To tell the school that I don't want DS to play rugby

[katemiddletonsothermum]

A number of issues here, so I'll be brief:

1. I've heard of a number of serious injuries recently, several of which have been life-changing for the players and families
2. DS isn't very good at rugby anyway. He plays like he's playing netball and, quite frankly, is more of a liability on the pitch than off it. He's only included in the team because the school has an inclusive policy and the school is very small so he's there to make up the numbers
3. I've watched a few matches and I don't like what I see (see point 1.)
4. A lot of my relatives have older boys and they seem to spend every other weekend in A&E with rugby related injuries. Fortunately they've been OK, but again, see point 1.

Damn it, I know IABU. If I tell the school that he's not to play rugby then he'll be singled out as being the "weird kid who stays on the sidelines or goes to the library" - and that's if the school agrees. I don't think they will agree to this and then I'll be the weird complaining parent who wants her son to be wrapped in cotton wool.

He's OK at other sports. OK as in he turns up, waves his arms around and runs up and down a bit. He'll never be in Team GB.

He's 8. There's 10 years of this and the rugby will only get more rough and more worrying.

I used the netball metaphor to emphasize how totally rubbish DS is at playing rugby. OK, I'll change the example. He plays rugby like he's doing the front crawl. On both counts, these different sports are inappopriate when attempting to play rugby.

I got much worse injuries playing netball than playing women's rugby. Played properly, netball is hardcore.

YANBU.

DH was made to play Rugby throughout his Secondary School. He has a horror of it today. No serious injury but lots of bangs and scrapes. He claims he only got through by purposely placing himself as far from the ball as possible.

As he himself puts it "it's a game that encourages the big kids to knock over the little kids".

You know you can't do this, and PPss are right to say that playing tag rugby at 8, he will be fine. Let him do it.

I do share your worries about later years though. DS is 16 and has been playing since he was 8. He has a choice, but he prefers rugby to football. I can't wait for him to stop playing, and I am a fan who loves watching rugby!

For what it's worth, in my experience most injuries (but not all) seem to affect the really serious, very sporty boys most often. They tend to be the ones who really commit themselves physically to the game, and are always in the thick of things. Of DSs friends,not he very sporty ones were always damaging themselves doing other things as well...

Do you realy want him to have to explain to his peers that he can't play rugby because his mum says so.

He is very likely to be ridiculed.

I know this is anecdotal, but I played full contact rugby from age 9 to 28. I personally had one broken bone and put my tooth through my lip, the most serious injury on the pitch where I was playing was a broken leg at Uni level. That is after decades of playing, and things are a lot safer these days than they were

I loathe rugby with a passion as a friend of mine had a serious injury at age 17, was paraplegic and died from related issues age 25. But I didn't 'ban' my son from the sport. I worried constantly but he never had more than a bruise. He stopped after GCSEs (he played in local league) but his best mate lives in A&E and constantly has something dislocated. I think you let your son decide and make sure the school are doing all they can safety wise

Im a fully qualifed Kids rugby coach with level 1 QCF. This is something we here a lot of from worrief parent.
ive been teaching kids rugby for over 10 years now, and on all that time the worse we've ever had was a 14 YO got a dislocated knee. It was purly from another player not knowing how to tackle safely. If rugby is taught properly from dedicated passionate people, then it is no diffrent to any other sport for injurys.
I also hasten to add, so what if your son takes a knock, or hurts himself a little. Do you really want him going through life thinking he'll never get hurt cause his mummy will make sure he wont?? not a great lesson for him. And i seriously hope you dont let him see your knocks on his sporting abilitys. Because that could do more damage than any scrum, ruch,maul or tackle will ever do.

Ruck not ruch. Also to add, my boy is 2 and he goes to weekly rugbytots. its a great introduction into the sport, but more than that
its a great introduction in to life, respect, appreciation, awareness and values.
Id rather he grew up to play rugby and have respect for authority and people, than be some piece of disgusting self appritiating footballer.

I manage to get through life without getting injured. I'm not sure why getting hurt is a good life lesson?

Really, Snoss? Never had a bruise, hammer on end of thumb, never stubbed a toe?

Never made a poor decision and got yourself a bump?

Any activity is vital in educating kids about judgment calls and dealing with setbacks. If you never meet any you never learn how to cope. Sport is a good way of working through such stuff.

They don't play full contact rugby at that age. He will be fine

My brother played for local club and school from a young age and got a dislocated shoulder at a school match aged 15. Lack of first aid provision was shocking. Happened again a few months later and he decided to give up rugby. He plays loads of other sports including football and has never had another injury.

DH hated rugby with a passion which was tough being from Wales. Luckily he had an enlightened games teacher who let him do cross country instead with a few other boys who hated rugby. DH has crappy joints and can suffer a dislocation on a dance floor so god knows what damage could have been done with rugby.

I have heard of so many rugby injuries compared to any other sport that I would worry too. I don't understand why children are forced to play scary sports they hate that put them off exercise for life.

OurBlanche - I was shit at sport at school and I don't feel I learned anything useful from it all. I am still a fully functioning adult with a challenging job who enjoys regular (non competitive) exercise.

Lack of first aid provision was shocking

At DSs club there are trained first aiders and at school matches there is usually a paramedic car on site.