MU5 Handbook - Players & Families
WELCOME TO MIGHTY U5!
The Mighty U5 program is a fun, safe, no-contact introduction to rugby that emphasises maximum enjoyment for players and families.
Designed and developed by professional rugby players and coaches, Mighty U5 is the ultimate entry level program for 4 and 5 year old boys and girls.
Mighty U5 engages players during each session using fun coaching cues to help them understand each skill. The program rotates between drills and finishes with a modified game.
There are a lot of benefits to joining Mighty U5 instead of going straight into U6s. Participants will acquire better training skills, their development will be faster as they learn with others of a similar ability, and here are also many social benefits to playing with others in the same age group.
We hope you and your child/ren have a great season.
This family handbook has been prepare for families to answer some frequently asked questions, and to provide information on how you can assist to make Mighty U5 engaging and enjoyable for your child.
Your rugby journey starts now!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MIGHTY U5 SESSIONS
Find all those bits and pieces of information you need to know to make your planning go smoothly!
HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS & CANCELLED SESSIONS
- Mighty U5 programs will continue during rain, unless the council has closed the grounds
- As per junior community rugby, if grounds are closed for any reason, there will be no MU5 sessions that week
- Your local council will have a ground closure notification page on their website. Please also ask your village club what method of correspondence they use for notification about ground closures / cancelled sessions
- As per junior community rugby, there will be no make up classes or credit for any missed sessions
- If conditions are deemed hazardous, cancellations may occur mid-session or with little notice
PARKING
Allow extra time to find parking. Some days the oval will have additional age groups and clubs
SOCIAL MEDIA
- Photos may be taken by MU5 during each session and may be shared on social media. A permission to publish (for MU5) form will be supplied - please ensure this is signed and returned. If you have any concerns about photos of your children being taken or published, please speak with your MU5 Head Coach
- Please tag @MIGHTYU5RUGBY and your Village Club in any images you post online, as this helps spread the fun we are having
WHAT TO WEAR
- Ensure your child is dressed in the kit supplied by or recommended by your club.
- Please teach your MU5 players what club they play for, and talk about the pattern on their jersey – so they learn their club colours etc. This also builds a strong connection to joining the club and its community
- Footy boots are not compulsory but are recommended. Most Mighty U5 players will be wearing boots - rugby, soccer, football boots are all the same thing, just ask for a pair of footy boots at your local sports store
MOUTHGUARD
Mouthguards are not compulsory but are highly recommended for all rugby training and games, including Mighty U5. Wearing a mouthguard creates a good habit from day one.
HEADGEAR AND SHOULDER PADS
These items are not required. If you wish to use
them, anything comfortable is perfectly suitable
SESSION STRUCTURE
TIMING
Each session runs for up to 1 hour, consisting of:
- 4 x 10 minute skills and drills rotation
- 10 - 15 minute game (from week 4, weeks 1 - 3 will include additional fun games and activities)
SKILLS AND DRILLS
- Mighty U5 focuses on building the core skills of rugby through fun games from the very first session. This ensures players perform the skills with a high degree of safety and technique
- As players progress to new age groups over the years, their transition to new skills (e.g. running and passing) will be much easier as they have been introduced to the techniques and coordination required to perform them with safe and strong technique
CHILDREN PLAY, FAMILIES LEARN
PARENTS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN GUIDING PLAYERS THROUGH EACH SESSION
The MU5 Coaches will teach you how to interact, communicate, and facilitate a training session with lots of little hints and tips, such as where to stand to assist children during drills.
The role of parents/carers in Mighty U5
Mighty U5 works best with parents being actively involved in sessions and working as “Club Coaches” to be a part of the learning experience for your kids
The role of parents / caretakers (Family Coaches) in each session is:
- Parents/guardians help run the drills under the guidance and direction of the MU5 Coaches
- A Mighty U5 Coach will give you instructions and show you what to do. Family Coaches are then the main source of instructions for the players
- Assist with supporting and supervising the children
- Assist with packing up equipment
- Encourage the Mighty U5 values of Teamwork and Being A Good Sport, to keep the session Fun, Safe and Social
- Practice makes permanent - make sure to use the techniques learnt during sessions at home!
Assisting with packing up equipment
Mighty U5 will use a roster system to allocate different village clubs to assist with pack up after each session. We will inform you when it’s your club’s turn
Please encourage your children to join you in assisting with pack up
Final session of each MU5 term - PARENTS will design the session with guidance from the Head Coach
- This is a vital step in up-skilling the Club Coaches so they are comfortable to coach in future years. Even if you’re not going to be a coach, we want you to be comfortable with stepping in if the coach is away, volunteering as a referee or sideline referee and using these skills playing at home with family and friends. It’s all about building your skills as a parent coach!
- As a club you’ll decide what drills you are going to run. You need to arrange four drills that you have already done throughout the MU5 season. The MU5 coach will blow the whistle, as normal, when you need to change (roughly every 10 minutes)
- We recommend a variety of skills and drills for each session e.g. choose from:
- passing
- tagging
- team skill
- running with the ball
- fun skill (kicking, catching)
MU5 FOUNDER
