THE convener of Helensburgh Rugby Club’s youth section has praised the club’s youngsters for the way they responded to the challenges of Covid – and has issued an appeal to parents to give the club their support and help the next generation of young players in green and gold.
Ian Smith said the reaction of players in the club’s youth sections to the restrictions on training had been “a real highlight” of the pandemic.
Helensburgh’s young players are now back training and playing together regularly, with players from under-13 to under-18 level all looking forward to busy fixture lists as winter gives way to spring – and Ian Smith says the outlook for the club, both at youth and senior level, is a very positive one.
“Things are looking very bright at the moment,” Ian told the Advertiser this week.
Helensburgh Rugby Club's youth section is in rude health, according to Ian Smith - though the hunt for more players, and more parental involvement, is never-ending
“We have more than 210 children as registered players at the club, from P1 all the way up to under 18, coming from all over the area, from Arrochar to Cardross – we even have a couple of players coming over to us from Drymen.”
The Advertiser featured the solo efforts of the club’s young players to stay in trim during the tightest of the Covid restrictions – and Ian said he was delighted with the way they had risen to the challenge presented by the lockdowns.
“A real highlight for me has been how the young players took it upon themselves to stay in touch with each other, arrange their own training sessions and set their own personal goals,” he said.
“We set them challenges, and we made sure they were properly equipped – and there was a lot of maturity shown in how they responded,” he said.
Helensburgh Rugby Club’s youth section is in rude health, according to Ian Smith - though the hunt for more players, and more parental involvement, is never-ending (Photo - Melody Grayson)
“They came back fitter, stronger and hungrier, and the drive, determination and resilience they showed was quite humbling.”
As well as the never-ending hunt for new young players to give the game a try by coming along to training sessions at Ardencaple on Thursday nights – all that’s needed is a pair of boots, a mouth guard, a top and a pair of shorts – Ian and his fellow coaches are also keen to see more parents step forward to help the club’s youth set-up continue to grow.
“Having 210 young players means we have something in the region of 300 parents,” he said.
“Whether it’s lining the pitch before a game, or post-match catering, or training as a first-aider or helping in some other way, we’re only asking for an hour or two.”
Helensburgh Rugby Club's youth section is in rude health, according to Ian Smith - though the hunt for more players, and more parental involvement, is never-ending
After a weather-enforced lay-off the club’s young players are back in action this weekend: the under-13s and under-14s travel to Troon to face Marr, and the under-16s are away to Cartha Queen’s Park on Sunday.
Taking centre stage at Ardencaple are Helensburgh’s under-18s, who have a cup tie at home to Greenock Wanderers on Saturday, February 26.
Kick-off is at 11am and all supporters will be made very welcome.
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