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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not want my ds to have to play rugby at school?

55 replies

Lazaretto · 19/02/2015 20:30

Apparently, my son's school does rugby as part of PE at age 7. I think children should have a choice about participating in contact sports...AIBU?

OP posts:
TeaMakesItAllPossible · 19/02/2015 20:42

If they follow RFU guidelines Under 9s/10s is first taste of contact, it all gets introduced gradually though so rucks and mauls is later. Lots of primary schools stick with tag though til year 6 due to insurance. Private schools seem to go earlier.

Original poster
Lazaretto · 19/02/2015 20:43

Why would I check it out with the school? It's not imminent...just something I recently discovered. If it was imminent then of course I would be speaking to them :)

OP posts:
PippiLicious · 19/02/2015 20:43

My dc's school:

Y3 - tag
Y4 - contact (but only just). Tackle then let go etc.
Y5 - contact with rucks, mini scrums and much more full on tackles but still completely age appropriate.

SeaUnicorns · 19/02/2015 20:43

It won't becime contact until high school but I very much doubt you'll get a choice then no!

I'm amazed you believed it was the full game. Tag/touch rugby is brilliant and really you didn't think to talk to the parents at your school! Or the school it's self!

Monroe · 19/02/2015 20:44

Grin I've just asked ds if he's played at school and he said they don't do rugby till year 6 so obviously depends on the school.

My DS isn't particularly rough and tumble but he's fast and plays on the wing. He much prefers it to football now.

TeaMakesItAllPossible · 19/02/2015 20:45

Girls play with boys until under 12s with the RFU programme

SeaUnicorns · 19/02/2015 20:46

Because checking out with the school who would have told you it was tag rugby would have stopped you posting on the Internet that children so young shouldn't be playing contact sports! Their not!

Original poster
Lazaretto · 19/02/2015 20:47

I'm amazed you think I should have checked with school/other parents first. Sorry I didn't realise mumsnet had rules about when to ask a question. To be honest I was canvassing opinion to see if I was being over protective and it appears I am. Sorry if you have better things to do than read and respond to my daft question ;)

OP posts:
ragged · 19/02/2015 20:49

Some schools the boys don't get a choice about contact version, you must ask your school.

edwinbear · 19/02/2015 20:50

OP have a look at this link if you need some reassurance :-)

rugby.munchkinsportsltd.com/

TeaMakesItAllPossible · 19/02/2015 20:50

Ahem.

They're

Dude - whole of MN would wither and die if people actually talked to each other about the thing that's bothering them

Original poster
Lazaretto · 19/02/2015 20:50

Also I didn't say young children shouldn't be playing contact sports just that they should have a choice.

OP posts:
Littleturkish · 19/02/2015 20:53

Football is a contact sport.

Original poster
Lazaretto · 19/02/2015 20:57

Thanks for the link Edwin :)

OP posts:
Nerf · 19/02/2015 21:02

Dh is a rugby coach, out of school. Apparently the safety training is really good.

Northernparent68 · 19/02/2015 21:04

I do nt mean any offence OP, but is it you or your son who is anxious about contact rugby ?

Original poster
Lazaretto · 19/02/2015 21:08

None taken. It's not me. My son doesn't even like playing chase. He's not physically aggressive in any way. He suffers from anxiety especially with regards to pain due to past trauma.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lazaretto · 19/02/2015 21:11

I'm getting an overall impression that people think I'm precious for not wanting my son to have to play contact sport. I don't agree with that at all. It should be their choice. It's not a rite of passage.

OP posts:
Spartak · 19/02/2015 21:26

What about people like me who hated all sports at school? Should they be given the choice to opt out completely?

Original poster
Lazaretto · 19/02/2015 21:28

Err...no...exercise is healthy. Contact sport cannot be deemed to be universally 'healthy' for all children.

OP posts:
EbwyIsUpTheDuff · 19/02/2015 21:29

my 4 year old is timid.. but he loves getting the tags off someone :)

it'll be fine.

caroldecker · 19/02/2015 21:31

Waht about people who hate geography or hard of hearing people who struggle with foreign languages? Should they be allowed to opt out?

Spartak · 19/02/2015 21:31

What makes it unhealthy for some children?

I'm dyspraxic. Not badly, but enough that anything requiring co - ordination was a complete humiliation. Dropping the ball in netball, landing on my face in hurdles, missing the ball in rounders etc.

Original poster
Lazaretto · 19/02/2015 21:41

Well I would hope any child with special needs like dyspraxia or hearing impairment would have their individual circumstances taken into consideration. I would think the obvious difference with contact sport is the potential to get physically injured ? Am I speaking a different language here? Do we make adults join in contact sports with their peers irrespective of their wishes and abilities? Would you go out and play competitive rugby tomorrow with your colleagues under duress? Sorry, I don't agree with the school of hard knocks approach.

OP posts:
Jux · 19/02/2015 21:44

Non-contact rugger? I can't even imagine it! My elder bro lost all his front teeth to rugger at school, and my younger bro broke his collarbone at age 8 due to rugger. Glad to hear they've made it less painful!