The LRLF has completed the first week of its summer youth academy programme, with boys and girls aged between 5 and 14 participating in the Terra Santa Summer Camp in Tripoli and MSL Ghazir in Mont Liban. Between 70-80 children in four age groups will attend a series of sessions over July and August, led by coaches Abdallah Dahani and Hadi Rafii in the north camp and Gaby Haddad in MSL.
“This is about introducing youngsters to the game,” said Haddad, Liban Espoir assistant coach, who is also training to be a coach educator, “and for the older ones the start of a pathway on their rugby league lives. LRLF already has competitive sides in the U16-U18 categories but it is good to have younger ages, which will help clubs introduce age category teams. Kids find the game new and take a while to accept it due to their background of football and basketball. We also spread the sport’s visibility, which is still low.”
Tarek Abou Rjeily, leader of the MSL camp said: “We are very excited to include rugby league as part of our MSL sports summer camp experience! Summer Rugby league will be a novel and exciting addition. Rugby league is an excellent sport for young children to take up, and the earlier the better. In other countries, for example, children get involved with rugby at a young age, girls and boys can become quite expert at the basics of the game. At this age, their minds assimilate like sponges, soaking in all the rules and absorbing all the techniques learned. Working with LRLF is a privilege as the children will be exposed to the very knowledgeable coaches.”
Adib Touma from Terra Santa Summer Camp said: “I'm from a Judo background and I know they share techniques together. It was a pleasure to have the LRLF at our facility. The first week was very positive. At first kids didn't know what was happening! The second session was much more fun, thanks to the coaches who are working in a professional way with kids. My plan is to do develop the game more among my kids and try to include it in my Academy throughout the year.”
The LRLF is writing its 2020-23 strategy, which will focus heavily on growing the sport’s culture in Lebanon through multiple local initiatives, including strengthening the member clubs by increasing the number of teams per club.
