Decline in mass, improvement in the finish of the season
Just a year ago, in the U14s competition, we had A and B level of competition. In the A level of the competition, games were played, a total of three clubs participated, it was played according to the each-against-each-other system, where each club played 4 matches. A total of 6 teams participated in the B level and a series of 4 tournaments was played. However, after September when the years changed, we experienced a big drop in numbers and teams. Why is that so, it is already a long topic for elaboration, but it should be borne in mind that for two years no promotions were done in schools due to the Corona virus. When we add to that that some clubs stopped working, we come to a situation where we have not maintained a large number of competitive selections and players for a long time.
During the season, the clubs managed to make presentations at schools and improve the situation with the number of players. Six clubs that competed in the spring part of the season, namely: RK Dinamo 1954, RK Rad, RK Čelik, RK Dorćol 1998, RK Torpedo Mlava and BRK Crvena Zvezda. As we have already mentioned, RK Čelik from Zenica participated in all competitions of younger categories, which certainly added quality to the competition.
Big difference in the quality of the teams
This half-season was definitely marked by RK Rad, who won all the games in all the tournaments. RK Čelik and RK Dinamo in 1954 managed to play more challenging games with Građevinari. These three teams made up the upper house in the competition. BRK Crvena Zvezda, RK Dorćol 1998 and RK Torpedo Mlava were not competitive with the upper house, but they played interesting matches with each other.
| Поз (Pos) | Екипа (Team) | У(GP) | Б(Pts) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  RK Rad | 4 | 40 |
| 2 |  RK Dinamo 1954 | 4 | 30 |
| 3 |  BRK Crvena Zvezda | 4 | 16 |
| 4 |  RK Dorćol 1998 | 4 | 15 |
| 5 |  RK Čelik | 2 | 14 |
| 6 |  RK Torpedo Mlava | 2 | 8 |
With the U14s, there was a big difference in quality, especially in the last tournament. We need to think seriously and do an analysis of the competition, in order to play as uncertain games as possible. Why do we stand for such a state of affairs? Well, if you lose 50-0 in the tournament, and you play a third of the game, then if you played 50 minutes, which is how long the U14s play, you would lose 150-0. A match that would end with that result should not even be played, because it makes no sense at all. The best variant is when the most uncertain matches are played at all levels. Everyone should play with a team of a similar level. The competition should not be held for the sake of being held, the competition system should encourage all teams to raise the quality of the game
The size of the field and the quality of the field where rugby is played
We have had the opportunity to actively follow competitions in younger categories for three years now. We are of the opinion that in the competition of U14s it is necessary to increase the field. At the current dimensions of 55 meters long and 35 meters wide, where the game is played 10 on 10, we get playing “genocide”, instead of forcing children to use the space and spread the game. If we want to stimulate children to play modern rugby, we need to expand the field.
In the spring, the pioneers will be the U15s, who have already outgrown the current dimensions of the field. Then we get a high intensity of contact in a small area, which can cause a higher intensity of injuries And that is not a good thing at all.
We already mentioned in the article about the retrospective of the U12s team that it must be played on better pitches. We note the same thing again. The grass has to be cut, at one tournament a boy was bitten by a tick, which is absolutely unheard of. Most importantly, it must not be played on meadows, no matter how rich the meadows are with grassy areas, sports are played on sports fields, and this is defined by the law and the regulations of the Federation. A meadow where the owners walk their pets that defecate there is not a field where rugby should be played and trained.
The spirit of rugby and competition
Another negative thing we noticed is that almost all the participants in the competition and the organization can’t wait for the tournament to end. It was as if they had come by chance to do the tournament. The biggest losers are the children who came to compete, play rugby and enjoy themselves. If we create a situation where everyone can’t wait to leave the tournament, then how can we expect them to take rugby seriously and stick with it for the long term?
Competition system and tournaments
A total of 4 tournaments were held. The team that wins the most points at the end of the competition wins the Serbian Cup. As a reminder, according to the Propositions of the Rugby Union of Serbia, placement in tournaments is scored as follows:
- place – 10 points
- place – 8 points
- place – 6 points
- place – 4 points
- place – 3 points
- place – 2 points
- place and lower – 1 point
All 6 teams took part in one tournament. We had 5 teams in two tournaments, while only 4 clubs participated in the last tournament.
Screening of the U14s competition in the fall
For those who don’t know, 1st of September, age groups compete in competitions under the auspices of the Rugby Union of Serbia. The Serbian Championship is played in the fall, and the Serbian Cup is played in the spring. And that is the rule for all younger categories. From September, players born in 2008. and in 2009. will have the right to perform for U14 pioneers. Players born in 2010 will also have the right to perform with their parents’ permission. year, that is, the release year of U12s.
In the case of U14s in all clubs, we had a very small number of players who in 2007 YOB. The core of almost all teams was made up of players who in 2008 YOB. Dominant players of RK Rad who in 2007 age they move to U16s. What’s that supposed to mean? The competition will be even more interesting and interesting from September. And hopefully even more uncertain.
According to our research, we should already have 6 formed and stable teams, which should take part in the competition from autumn. They are: RK Rad, RK Dinamo 1954, BRK Crvena Zvezda, RK Žarkovo, RK Torpedo Mlava and RK Dorćol 1998. If we add RK Čelik to this number, we get a competition of 7 teams, which should be much more interesting and balanced for us.
RK Rad
Although the best players from the previous season leave for the U16s, the team remains quite stable, where the tasters will be the players of 2008. years that were tempered throughout the season. They will be reinforced with the ’09 players, who won the U12 Cup in the spring. We can certainly expect a very competitive team that will certainly figure as one of the favorites in the Serbian Championship.
RK Dinamo 1954
We all remember the ’08 Dinamo generation, which a year ago completed the competition in the U12 without defeat. We expect Pancevo to be, if not the main, then one of the main favorites in the competition. Also, Dinamo can expect an influx of players from the U12 team, because they formed the team in the second part of the spring half-season.
BRK Crvena Zvezda
The team whose 2008 year had a big fight with Dinamo. Reinforced with several new names, as well as a large number of roosters, it can certainly be involved in the fight for the medal. Hard and thorough work over the summer can raise the game to a very high level, the quality is there, it needs to be honed.
RK Dorćol 1998
The players from Dorćol become more and more competitive and better from season to season Until a year ago, they played in the B group in the U12s competition. They had some great performances in the U14s last season. The flavor of the team remains the same, so we can expect great progress. We expect Dorćol to be a tough nut for every team, and we won’t be surprised if they achieve an excellent result.
РК Торпедо Млава:
The youngest team in the competition, but also the most interesting. The core of the team will remain the same as last year. The team with the least experience, but extremely talented and physically ready. There will be no more debutants in the next half-season, and it’s time for an extra step forward. The summer has just started, an ideal opportunity to train well.
RK Žarkovo
From autumn, Žarkovci will definitely have a team of pioneers, which will be made up mainly of roosters of the breeding year. They may be the youngest in the competition, but we expect good and quality rugby from them. Training is not interrupted during the summer, so we can’t wait to see them in the Serbian Championship.
If we were able to design the competition, we would focus extremely on the 6 clubs mentioned above, which, with the possible participation of RK Čelik, would make up 7 teams in the competition. They would continue the practice of playing 4 tournaments per season. We are always in favor of a final match in all age categories, where we think it would be a real grand final of the competition.
As for the other teams, RK Kruševac and RK Borac Starčevo have the potential to form teams. Of course, everything depends on the promotional activities of the clubs in the fall. They would also propose the formation of a B group, where beginners, that is, newly formed teams, would compete. We believe that it would be counterproductive for new players to compete with players who have a few seasons under their belt. At least not at the very beginning, until they master the basics of rugby.
Activity outside of competition
It is mandatory for clubs to play away games outside our borders. Why do we think so? Well, simply, international experience is very important, especially in the younger categories. Children will compete with their peers from other countries. You can always arrange for one time to be guests and the other time to be hosts with a foreign club.
Likewise, friendly matches can always be played. Official competition does not have to be the only activity. Clubs can agree to make mini-tournaments or simply test matches. As we have already mentioned, these are ideal opportunities for your team to learn and improve. All clubs, except RK Torpedo Mlava, are very close to each other, and they can organize test matches without much expense.
Contact the Referee Organization, have a referee come to your training or test match, where he can educate the children together with the coaches and teach them referee signs and rugby rules. It happened that children at tournaments do not know and do not recognize the referee’s signs or do not know how to position themselves in the scrum and lineout. This would be an ideal opportunity for them to practice and prepare for the official competition.
