contact slowly. Don’t frighten them away”.

Nonsense.

Make it clear from day one that tag or touch are means to an end – not ends in themselves – and get them hitting bags from day two. I have yet to find a girl who did not respond favourably to a cry of “no – hit me harder than that!” The idea of thumping the “teacher” (or at least the bosh bag they are holding) appears to have a certain appeal. Can’t think why…

Another early winner is the line out. Take one of the smaller girls and watch the expression of her face when she is lifted high to catch the ball. She’ll be addicted to the game before her feet touch the ground.

And as for the bigger, less athletic girls, give them a taste of scrums, mauls, rucks – and suddenly (perhaps for the first time in the sporting lives) they are heros with people are saying to them “no – please don’t lose any weight!”

Within a month they’ll want to play nothing but contact.

LESSON 4: Play games

Seems obvious – but many new clubs seem strangely reluctant to put their charges onto the field too early – again this ever-present fear of “putting them off”.

But in the end training is dull, and does not build a team. I prefer to throw them my girls in at the deep end – and ideally from the top diving board. Once a girl has done a session of tackling she can probably play in a game with more experienced girls. For an entire new team we found 4-6 weeks ample time to prepare them.

And did we lose any girls as a result? No. Not one.

LESSON 5: Player brings in player

The best recruiting sergeants are the players themselves. As a rule, I’ve found that you get one new player for every 3-4 existing ones. Encourage them to see their sisters and cousins as less annoying inconveniences, and more useful members of the U14s. Point out that it affords them the opportunity to practice their tackling at home…

LESSON 6: Publicity pays

Most local rags are so desperate for copy that they will print an account of paint drying if well written. So getting your girls activities covered is normally pretty straight-forward, and well worth it. First it obviously attracts new players, but even more importantly it does wonders for the self-belief and confidence of players you already have.

The teenage years are the age of questioning and doubt. And if they are doing something unusual – and girls playing rugby is unusual – they need to know they are doing the “right thing”. And that is where the odd article here and there scores.

A passing mention in an article will get them reaching for their scrap-books, photographs will mean that all their friends at school will start asking them about the game. The lift you get in the team the day after the paper comes out is palpable. And, if you are not the only girls team in the area, it even adds a little spice to inter-club fixtures.

But don’t forget the electronic media – because your girls won’t. Your club website should have a section devoted to you – with a report on every match. If they don’t, or won’t, ask them why.

AND FINALLY…

In all the excitement remember that:

a) You do have a family who may wish to at least say “hello” at some point,
b) But chances are that they won’t want to discuss the make-up of Sunday’s back row.
c) You are not being paid to do this – but you are probably being paid to do something else. Set your priorities accordingly.
d) Sleep is a good thing. Try to include some in your diary.

John Birch
Manager, Girls’ section
Letchworth Garden City RUFC