[BECKENHAM, 17/01/2020] – Many athletes discovered their passion for their sport in childhood. This is why former rugby coaches Tony Rolfe and Joe Ting set up Munchkin Sports.

It was while coaching mini-rugby one Sunday that Joe noticed his budding rugby stars’ younger siblings yearning to play the sport like their older brothers or sisters. He talked to Tony, who agreed that it is a good idea to introduce rugby and other sports to younger children. Both have been working to ease kids gradually into rugby, football and other team sports, whether they’re toddlers or pre-teens.

Munchkin Groupings
All Munchkin Sports classes are divided into three, according to age group: 2 to 3-year-olds, 3 to 4-year-olds, and 4 to 7-year-olds. This is so the child won’t feel intimidated or vulnerable. Lead coaches help assess each individual munchkin to ensure their correct age category and optimum learning from the sessions.

All sessions follow a strictly no-contact rule, and are open to boys and girls. Munchkin Sports’ safety policies are found on their website MunchkinSports.com.

Skills Taught
Munchkins learn different skills as they age and progress through the classes. The 2 to 3-year-olds learn basic rugby skills, such as holding the ball in both hands, and developing balance, coordination and agility. In this category, trainees’ games teach them to score tries, kick over posts and use tackle bags. The company encourages parent participation in this class, which lasts 45 minutes.

Munchkins aged 3 to 4 years old learn specific drills like sidestepping, touch rugby, and timed team games. The munchkins use color-coded balls to hone their hand-eye and colour coordination. Parent participation is also encouraged but not necessary in this 45-minute class.

The final stage before mini-rugby is an hour-long class for 4 to7-year-olds. This is where they develop their skills further. They get to play tag-rugby, which is still non-contact but excellent for training them to pick out spaces and scoring opportunities, and sharpen their communication skills. Parents are still encouraged to participate at this stage, but they're welcome to enjoy tea and watch from afar.

Munchkin Sports provides valuable opportunities for children to learn a variety of games and activities that develop their motor coordination, social skills, and confidence – all while having fun.

About Munchkin Sports
Munchkin Sports is a company offering sports training to young children. Through the company’s active classes, children learn and develop their core motor skills in a fun way and in a friendly and safe environment. It coaches kids in rugby, football, lawn tennis and other sports. The company also offers holiday camps with arts and crafts sessions, as well as theme days, when munchkins are encouraged to play in costumes. With the use of music, colour, and number, Munchkin Sports makes sports fun for budding athletes.

Contact Munchkin Sports today to learn more about their activities and session schedules.