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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

School forcing my son to play rugby

301 replies

Nearly47 · 06/03/2019 08:05

AIBU to think that it is wrong that the school is forcing my DS to compete in the rugby team?
When we joined I new he had to learn how to play and I have no issues with that. But to compete involves staying late at school twice a week and going to games Saturdays mornings plus he already plays football that's the sport he prefers. I am really annoyed and not sure how to proceed.

OP posts:
KingIrving · 06/03/2019 10:09

Watch the movie "concussion" on netflix or iTunes, than email school saying you refuse he plays for fear of brain damage or spinal injury

Mixedupmummy · 06/03/2019 10:10

undone understand the hand wringing over situations like this. you're the parent. tell the school he isn't playing rugby outside school hours. end of.

Mixedupmummy · 06/03/2019 10:11
  • i don't understand

I also don't understand why I can't type today

Nearly47 · 06/03/2019 10:17

I think I will have to contact the school for a written confirmation of the policy. When I applied they said it was compulsory to learn rugby. But don't remember any mention of competing.

OP posts:
Nearly47 · 06/03/2019 10:26

Kingirving
I don't even want to think about that side things

OP posts:
mrsm43s · 06/03/2019 10:26

it is a grammar school and kids need free time. The school gives lots of homework. And he needs some free time too and time with the family. He did it for a few weeks and was completely exhausted. I also think we as a family need at least a day off activities a week.

With all due respect, this is utterly pathetic. If he's really exhausted, then I'd suggest you take him to the doctor as that's not normal at that age.

My children (yrs 8 & 9) do at least 2 sports each, in school and out of school including matches most Saturday and Sunday mornings, play instruments, go to orchestra, and still have time for studies, family time and relaxation. They are not exhausted, they are fit, lively, active, happy healthy children with a wide range of interests and a good attitude to life. This is the norm for most of the children we know (independent sector).

Do you really think an extra hour or two a week of x-box, watching you tube videos or lounging in bed is really better for him than taking part in team sports and representing his school?

As a parent, you should be encouraging him to participate.

Ali1cedowntherabbithole · 06/03/2019 10:37

A non-grammar boys school near us has similar expectations, so I don't think it's that rare.

The school I know is very upfront about it though at open evenings so parents know what is expected. The school also has excellent academic results and is sought after.

wigglypiggly · 06/03/2019 10:39

They made it clear its compulsory to learn rugby, hes good so they selected him for the school team which is fair enough. Is football connected to the school? If he really doesnt want to be in the school rugby team email the Head and tell them he doesnt want to be selected. Being selected for something at school can be helpful for uni and work in the future.

Nearly47 · 06/03/2019 10:43

"With all due respect, this is utterly pathetic. If he's really exhausted, then I'd suggest you take him to the doctor as that's not normal at that age." People have different level of energy and different priorities life. I am not asking about that. I am asking if the it OK for a school to force a child to compete for their rugby team.

OP posts:
MeAgainAgain · 06/03/2019 10:45

mrsm

what a nasty post

scubadoobie · 06/03/2019 10:57

What KingIrving said..... high risk of concussion. And if you do manage to get your boy out of playing for the school, watch out for how the PE teacher reacts. Some of them can get really arsey and develope an attitude towards those pupils who don't want to help get the teachers' photo into the local gazette with them holding a trophy, especically those that can play, that is tantatmount to bullying. I've seen it happen. My opinion is that he shouldn't be forced to play a sport that he's not keen on, to the detriment of his first love, which is football.

And here's a wee story from my town that I know of personally, admittedly from quite a few years ago, that shows just how seriously some schools take rugby. Young kid, a first year, is playing for his school team. He attends a state school..... a good one. Their team plays against another local school, a Grammar . Grammar schools' PE teacher notices that the other team has this kid who can really play... he's talented. When that kid started Second Year, he started it at the Grammar school, even though he had failed his 11+ transfer exam. The Grammar school did some detective work, spoke to the kids' parents and finagled the transfer. All because he was good at rugby. This sort of thing apparently still goes on with that Grammar school.

JacquesHammer · 06/03/2019 10:59

Do you really think an extra hour or two a week of x-box, watching you tube videos or lounging in bed is really better for him than taking part in team sports and representing his school?

It is ALWAYS better for a child to have choice, especially when participating in a contact sport. To suggest anything else is foolish.

1ndig0 · 06/03/2019 11:04

mrsm - what a delight you sound Confused

OP, I have this situation even at primary school (Independent). If you’re chosen to be in the choir, you’re in it and it means a lot of afterschool practices and early mornings. I think the situation you describe with the rugby is common too, but it’s only until Easter, so, if I were you, I’d just go with it for now.

Nearly47 · 06/03/2019 11:07

Scubadoobie,
Yes, the teacher wording makes it sound as if my son joined the army. They take it very seriously and are only concerned about the team success. Otherwise they would be encouraging other boys that are not doing other sports to compete. But instead they go for a boy that is already into sport and has a good level of fitness. I know of kids that haven't never been selected and their mums were quite keen to get them into sports.

OP posts:
Nearly47 · 06/03/2019 11:09
  • get them into rugby
OP posts:
Nearly47 · 06/03/2019 11:12

1ndig0

I will do that but need find out about policy because teacher hinted at "needing him" for next year.
Football coach won't be happy as he is going to miss training

OP posts:
mrsm43s · 06/03/2019 11:13

I am asking if the it OK for a school to force a child to compete for their rugby team.

OK then, straight answer. Yes, my children's school, and the schools of most of my peers children do exactly that. A child could be excused for a valid reason - i.e on medical grounds (with note), or perhaps if there were extreme circumstances which made it not possible (having to spend weekends visiting a dying relative a distance away, court ordered contact in location too far to travel from etc). But it is absolutely accepted that if you are picked for the team, you play, and that you attend all practices. It's part of the school ethos, and children are proud to be selected and to represent their school.

Assuming you actively chose your child's school, and this is part of their rules/conditions, then you don't have a leg to stand on.

I might have sympathy if it was a school that you actively chose to not send your child to, but you got placed in by the local authority as the only choice. But assuming as this is a Grammar, you chose this over and above your local comp/SM, you can't cherry pick the bits of the experience that you want, and expect to opt out of other bits that the school deem compulsory.

It will be good for your child. Encourage him. In the absence of a medical condition, he will not be exhausted - on the contrary, daily sport is good for children and will give him extra energy.

JacquesHammer · 06/03/2019 11:15

mrsm43s

That is just the type of ethos rugby is aiming to move away from.

A valid reason not to play rugby is “I don’t want to”.

Drogosnextwife · 06/03/2019 11:15

You said he chooses football over rugby but maybe he's it doing that because you told him he had to? I think if he wants to do it you should let him, if they clash he goes to the one he prefers. At the begining you also said "we joined" making it sound as though you signed him up for it.

NunoGoncalves · 06/03/2019 11:29

Assuming he has really said he doesn't want to play rugby, I would just email the teacher and say

"Due to other extra-curricular commitments, my son cannot take part in the school rugby team. He will not be attending any further out-of-school training or games. Yours..."

And then I would simply tell him to get the bus home like normal on those days. Job done. Nobody is FORCING him to do anything.

BertrandRussell · 06/03/2019 11:30

I’d be more worried about the hour and a half homework in year 7 to be honest.

Bluesmartiesarebest · 06/03/2019 11:30

You are being a bit shortsighted about this because in a few years time, DS will be filling in UCAS forms or applying for jobs. Being part of several school teams (especially if he can become a captain or win trophies) is something that universities and employers really like to see. Football is not much safer than rugby as the players seem to get injured all the time.

MiniMum97 · 06/03/2019 11:45

You are not very clear in your posts so I wonder if you are not clear in your emails to the school.

I would have sent a simple email clearly saying that my son will NOT be participating in rugby outside of school hours as he already has other commitments.

I would ask for their confirmation the email has been received and understood. I would then add that if they need to discuss further I would be happy to attend a meeting with the relevant teachers/HODs.

I would only do the latte though if you feel able to stick to your guns! A good tip is simply repeating your message regardless of what they say. Don't get drawn in to a debate. .

seven201 · 06/03/2019 11:46

Dear PE teacher. X will not be attending any rugby training or matches this year or next. He is committed to football and has other out of school commitments and homework too. We simply cannot fit rugby in. Please stop asking my son to attend training and matches.

MeAgainAgain · 06/03/2019 11:50

"I’d be more worried about the hour and a half homework in year 7 to be honest."

This is the standard they are supposed to get 3 pieces a day which should take about an hour each -

My DD is in Yr 7 and I was really shocked, we had nowhere near this amount of homework at secondary when I was young. I think it's too much.

mrsm why do you think it is a good idea to force children to do things even if they hate them?

Would you support the same for girls, being told they have to give up their evenings and weekends to play rugby, even if they hate it?

A lot of older men cite being forced to play rugby at school as being something that they found quite damaging - the boys that were smaller or weaker, the boys that weren't interested in traditionally masculine activities.

I thought that with sport there was a desire to make it more enjoyable and accessible for all rather than catering to the old way where so many kids are left feeling cold tired bored inadequate and with a lifelong aversion to sport participation.