RUGBY UNION PROFICIENCY AWARDS North Bristol Juniors have decided to adopt the RFU Proficiency Awards scheme. The team that will deliver the scheme will be Neil Ford (Team Lead), Barry Clark and Andy Lock. The new Rugby Union Proficiency Awards are currently in five sections. Introduction to Rugby Award Running, handling and introducing the Tag tackle activities Tag Rugby Award Running, handling and Tag tackle tests U8 to U11 Fitness Award Speed, agility, power, anaerobic endurance and speed endurance tests Mini Rugby Award Running, handling and contact tests Rugby Skills Award Running, handling, contact and kicking tests North have decided to pilot the U8 to U11 Rugby Fitness Award during the 2007-2008 season with the milestone of having tested all players at least once by the end of the season. This is more difficult than it sounds with only 35 Sundays in a season, half of which are dedicated to fixtures. Take into account all the half terms and you are very limited to the testing window afforded to you. This is why it is imperative that you as a parent gets onboard and help your child to attain. There will be no failures but the level of certificate awarded at the end of season awards ceremony will reflect either Bronze, Silver or Gold The U8 to U11 Rugby Fitness Award Designed to be a useful tool for teachers and coaches to motivate and assess the fitness of their players (boys and girls). The players themselves should also find them to be an enjoyable and, above all, positive experience. It should give them an idea of the level of fitness they have already achieved, and which aspects of their fitness they need to develop. The tests are not designed to improve a player's fitness levels as they are. However, when repeated a suitable number of times, the tests and similar exercises can be used to develop many of the components of fitness needed by players of rugby union.