Recruitment & Player Allocation Model
The Clovelly JRFC goal is to grow rugby, in a safe environment for players, enhance player development through strong coaching and create a rugby community.
The committee acknowledges that currently Rugby Union is behind AFL, Rugby League and Football (soccer) in terms of participation in Australian youth participation. The Clovelly JRFC goal is to attract players to our code and we need to work hard to do so.
Current Recruitment Policy & Process within Clovelly Eagles
The team creation process begins generally in U6 level rugby, where we seek players from siblings of existing players, and leverage those seedlings of teams to grow the player base. This is via word of mouth, school advertising and social media postings.
When a new player joins in U6 we contact them and send them materials to the effect of playing rugby is great with a friend please share the word and bring friends to try rugby at the Eagles.
Teams will be allocated in U6 based on Friendships and training day / time to suit parents’ schedules. The key aspects of creating a team in U6 is finding a volunteer coach and friendships.
As teams progress through the age groups the number of players required in each age group on field and squad increases (5->7->10-> 12-> 15).
The club goal is to grow rugby and in general for teams to stay together, so growing rugby focus is to add new players to the Club and the teams.
Start of Season process
- Registrar to check if coaches & managers are returning.
- Send them the prior year team list to check on returnees.
- Inform them of any changes in the rules that mean their squad needs to grow
- Identify the minimum number of players they need and max number they could have in their squad to shape their recruitment.
- Provide coaches and managers with social media posts / advertising material as required.
- The teams as a result know their goal recruitment needs.
The teams will then send through their expected squads back to the Registrar (including any as well as any known positional gaps– which enables the Registrar to determine the number of teams we will likely be able to support for the coming season.
For unsolicited players that are joining the Eagles these are players that have not confirmed they are wanting to join specific players or teams, these players are the unallocated player pool. They will be reviewed for their position and playing history. As we get closer to finalising known squads, they will be allocated out to the teams with the least numbers to balance their squad depth.
Players coming to the club who have direct friendships or connections to a team will be allocated to the team they requested as normally noted in the expected team lineups sent to registrar. If a team is beyond the maximum number of players there will be a discussion to move players to other teams.
If numbers are seriously skewed and leaving as it stands would result in a team folding etc, at that point we would call the Age Manager and coaches together to discuss options to ensure kids get maximum rugby. The result could be the movement of several players to the team that needed players or the creation of a new team. The movements are generally based on friendships and movements are in pods of 2 minimum to ensure kids are happy to play with a friend etc
Registrar –
- shares the likely outcome based on expected teams – e.g. we will need to merge two teams etc if we do not get x number of new players.
- provides that clarity to the management of the age groups to push for more players.
- work through alternative solutions to the reduction of teams e.g. player migration / internal transfer policy comes into play.
These reviews would always incorporate a focus on
- Player Safety
- to enable teams to have suitable front row/ tight five players.
- to ensure each team as an adequate number of players
- To assist with scheduling issues if team training times and/or days within an age group are split – e.g. Monday / Wednesday for training, and/or Friday/Sunday for games.
Recruitment is challenging and enabling teams to find players for their team is key to growing the player base, as minimal players are joining through a general need or love of the game they play in heaven. This is a key element is allowing as much as possible players to play with the teams that recruited or brought the player to the club. As noted earlier there will be times where club will step in to adjust player allocations and these movements may not be the new players but existing players, whatever is required and works for the players involved and the team management.
Active allocation of players: historically occurs when teams merge, when there are not enough players to field the existing teams, then a team will fold. At that point time priority of player selection (once again based on moving friends or groups) would go to the existing Clovelly team that has not performed as well as the other teams in the prior year. They would get first selection of players and may get more players as the Age Manager and coaches share the players across the teams that will continue into the season. This often occurs in U12s when we see teams move to squads of up to 23 players and 15 on the field.
We acknowledge the players are kids and people not objects, we need to get buy in for transfers that are made, the goal would be to move players in pods of friendship etc to maximise their happiness to play and change. Discussing rationale and getting members buy in to the change is key. Players are our members and our association.
Generally, we see players join by referral, or connection from other sports, school, or family friends. They have a goal to play with their friends, overall we allow this to happen, the registrar receives requests from every new player via club email, the Registrar will check the team numbers, follow up with the coach, before placement but it is considered a priority to allow mates to play together.
We don’t guarantee their team allocation but do everything possible to make our players and members of the association happy.
The registrar reminds the coaches of any team size changes e.g.
- U9 = 10 players on field,
- U10 = 12 players and
- U12 = 15 players on field
As such club needs to add players for those age groups of transition and to cover for and player departees.
External transfers fall into the above policy on New Players.
Approved by the Clovelly JRFC Committee February 2024