Where most children go on football, gym or swimming, a group of toddlers in Tilburg is tackling and throwing every Saturday morning. At Rugby Club Tilburg they teach at the little ones and that group is getting bigger and bigger.
Full of enthusiasm, a group of toddlers in blue-yellow striped rugby shirts plunge into a cushion. They learn to tackle through the pillow to push and take the ball on it. For Mats (4) this is one of the nicest things of the lesson. “Running and throwing the ball is also fun. But that is a bit difficult.”
The children in this lesson are all between two and four years old. But that is no problem according to trainer Nadia van Mourik. “It is a kind of toddler gym where we do all kinds of different things that have to do with rugby. That’s how we teach the children to throw, aim, fall and get up. But we are already really busy with tackling.”
“Rugby appeals to children very much, getting nice and dirty and rolling on the ground.”
According to Nadia, it is not often that rugby lessons are given to such young children. “In addition to toddler gym and dancing, there is not much where you can go with your toddler or toddler. And that is possible here at the club now. Rugby appeals to children very much, get dirty and roll on the floor. And try to take things and tackle. They like that.”
The lessons started two years ago at the request of a group of parents. “Those are former rugby players who worked with their children. When they started with lessons for children from four, five years. But soon their younger brothers and sisters also wanted to participate.”
One of those children is Noah (5). His sister participated in a test training, but rugby was not for her. Noah was immediately enthusiastic. He proudly says: “I have already learned to run and fit and tackle.” And he immediately shows that.
“Sometimes things are going a bit fast. But I can stand that.”
Jasmijn (4) has been on rugby for two years. She can now take a beating. “I can tackle well. Sometimes things are going a bit fast. But I can take it,” she says laughing.
Rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in our country. And Nadia responds to the toddler lessons with that. “We hope that the club will continue to grow with this. Children are not yet bound to a sport at this young age. We hope that they will stay here.”
At Jasmijn that seems to have succeeded. She later wants to become the best rugby player in our country. “Champion of the Netherlands!”