A little more background...

This is an interesting Wiki section on the history of the naming of the positions in American football, with some very detailed research showing how they all link back to the original Rugby football. Just for interest, I hope to have the kids try all the 'non-soccer' football variants during this year: American Football, Gaelic Football, Australian Rules Football, Rugby League, and Rugby Union.

Camp Packing List

Please read the previous post for advice on sleeping bags, mats and flashlights.



I've mailed the camp packing list for Christmas Camp, and I'll reproduce it here:






Note the superb color coding! Stuff in the red box is very important. I can cover for pretty much anything in the other boxes but if you forget '1st Priority' items there is not much I can do.

Some background...

For those students (and parents!) who want to understand a little more about the sport of Touch Rugby, try reading this article:

History of Touch

But before you do.... remember that 'football' is a name used for many different games, all over the world. In Australia, 'football' or 'footy' is the name for Australian Rules Football, Rugby League, Rugby Union, and Touch (four different games!). In America and Canada, 'football' also refers to a rugby-like contact game where the ball is carried in the hands, and its non-contact version (which we are learning in PE class at school at the moment!). In new Zealand, a 'great footballer' means 'a very good rugby player'. Australia has a very popular TV show called 'The Footy Show' which, for some days of the week, is about Aussie Rules Football, and other days, is about Rugby league! And for most of the world, of course, 'football' means 'soccer'.

ALL these games come from the same root, far back in history: great, disorganised, violent and dangerous games played between villages in the English and Irish countryside. Slowly over the years the games evolved more rules and spread over the world, taking on different characters as they travelled.

It's a subject that can take up a lot of your time on Wikipedia! For now, perhaps is enough to know that Touch Rugby and Touch Football can be exactly the same game, depending on which country you are in!

Rugby tournament photos

Mr. Coey (Evan and Clare's dad) took hundreds of photos of all the kids in action at the recent rugby tournament. They are all great shots and there are far too many to post them all here. Here is a selection:

The Girls B Team after their last match. There is real pride, love and courage in these tired faces. (Note to self: get team socks before next tournament.)




Lik Wong in full flight. What a great player Lik is becoming!



One of many superb diving tries by Ewan Donald in the tournament. King of the 'astroturf burn', Ewan is never shy of losing a little skin to keep the team ahead.



Making the most of first phase possession, Fiona Leung takes a hit-up.

This tiny selection doesn't do the pictures justice. I have the DVD at the school and I will start burning copies as soon as I can.

Rugby- going forward

The first HKTTRA Touch tournament was a great success for all our teams. The Boys 'C' Grade team had a great time and showed me that they are really starting to understand the game and how to play it. Their defence and organisation across the field were excellent. In Touch rugby, if you start with a strong and organised defence, the attacking and scoring will eventually take care of themselves.

The Girls 'B' Grade team also had an excellent tournament. Again, it was great to see their real understanding of the structure of the game and their outstanding defensive positioning. What they need now is to learn how to score, and I've already given them some direct targetted feedback on that from the tournament. What's great about this team is the depth- we have nine really strong players who learn fast and work hard in every session.

The Boys 'A' team excelled themselves by going into the semifinals of their division. We should take a moment and reflect on this achievement. The 'A' division is for boys aged under-13. In fact, our Boys 'A' only has one under-13 in it. The rest of the boys range in age from 11 down to 9. They were playing against teams six twelve-year-olds and beating them. This is a huge testament to how much they have put in to their team. I am sure that as they continue to play, learn, and train, they can expect more success in the future.

I'd like to hear feedback from parents on how we can go forward with rugby. What I would like to do is to divide the rugby ASA into two separate training sessions on two different days. For example, the Boys 'C' team on Tuesdays, and the Girls 'B' and Boys 'A' on Thursdays. I think this would give all the teams the best opportunity to develop before the next tournament.

However, this would mean dropping the Cross Country/ Distance Running ASA for at least a term. Or perhaps moving it to another time-slot, like early Saturday morning. I'm really not sure how a schedule might be worked out, but I'd like to hear what parents think before I make any changes. So please contact me through the usual channels or talk to me when you see me around the school!

Camp is coming!

Our Christmas Camp this year is on 21, 22 and 23 December. Right now I'm planning the games and activities, doing my best to make sure that all the kids come home with new skills and knowledge. (They will also be coming home safe, warm, clean dry and well-fed!)

Some parents have been asking me about camping equipment. Apart from their personal stuff- clothes, towel, cups, bowls, cutlery, toothbrush- the school provides everything for camp: tents, cookers, cooking dishes, food, and transport.

EXCEPT:

Every student will need a SLEEPING BAG and a SLEEPING MAT.

I have recently bought three new sleeping bags for myself and my own children, and I can recommend 'Triton' brand sleeping bags from 'RC Outfitters', located in Mong Kok.

I think these sleeping bags, priced at HK$240 each, are very good value:

Triton Basic Mummy

Of course, if you explore the RC Outfitters website and visit their store, you will find a very wide selection of sleeping bags, some cheaper, some much more expensive.

Sleeping mats are quite easy to find, and they don't need to be expensive or complicated.

A simple sleeping mat.

Remember, the students will not be hiking with their equipment. We will arrive directly at the camp ground by bus; you do not need to worry about them carrying any heavy weight for a long distance.

Apart from sleeping bags and mats, I do recommend that you invest in a good, strong, bright and reliable LED flashlight. (LEDs are very bright and use much less power than ordinary lamps). For working and playing around the camp in the darkness a HEAD TORCH is very, very useful. You can get good ones made by Energizer (widely available). More expensive ones are made by Black Diamond and Petzl , for example.

Again, you can find these brands or similar quality ones in RC Outfitters and many other outdoor stores or local hardware stores.

If you are buying handheld flashlights, Surefire are the best in the world; Fenix are very highly recommended; Maglites are a design classic and NEVER fail; and Energizer have a good range at reasonable prices, widely available in supermarkets and local hardware stores.

Quality really counts with flashlights and head torches. The ten-dollar LED lights you can buy on market stalls will not last the three days of camp!