didi rugby online help for lockdown little ones
Lockdown is a challenging time for parents and young children who can’t get together and socialise with friends.
That’s why former England full back Vicky Macqueen, founder of didi rugby for children under the age of six, has enlisted a number of rugby stars to provide online skills and story time twice a week.
“It’s really tough for children without any social interaction and, even as a qualified teacher and PE specialist, I’m finding it hard as a mum of two boys,” says Vicky.
“The lockdown is definitely having a negative impact and, realising that physical activity and the emotional side will be key, we’ve set up family-friendly online session each Wednesday and Friday at 6pm.”
With the likes of Red Roses Sarah Hunter, Emily Scarratt, Alex Matthews and legends like Heather Fisher, Nolli Waterman and former England Women’s coach Gary Street on board, the sessions are fun, educational and tailored to the age group.
Vicky Massarella is the didi rugby creator who won 34 caps for England and 11 England 7s caps. She’s a Level four coach and former head of P.E. at a secondary school, Sky Sports Pundit and mum of eight-year-old Max and Harry aged seven.
When she set up the didi rugby programme in 2015, running the early years programme past the RFU, she was aiming to make it a stepping stone to U7s rugby or other sports. It covers balance, co-ordination, speed and strength, using lots of play and fun with rugby as the tool to deliver skills. Didi mini covers 18 - 36 months; didi junior three to four-year-olds, filling the gap between toddler play and school age games; and didi senior takes the four to five-year-olds towards rugby or other activities.
In 2013, Vicky realised how vitally important physical activity and good health can be. A small puncture wound on her leg turned into a rare necrotising fasciitis bacterial infection that’s sometimes called the flesh-eating disease. It doesn’t actually eat flesh, but releases toxins that damage tissue and is often fatal. She spent weeks in ITU at risk of losing her leg or even her life. Medics told her that her fitness had saved her life, that having a strong heart prevented a heart attack.
“I realised then how much everyone needed to be healthy and fit to fight off diseases, and that’s why I created didi rugby to help youngsters become as fit as possible and to educate parents. We are now linked to 125 grassroots rugby clubs and lots of the children go on to play club rugby.”
But for now they can enjoy online skills sessions and stories until they can be back outdoors with their friends.
For more information visit https://didirugby.com/
