Your Rugby League playing experience

Guys just a little thread away from the serious stuff for a moment.

I've been taking my young boy (4yo) to a few games (may look at getting him membership next year) and he loves it. Bought him a Sharks footy last year and a better one on Sat night and he's been scoring tries and kicking goals in the backyard every chance he gets. I'd love him to play when he's older but I never played league at all, played 30 years of soccer. Plus my missus is terrified of him getting hurt.

Just wondered what your experiences were like as a footy player, what club, what grade and what position did you play. Are injuries a big turn off for young players?

Love to hear your thoughts.

Played for east maitland for a few years when I was a kid, I was hopeless so I started playing soccer.

Mate, only injuries kids get are the one off freak accidents. I was a lucky to be 50 KG (till around 17) kid for most of my playing career, would get bashed senseless every game and come out fine. As soon as I got older and started putting on weight the injuries kicked in. Don't be scared to throw your kid in there.

I don't think anything people say on this forum is going to alleviate your worries when your young fella is on the field but having said that he will likely be facing up against boys who are more developed or naturally just bigger and stronger at the same age like kids from Polynesian backgrounds for instance. He will need to learn proper tackling technique (round the ankles and head away to the side) to stop those guys and avoid injury to himself. See if the coach can stick him on the wing where he will get the least traffic and likely smaller players running at him.

I played schoolboys league from a young age and into my late teens. Wing, centre, mainly. Enjoyed it but it was scary at times having massive islander blokes run straight at you lol

We all copped knocks and some people got minor injuries but nothing that didn't soon heal. I would be almost more concerned playing at my age where the body will feel the strain alot more and take longer to heal. Plus more chance of a longer term or serious injury

Whatever you decide hope it all works out mate. Give him some protective headgear as well perhaps , at least he can pretend his is Scotty Porter then err I mean Thurston

Let him decide.

Can't speak for clubs up there but generally injuries shouldn't be an issue for young ones. Wasn't until under 18s that me or any of my team mates got any serious injury. Sadly it was me haha. From my experience working with the local club injuries of any sort of weight seem unlikely until 16's or older.

There will be tears and whinging from a much younger age though.

Played junior footy from under 7 to senior footy. Only stopped due to an injury not related to the game at all.

Played in the newcastle comp, for windale juniors, then dudley to finish with central charlestown. Best game in the word.

Injuries arent a turn off for me, because I breathed footy all my life. And I have no problems with my boy playing it when he is old enough to. Its league or nothing for him...

Should of been playing since his birth.

Get him in. It'll put some hair on his balls before any of his mates and girls love the footy players

evertonshark said:

Played for east maitland for a few years when I was a kid, I was hopeless so I started playing soccer.

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Signed my 5 year old up with the griffins yesterday! Should fill my Saturday mornings with amusement. He's so pumped for it.

Shouldn't worry about injuries, wasn't until the under 16's when I saw the first major injury happen in a game (broken collarbone). Main thing he'd have to worry about at that age are jarred fingers and maybe a headknock.

It's also a great way for him to make some friends. When I moved up to The Shire, playing rugby league eased me in a bit and introduced me to some kids my age. Still mates with a lot of the guys now.

Played for Yarrawarrah from 6 - 13 as a prop, never got an injury. Ran hard and hit hard, picked up 4 premierships before taking a break for 3 years, played for Bosco when I was 16 and slotted into fullback. Was ****house as a fullback

My oldest boy who is 8 started playing at 4 and has played over 50 games for Sutherland Loftus has changed clubs to Cronulla Caringbah this year in the 9s. (a lot closer to home and wants to play with his school friends)
my youngest boy just turned 4 will be playing for Cronulla Caringbah this year.

The earlier the better to get them into footy if they have a good coach that can get them to tackle safely and using the correct techniques.
gives them confidence.
Injuries are part of the game, any game or sport they play the kids are a chance getting injuries.

As long as they are having fun playing with their mates instead of being indoors playing the playstation.

Played halfback, hooker, wing and fullback from 5 to 16. Was not good enough to get a gig with a club so gave up (stupid).

Always played against bigger blokes as I played out Penrith way there were a large number of poly players and I would have been about 50kg (wet) and I have been 5ft 6 since year 8.

Injuries happen, I have had 3 broken noses, broken ankle, busted shoulder and a few broken fingers.

Never bothered me my biggest problem was mouthing off at the bigger blokes and getting put on my arse. Best fun though and I got to play against some blokes that play in the NRL now so its something I can tell my kids "I played against Luke Lewis, I scored a try cause he was a runt and couldn't tackle"

played on the wing for cambridge park. played some centre and fullback but manily wing.

still in the top 10 try scorers at the club. only headed by some greats of the NRL.

loved it but had a choice between that and basketball so took basketball on.

the only injury i copped from footy were to my feet, but i suffered some severe growing pains as a youngster so it didnt help combing to sports with a growth spurt.

as for my daughter, she was at the footy from 9 days old. she loves it, we drive passed the leagues club at any given time and she screams sharkies. she is nealry 4 and sings up up cronulla to bel when she sits on the couch, or when we go near the club. its in her bones.

my next child (due in june) will be taken to the church (shark park) the moment it hits the light. its just what has to happen.

oh, and if either of them become dragons fans, they arent my kids, they are sharkyboys

Played from 6's to 16's at Engadine Dragons. Centre & Wing. Didn't reach the accolades as some of you one here of course!
Had a couple of rib cartilage injuries and a few ankle injuries.
Worst was torn ligaments in the right ankle. Has never been the same, still have some pain even now (over 20 years ago now)
but didn't stop me playing until later on.
All sports get injuries. I had mates who played soccer and some of them have had horrific injuries over the years.
Not as many broken noses but injuries that saw them out for long periods anyways.

did your mate cop this as an injury

hahahahahaha and the oscar goes to.....

snowman said:

did your mate cop this as an injury

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LOL Nothing as serious as that of course! Poor bugger. Probably blind!

I wouldn't worry about injuries until under 13's, mate. Well before then he'll either be interested in another sport, or so into it that you guys wont be able to stop him anyway!!

I started out at Matraville in under 5's and played from 11's in the bush (Quirindi) (used to play against JMO) until my kids came along at 22. Started out at prop (was a fat ****) finished at fullback (was a skinny ****) but played mostly second row. Broke a couple of fingers, busted nose on occasion - but got heaps of concussions about 6 in total, i think, can't quite remember!

snowman said:

played on the wing for cambridge park. played some centre and fullback but manily wing.

still in the top 10 try scorers at the club. only headed by some greats of the NRL.

loved it but had a choice between that and basketball so took basketball on.

the only injury i copped from footy were to my feet, but i suffered some severe growing pains as a youngster so it didnt help combing to sports with a growth spurt.

as for my daughter, she was at the footy from 9 days old. she loves it, we drive passed the leagues club at any given time and she screams sharkies. she is nealry 4 and sings up up cronulla to bel when she sits on the couch, or when we go near the club. its in her bones.

my next child (due in june) will be taken to the church (shark park) the moment it hits the light. its just what has to happen.

oh, and if either of them become dragons fans, they arent my kids, they are sharkyboys

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Are you insinuating what i think you are?