The engagement stage is where we will see the most young people and try to create as many opportunities for them to participate in the sport. This could include taster sessions in schools or local community groups, or one-off events where we can see a high number of young people in a short space of time. At this stage it is important that the club has as much involvement as possible, as any interested parties will be directed to the club to gain information on how they can continue playing.

The retention development stage is when the club already has a number of young people interested in progressing further with wheelchair rugby. If the taster sessions in a particular school were successful, the club could decide to run a 6 week block of sessions in that school to give more regular opportunities for the young people. The Junior Programme would be able to assist with these sessions as well as loan the use of junior chairs for these sessions to take place. In some cases the club has set up a one-off junior event during their regular club training times to give the young people the opportunity to see and experience a club environment. This is a good way to get young people from the engagement to the retention stage. As a club, it’s important you have theses session set in place before the taster events so you can direct any interested parties straight to the club event.

The transition stage is when the club is finally ready to host regular junior training sessions. The Junior Programme can assist with this in many ways, for example providing an Activators course for any club volunteers looking to help with the team. We can also promote the club sessions via social media and local community groups. When the club has established regular junior training sessions it will be entitled to participate in the regional and the national tournaments hosted by the Junior Programme annually.

Participants must be aged between 8 and 17 years. Everyone can play, but a large majority of Junior Programme members have a physical or learning impairment. Friends and siblings are encouraged to play, to help support juniors into the game.

Young people can join as Junior Programme members from 8 years old.

Juniors can train and compete in the adult game from 12 years old, once they meet membership conditions and go through GBWR Safe to Play process.

Yes, the game has been modified to make it safer and less complicated for junior members.

How Do I Play?

Yes, we host National Championships with under 14s and under 18s categories, in addition to local festivals designed to best meet the needs of the participants.

Results of the Lord’s Taverners Junior Wheelchair Rugby Championships

The safeguarding protocols are the same as for an adult club. Please visit our Safeguarding page for full detail on GBWR’s safeguarding practices.

Safeguarding

We can support coach development through an Activators course, and would recommend that all junior coaches hold a Level 2 coaching qualification in wheelchair rugby.

Coaching Qualifications

There are a number of UK Coaching online courses which we can also recommend, looking at working with young people with different impairments, and working with parents. Much of this content is free, however, there is an option to become an annual member and gain access to more content.

UK Coaching

Yes, we have separate categories of membership for young people in the Junior Programme, those in the adult game, and also for those joining the wheelchair rugby workforce as officials and support staff!

Junior Membership

We would recommend, where possible, the junior session leading into adult session. For those young people with learning difficulties as well as physical disabilities, it may be less stressful for them to arrive in an empty sports hall to prepare, rather then turn up after a busy adult session.

Be aware that there are additional barriers to juniors participating, around transport and reliance on a parent or guardian to bring them to sessions.