Guildfordians RFC - Festivals

Guildfordians RFC >> Festivals

Our festivals Further information for those attending Notes for referees

Guildfordians run two festivals each year in October and March. The dates of our next festivals are:

Sunday 3 October 2010
Sunday 13 March 2011
Sunday 2 October 2011

Typically we have 1,500 players attending from ages U7s to U12s, from across Surrey and the wider region.

We are very proud of the positive feedback our festival receives. Whatever the weather (and we have had the full range from wet and cold to warm and sunny), and win or lose, it is our aim to ensure that all the players have a good day of rugby and go home happy.

The festival is directed at a B level. We sometimes are asked what we mean by this. It is our intention that the festival is targeted towards those teams that play at Surrey B level, as well as aspiring C teams. Thus, it might attract the best team from a weaker smaller club, or the third or fourth grade team from a stronger larger club.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact our festival organiser, David Knight (see contacts page for details).

Entry is by way of our festival entry form only accompanied by payment. Entries are dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to the discretion of Guildfordians RFC. An entry form can be downloaded from here:
Festival entry form - PDF version
Festival entry form - Word version

Further information for those attending one of our festivals

Timings

Registration is at 9:30 at the applicable age control desk. The festival starts at 10:00.

Please make sure that you arrive in good time, remembering that parking can be quite distant (see below). Any team not ready in time to play may forfeit a match to their opponent.

Player Registration

A player registration form can be downloaded here:
Player registration form - PDF version
Player registration form - Word version
Please complete one Player Registration form for each team entered and hand it to the age group control at the Festival.

Referees & Referees' Meetings

Referees' meetings will take place at 9:45 at the applicable age control desk.

Each team must bring one referee. Any team who fails to provide a referee may be excluded from the festival.

We would ask that all referees are ready at the relevant time to referee a match - delays in the programme most often occur because the allocated referee cannot be found. Many thanks.

Further notes for referees are below, please would all referees familiarise themselves with these before the tournament.

Pitches

click here for a map of Stoke Park, showing the location of the various pitches and facilities.

Shelters

Stoke Park can get quite windy and therefore cold particularly if wet. We cannot provide shelters for visitors. All visiting teams must ensure that they have adequate shelter for players and that the players are suitably clothed.

Directions

click here for general directions to our grounds.

Car Parking

Car parking will be available at:

Baker Tilley
North Car Park unless it has been raining
Cross Lanes

(All are marked on the map.)

Please do not park on the grass verges, paths, yellow lines or private roads around Stoke Park, and allow plenty of time (at least 20 mins) to park and get to the correct part of Stoke Park.

At previous festivals we have had some drivers who have disregarded this request, which has prompted complaints from the Council and a threat to not allow us to run further festivals. Parking therefore will be monitored closely and we reserve the right to exclude from the festival any team that does not respect this request. Additionally, Traffic Wardens will be patrolling the area.

Codes of Conduct

All players, coaches and parents are asked to abide by the applicable codes of conduct available here.

We reserve the right to exclude from any game or the festival any player, coach, spectator or team whose conduct is not in accordance with the Codes of Conduct.

Any Problems?

If you experience any problems or have any complaints please raise them immediately with a Guildfordians coach and/or the Guildfordians Festival Organiser, so that we can attempt to address the issue immediately.

Notes for referees

All matches will be played according to the Rules of Play as defined in the RFU Continuum.

In summary rules of play are as follows:

Under 7 and Under 8 Rugby

7-a-side.
There is no kicking and no contact.
Referees are encouraged to shout "TAG-PASS" and players should pass the ball within 3 seconds or 3 strides.
If the player continues running after the tackle a free pass will be awarded to the other side.
Each game will be 5 mins each way with 2 mins for half time.

Under 8 ONLY - as above, plus ..

The side with the ball will only be allowed to be tagged a maximum of 6 times before scoring a try. At the 7th tag, the other side is awarded a free pass where the tag took place.
If the 7th tag takes place one step from the try line and the ball is grounded, the try is disallowed and the opposition is awarded a free pass 7 metres from the goal line where the line was crossed.

Under 9 Rugby

9-a-side.
This adds uncontested Scrums and Line Outs and the contact skills of tackling, rucking and mauling.
Each game will be 6 mins each way with 2 mins for half time.

Under 10 Rugby - as per U9's but Scrums and Line Outs are contested.

Under 11 and Under 12 Rugby

12/13-a-side
Game is played which follows nearly all the Laws of the senior game, however, scrums and line-out rules are slightly different.
In open play any player may kick the ball from the hand.
There are also kick-offs, conversions, penalty kicks and free kicks.
Each game will be 7 mins each way with 2 mins for half time.

To make sure all games are completed within the overall timescale it may be necessary to reduce time spent on breaks or even reduce the amount of time allocated for some of the games.

Results should be fed back to the relevant Age Group Control immediately after each game by the referee on the ref card with the match ball.

Important: Safety

We are keen that this tournament runs as a safe event and ask that referees and coaches are particularly diligent in enforcing the following rules from the Continuum.

A player must not hand-off or fend off an opponent in any way. It is important to note that a hand-off/fend off is defined as "ANY movement of the hand, arm or ball to ward off a would-be tackler."
High tackles should be deemed as dangerous play and a penalty awarded.
Barging a player into touch will not be considered a fair tackle.
Repeated offences should be penalised

Important: Fair Play

At Guildfordians we put high values on fair-play and good sportsmanship. Accordingly, any behaviour not in accordance with our codes of conduct including any abusive conduct towards referees will not be tolerated. We ask that referees work together with Guildfordians' coaches to achieve a good rugby playing environment.

In particular:-

as referees you have authority over the pitch and its environs - if there is inappropriate behaviour by a spectator please take such action as you deem appropriate and/or raise the matter with a Guildfordians coach or official as soon as possible
please raise any complaints or concerns with a Guildfordians coach or official as soon as possible; and
if you experience any abuse from any player, coach or spectator you have the authority and the support of Guildfordians to exclude such player, coach, spectator or the entire team from the match.