Firstly, a big well done to both sides following two excellent results this weekend, Hertford A showing grit and determination to come back and win 21-17 from a losing 0-17 first half, Hertford B & Stevenage secured a first win on the road with a solid 17-52 win. The age group is now 4 wins from 4 which is a great start, we now need to build on this platform.

Feedback... it's a gift
I took some time to talk with parents on the touchline last Wednesday evening and I wanted to pick up on a couple of comments that I've had.

This week
We have training at Hoe Lane at 6:30pm-8:00 on Wednesday.

On Sunday we have a fixture against OA B and I've asked U15 B for a game too. The plan will be to select a "bottom up" side for OA and a "Top down" side for U15 B if it comes off - if it doesn't U14 A boys will train with me and support the B team with replacements as and when needed.

Committee Members Needed
There is a view amongst some parents that we haven't always had fair treatment relative to other age groups and while I always do my best to represent our case as a coach of 10yrs standing and a VP it would be great to have some help.

The Youth Committee are all stepping down after doing their bit over many years and the best way to secure influence is to put a couple of parents on the Committee!

We need a Chair, a Treasurer, a Fixture Secretary and an Administrative lead.

If you're interested please talk to me, having spent 3yrs as minis Treasurer I can help to describe the commitment.

Clarity about the relationship with Stevenage
The relationship with Stevenage U14 has cropped up in a number of contexts:
1. The Chairman of Stevenage RFC supports the relationship on the basis that their group of players remain together - therefore there will be no movement of Stevenage RFC players into the A squad. My view is that this is highly beneficial for the Hertford B players and that the side is much stronger as a result as the two matches to date have shown.
2. Some compromise is needed to make joint ventures of this nature work, however, I take on board the feedback about training at Stevenage - several parents have expressed concern about the additional travelling time, later starts and shorter sessions for ~30 Hertford players vs. 9 Stevenage players. Bob has proposed a cycle of 1 in 3 at Stevenage and we await feedback from David.
3. We will have Hertford only sessions too, this weekend for example will be a fixture against OA B and the Stevenage boys will not be with us.
4. The coaching and admin team will review how things are going at the end of October, taking on board any parental feedback, with a view to assessing whether it's working.
Communications and Pitchero
I'm well aware of the challenges that we face with the new website (hence the email) and more importantly the dreadful app.

Bob is getting to grips with it and we seem to be making some progress.
• Do please persevere
• Do check your junk folder! My hotmail account decided that all Pitchero emails were junk, so I only found them all yesterday
• Do use the PC version of the website, it has more functionality that you want to use, and appears to work.
New Starters
Welcome to Hertford new starters Shakir Millais, Reece Mascall, Max Oates, Oliver Stead and Kyle Knight....and well done to the boys who encouraged them to come. We still need to keep the recruitment activity up and get Hertford's standing numbers from 30 to 40 over the course of the season.

Disciplinary
We've had 2 yellow cards with a 5min trip to the naughty step already this season, this isn't something that we can afford to continue, 5 min with a player disadvantage can make all the difference in a tight game.

While I do believe that we're a clean side there are two key areas where we have and will continue to fall foul of referees unless we take steps to correct them now.
1. Back chat to the referee - just isn't acceptable whether the official has made a good, bad or indifferent decision (or if he's your Dad) players must keep their mouth shut and get on with the game. Coaches and Parents also have a role to play as shouting at the referee and pointing out errors only heightens the players' sense of injustice and can create the issue too
2. High tackle / contact with the head. The law is simple - the tackler must grasp the ball carrier below the armpits, on the shirt, shorts or around the legs. Anything else risks sanction up to and including dismissal from the game (red card)

Post Match Food
I've reported our views on the poor quality of post match food on offer at the club and according at least to my small sample of boys- there appears to have been some protein in the pasta and it tasted good - "even the backs ate it" we'll keep monitoring it and feeding back to the club

Tour
Will be to Barnstaple again Friday May 4 to Monday 7th 2018 but to the caravan park in Woolacombe that I had originally booked, which is superior in quality compared to this year's accommodation.

Price will be circa £250 -350 max per person subject to sponsorship and the travel company honouring their discount for the poor accommodation this year.

The aim, as with last tour, is that evening meals on Friday, Saturday and Sunday are covered in the price.

More details to follow in October when we'll be asking for non-refundable deposits of £75 pp.

October age group meeting
During October there will be an age group meeting at the club 7-8:30pm where we will launch tour and have an opportunity to discuss the age group's progress. Date to follow.

There will also be the opportunity then to book individual 1:1 meetings with me for players and parents parents which I'll run throughout November on a first-come-first-served basis.

As ever I'm available to talk to on Weds and Sunday....

Thanks

Gavin