Team Selection update

 

GUERNSEY Touch is set to have its busiest season yet as registration for the 2010 Ernst & Young Touch Summer League opens.

The sport, which was introduced in 2005, now has around 300 players involved and this year has more planned than ever before.

‘Normally the winter season is a chance for players and the committee to have a break but that hasn’t happened this time. There is so much enthusiasm for the sport that island training has started earlier than ever before and players have braved all weathers to play throughout the winter. The challenge for us is meeting those expectations and we hope that we’ll exceed them in 2010,’ said Guernsey Touch chair Katrina Bray.

This year’s 12-week Ernst & Young Touch Summer League starts on Wednesday 19th May and registration for mixed, men’s and women’s teams is already open. Organisers hope to attract a maximum of 18 mixed teams, 12 men’s teams and six women’s teams to take part in the competition, which has moved to Cambridge Park.

‘We have been playing at Saints for the past few seasons and had hoped to make that our permanent home but unfortunately they have to undertake major repairs to their pitches. Thankfully the Constables of St Peter Port came to our rescue and have allowed us to play at Cambridge Park,’ said Katrina.

As part of the entry criteria, teams are required to supply two referees who must have completed the Federation of International Touch’s Level 1 qualification and a course has been organised over the weekend of 23rd – 25th April.

‘It is absolutely essential that we have qualified referees as this keeps the standard of play as high as we can. Guernsey Touch sees it as one of our key responsibilities to provide players with as many opportunities as possible to gain relevant qualifications.’

With that in mind Guernsey will be one of just a handful of places who have secured the services of Federation of International Touch’s Secretary General Dennis Coffey. He will be leading a Level 2 coaching course over the first weekend of July and a Level 1 coaching course over the second weekend.

‘Dennis is one of the most experienced people involved with touch and it’s a real honour that he is coming to Guernsey to lead these courses. We already have a number of Level 1 coaches locally and this will provide them with the opportunity of achieving their Level 2 and we hope that the Level 1 course will be even more popular especially given the increased appetite for the sport within island schools,’ said Katrina.

‘Dennis will also spend four nights training our island teams ahead of the European Championship which will bring together teams from across Europe. He will bring a fresh perspective to our training programme, which I am sure will benefit all the players ahead of the Euros.’

Guernsey Touch has for the first time ever registered a Mens 30s squad for this year’s Euros and they will join Guernsey Mixed, a Guernsey Mens and Guernsey Womens at the three-day tournament in Bristol.

‘For a small island like Guernsey to be in a position where we can register four representative sides is fantastic and is testament to the dedication of the players and the commitment of our committee who give hundreds of hours of their own time to make touch happen in Guernsey. Without them, and without the support of Ernst and Young as our main sponsor and the Channel Islands Stock Exchange as our Club Championship sponsor, it simply wouldn’t happen,’ said Katrina.

As well as the league, there will be two big events for spectators to watch locally. The CISX Channel Islands Club Championship takes place at the Garenne Stand over the weekend of 12th & 13th June and the inter-insular will also be held at the Garenne Stand on Saturday 7th August.

‘As the sport grows, we hope that more and more people will come and watch. Touch is a great spectator sport as it is so fast-paced and there is no doubt that there will be plenty to see over the 2010 season,’ said Katrina.

More information about this year’s season is available at www.guernseytouch.org,gg or by contacting info@guernseytouch.org.gg