Women’s Sport Week 2017: Elaine Martin

Scottish Rugby is supporting Women’s Sport Week 2017 to inspire more women and girls to give rugby a go. A range of women are sharing their rugby journey on scottishrugby.org this week to encourage beginners or those who want to return to the sport to #BeTheBestYou.Name: Elaine MartinAge: 54Club: East Kilbride Rugby Academy – Secretary, coach & volunteerAwarded BT Volunteer of the Season 2017 at Scottish Rugby’s Club AwardsTell us about your rugby journey…I started getting interested in rugby when my son began playing 11 years ago. With all clubs my children get involved in, I try and help out with my time as the coaches / instructors are giving up their time to help teach my child.As the years went by I was getting more involved in the rugby side, helping getting sponsorships and prizes for raffles etc. A few years ago we were short of coaches and I felt if I did the courses I could help out, so the journey continued with helping out coaching the U13 boys. We decided to start a girls team in June 2016 and our numbers are increasing every month, playing games against well-established teams but having a target to score at least one try per game – which we have achieved.Last week I organised our first ever girls’ charity festival at East Kilbride for U15, U18 and women’s teams. We had over 150 females playing fun rugby on a Sunday afternoon raising money for inflammatory breast cancer. Everybody had fun and a lot of friendships were started.What do you love about rugby?The friendships and the joy on the children’s faces after training and games and how inclusive it is. It helps build confidence in children as it’s a team sport. Our ethos is we are a team not individuals and we need each other to achieve. You don’t get that in some other sports.What would you say to women and girls thinking about trying rugby?Please try rugby – it’s a great sport that is inclusive of all shapes and sizes and fitness levels. You will make close friends through training every week, but most of all you will have fun.Interested in giving rugby a go?With more women’s and girls’ teams being established in Scotland every year, it’s an ideal time to try rugby at a club near you at one of our #BeTheBestYou taster sessions this summer. They’re free, fun and for anyone who wants to try rugby for the first time or perhaps return to the sport after a break. Go to scottishrugby.org/bestyou to sign up now!