For the first time ever, Scotland has been entered for the U20 Small Nations Championship at Junior (U20) level. After the great showing by the Young Seniors against GB Lions at the Christmas International last year, the SVA has entered a team in the Junior European Championship.
The finals will take place in Cyprus during the Easter period in 2010. The tournament will feature Lichtenstein, Malta and of course, the hosts, Cyprus. This is an outstanding opportunity for our top junior players to sample European Competition, but there’s lots of hard work to do before the event in selection and training to make sure that the best Scottish Team is sent and that we compete successfully at this level.
The team selection will be from those who have already attended Young Senior sessions, and anyone else who is eligible and of a sufficient standard. A training and development squad will be selected after the first two general selection sessions. This squad will practice together through until January 2010 after which a final competition squad will be chosen. The practice programme will include a series of tournaments and competitive matches against the top Club sides in Scotland, and an international ‘warm up’ event in Glasgow in December – we intend to be as ready as it is possible to be……..
If you are interested in this exciting project get your coach to nominate you for the development squad selection sessions. You might not have been involved in the Young Senior Programme in the past – that doesn’t matter. We want to see you if you think you can help! You need only contact the SVA Office and indicate that you are interested.
The schedule for the development sessions are;
Sunday 20th September (selection)
Sunday 4th October (selection)
Sunday 25th October
Sunday 8th November
Sunday 29th November
Sunday 6th December
Sunday 17th January
Sunday 24th January
Sunday 7th February
Sunday 21st February
Sunday 14th March
All session are St Margaret’s HS, Airdrie from 10am until 4pm. Further details on the schedule and the location of the practice venue can be obtained by contacting the SVA Office.
Let’s make sure that we send a team that will win!
Simon Coleman
Head Coach
Scottish Junior Men’s Programme.