The Work Behind Every Rugby Fives Club
A Rugby Fives club can look wonderfully simple from the court: four walls, a ball, two players, and a fast exchange that rewards touch, timing, and courage. Behind each fixture, however, there is a network of people arranging access, contacting opponents, recording results, supporting new players, and keeping the club connected.
Few people see that work as clearly as a long-serving club secretary. The role sits at the meeting point between players, captains, schools, coaches, venues, volunteers, and the Rugby Fives Association. It calls for organisation, diplomacy, patience, and a genuine belief in the value of the sport.
In this interview, a long-time club secretary reflects on the practical demands of running a Rugby Fives club, the changes in participation, and the small moments that make the volunteering worthwhile.
Finding A Place In The Game
How did you first become involved in Rugby Fives?
“I came through the usual route for many people: I encountered the game at school, enjoyed it, and then discovered there was a wider network of clubs and competitions. What stayed with me was the character of the sport. You can learn the basic idea quickly, yet spend years improving your movement, anticipation, and use of the walls.
“I became more involved because the club needed someone to keep track of fixtures and correspondence. At first, I thought I would help for a season. The role grew gradually. Once you understand how many details are needed to make a match happen, you become reluctant to leave those details unattended.”
The secretary’s work often begins quietly. A message to confirm a court, a reminder to a captain, or an update to a fixture list may seem minor in isolation. Together, these tasks give a club a dependable structure and allow players to concentrate on preparing for competition.
The Role Behind The Fixtures
What does a typical season involve?
“There is no completely typical week, which is part of the appeal. Before the season begins, I check contact details, review available dates, coordinate with other clubs, and make sure our players know what is expected. During the season, I am handling changes, travel questions, results, and the occasional problem that needs a quick solution.
“Some matches are arranged months ahead, while others move because of examinations, work commitments, illness, or court availability. The important thing is to keep communication clear. People are usually very reasonable when they know what is happening.”
A club secretary may also maintain membership records, circulate news, support tournament entries, and pass information between the club and the national governing body. In a volunteer-led sport, responsibilities are often shared, but someone still needs to hold the overall picture.
| Club Activity | Secretary’s Contribution | Benefit To Players |
|---|---|---|
| League and friendly fixtures | Arrange dates, contacts, venues, and changes | Reliable opportunities to compete |
| Championships and tournaments | Share deadlines and entry information | Easier access to national events |
| Results and rankings | Collect and submit accurate results | Clear records of performance |
| Coaching and recruitment | Link players with sessions and publicity | A stronger pathway into the sport |
| Club administration | Maintain communication and practical records | A stable, welcoming club environment |
Keeping People Connected
Which part of the job requires the most care?
“Communication is probably the biggest part. A club can have excellent players and a good court, but it will struggle if people do not know when they are playing or who they should contact. You need to communicate with experienced competitors and complete beginners in a way that makes both feel valued.
“You also learn that every player has a different reason for being involved. Some want serious competition, some enjoy the social side, and others return after many years away. The club needs room for all of those motivations. If everything is organised around the strongest players, the membership becomes narrower.”
That inclusive approach reflects the wider work of the Rugby Fives Association, which supports clubs, schools, coaches, volunteers, and community participation. A secretary helps turn that broad mission into everyday practice by making it easy for people to attend, participate, and remain involved.
The role can be especially important when a club is welcoming a new member. A clear first contact, a suitable playing partner, and a friendly invitation to a session may determine whether someone sees Rugby Fives as a sport they can genuinely join.
Changes Across The Years
How has club life changed during your time in the role?
“There is much more awareness of the need to make the sport accessible. People are thinking carefully about how beginners are introduced, how information is presented, and how clubs can reach beyond their traditional circles. Schools and community links are important because they give people a first experience of the game.
“Communication has changed dramatically too. Email and online systems make it easier to share fixtures and results, although they also mean people expect quick answers. Historical records and rankings are valuable, and digital tools can help keep them accurate, but they still depend on people entering information properly.”
The game itself retains its distinctive identity. Its compact court, rapid rallies, and emphasis on skill make it different from larger racket sports, while its relatively modest equipment needs can help schools and community groups explore participation. Strong administration ensures those opportunities lead somewhere: a coaching session, a club night, a junior event, or a first competitive fixture.
For established players, records provide continuity. Results, championships, club histories, and personal milestones connect current participants with earlier generations. The secretary often becomes one of the custodians of that continuity.
What Keeps A Volunteer Going
What has been the most rewarding part of your service?
“It is seeing people develop. Someone arrives unsure of the rules, perhaps worried that they are too old or too inexperienced, and then a few months later they are entering a tournament or helping another new player. That is a very satisfying change.
“I also value the relationships. You build connections with players from other clubs, officials, coaches, and volunteers. Fixtures are competitive, naturally, but they create a wider community. Years later, people remember the matches, the journeys, and the conversations around the court as much as the score.”
Long-term volunteering rarely depends on one dramatic moment. It is sustained by repeated evidence that the work matters. A well-run event, a resolved fixture problem, or a new member who returns for a second session can provide that evidence.
The secretary’s contribution is often invisible to spectators, yet it shapes the experience of everyone involved. Good administration gives clubs confidence, reduces unnecessary confusion, and creates the conditions in which sporting excellence and friendship can grow together.
Advice For The Next Generation
What would you say to someone considering a club secretary role?
“Do not assume you have to know everything before you begin. Learn the annual rhythm of the club, keep records in a way another person can understand, and ask for help early. A simple system that is maintained is better than an elaborate system that no one uses.
“Be consistent and approachable. People will forgive an occasional delay, but they need to trust that their message has been received and that important information will be shared. It also helps to involve other members. A club should not depend entirely on one person, even if one person coordinates the work.”
Practical habits make the role manageable:
- Keep a current contact list for players, captains, coaches, and partner clubs.
- Record fixtures, results, deadlines, and venue details in one shared system.
- Send important information early, then follow up with concise reminders.
- Welcome new members personally and explain how club sessions and competitions work.
- Share responsibilities so administration remains sustainable over time.
A secretary does not need to be the loudest person in the club or the most experienced player on the court. Reliability, curiosity, and respect for other people’s time are often more important qualities.
A Future Built By Participation
The future of Rugby Fives will depend on many forms of commitment. Players bring energy and ambition; coaches develop skills; schools introduce the sport to new audiences; clubs provide regular opportunities; and volunteers maintain the connections that allow all those efforts to meet.
A long-serving secretary understands that growth is measured in more than membership numbers. It can be seen in a first-time competitor completing a tournament, a junior player finding a regular session, an old club record being preserved, or two distant clubs arranging a fixture that would otherwise have been missed.
“People sometimes think administration is separate from the sport,” the secretary says. “I see it as part of the sport. If you want people to play, you have to make playing possible. That means creating the right conditions and helping people feel that there is a place for them.”
Support the future of Rugby Fives by joining a local club, attending a coaching session, volunteering at an event, or helping introduce the game in a school or community setting. Every fixture arranged and every new player welcomed strengthens the network that keeps the sport moving.
