Community
In the Community
The 'Dons in the Community' team works in partnership with various groups, businesses and organisations on a wide range of projects across Doncaster and the surrounding area.
Our team of three highly qualified coaches are dedicated and passionate about the development of rugby league in the Doncaster area. Paul Cooke, a Challenge Cup winner in 2005 and current Dons half back, has been coaching with the club for almost a year now.
Paul was a professional rugby league player for over ten years with Hull FC, Hull KR and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and can offer first class advice to youngsters who may want to earn a living from the game.
The development team aims to strengthen communities through forging formal links between groups/organisations that will provide long term partnerships. We aim to increase the number of volunteers in sport by working to recruit, train and retrain members of local communities. Projects will increase participation levels in sport that will help towards improving health and promote healthy lifestyles. Work in schools and with amateur clubs will bring structure to grass-roots Rugby League in Doncaster and a pathway for talented players will be created that will help provide stars of the future.
Player Development
Player development is an integral part of the Doncaster Community Team and vital in producing the 'Rugby Stars' of the future. We are currently working on producing a pathway for young people to guide them to achieving excellence in Rugby League.
This pathway will start at school. Through structured schools coaching and competitions young people will be given there first taste of rugby league. Through linking the Dons programme into the RFL's Champion Schools Competition young people are given the opportunity to compete in a national competition and play in a competitive structure.
All young people who take part in our schools coaching and competitions are encouraged to join their local Rugby League Club. This is the next step on the pathway for young players. At clubs players will receive access to regular coaching and competition.
Talented players from South Yorkshire will be selected to represent the Service Area. Here they will receive coaching from some of the best coaches in the area and a chance to train and play with the best players in South Yorkshire.
Whilst playing for the Service Area players will be selected to attend Yorkshire Regional Camp. This is a RFL run programme that invites the best 40 players from the region at under 13, 14 and 15 to attend a weeks long intensive training week. 20 of these players will then be selected to represent Yorkshire at the RFL's National Carnival. Here they will play against other regions such as the North West and London. The best players will be selected to attend a national camp were the best players from across the country come together for training.
Tag Rugby
Between March and June the Doncaster Community Team work with the feeder primary schools to all the secondary schools that we are working with. Each school receives weekly coaching and access to attending festivals against other schools. TAG rugby helps kids understand the fundamentals of Rugby League without the heavy contact and ensures every child can participate. It is a great way for all to keep fit and enjoy and thrive in a team environment.
Cheerleading
The Dons have links to Doncasters leading dance school 'Dance Shack' and offer girls and boys from 6-16 years of age the chance to particpate during game day through cheerleading. Dance Shack also offer extra curricular after school classes that run on various afternoons during the week. School sessions can also be booked for any schools looking to teach dance. For more information please contact Louise Mcminn on carlhall@doncasterrlfc.co.uk or by phoning 07894127135.
School - Club Links
To help the team ensure partnerships with schools are successful school-club links are been agreed between each school and the Dons. These agreements state what each party agrees to deliver and is signed by a representative from the school and the club. These links are reviewed yearly to ensure that partnerships continue and develop.
For further information about the Doncaster RLFC community team please contact Carl Hall on 01302 765888/07506 647569 or email carlhall@doncasterrlfc.co.uk.
Offers
