When Newport Under 10s visited Stourton Park on Sunday 25th November, their Head Coach, Neil Weston, asked the Stourbridge Coaching Team if we could use a simple scoreboard to add up a few key skills during the game. Six key skills were agreed on for the day.

One point was awarded per try, per offload before a tackle, for three consecutive passes, for ripping during a maul, for turnover at a ruck; and 5 points for an interception.

The scoreboard was used as a totaliser for the whole fixture, so points scored by Stourbridge and Newport were added together and not individually.

Six parents per match, each with a clicker added up the individual points per skill they were assigned to across both teams.

Before the fixture was played, the board was explained to the players and they were asked how many points they thought they’d get. If they beat the agreed total as a collective they’d get prizes.

This involved both sets of players, plus the parents who we explained everything too, even the guys not counting. At the end of the fixture we got the kids and parents together, added everything up and dished out the loot.

This created an incredibly positive atmosphere amongst both sets of players and parents and they mixed in together to hear the results as a complete group. Hopefully it showed the parents that there’s merit in core skills not just a try count.

All the Stourbridge coaches agreed it was a great idea and hats off to Neil at Newport.

Stourbridge Under 10s coaches have all agreed that it’s something we would carry on during selected fixtures and feel that this very positive approach is worth sharing with others.