As youngsters have been returning to school this month – a passionate Hitchin sports advocate has announced details of his next rugby and netball festival called BacktoSchoolival.

Adam Howard has been the driving force behind the critically-acclaimed sports festival, which had been a staple of the north Herts sporting summer.

Organiser Adam has been busy planning for the festival to return next summer – and wants your help to ensure it becomes the best yet.

The festival was originally devised as a school reunion among old chums – which saw hundreds of former school pals catch up in a feast of rugby and netball at Hitchin Rugby Club.

However, Adam is changing the emphasis from schools to include as many sports clubs in north Herts as possible for next summer.

Speaking to Hitchin Nub News Adam explained: "The original concept was that we were made up of former pupils of schools in our area. It worked really well for the first couple of years but it's really difficult to link everyone up.

"Given what's happened with rugby this year and the latest RFU guidance which means we're not going to play rugby again until October at the earliest – realistically November time – I've decided to change it to make it more club based.

"The school element will still be in the background in a number of ways, but for next summer the theme is very much going to be 'One day themed tournaments'. So we plan to have around 30 clubs playing off against each other after the season ends.

"We've located the site at Hitchin Rugby Club and we're hoping for a lot of local teams who play at the same level to come down and have that pre-season warm-up. But also there's not much chance in rugby for those local teams to actually interact with each other off the pitch. So, it's a chance for that social element – and it's the same with netball."

Self-confessed sports 'nut' Adam is a sports event and project officer for Active in the Community in his day job which works across Hertfordshire on a range of projects and events geared towards improving the sporting facilities and provision in the area.

So it is fair to say Adam is perfectly suited to the role of organising a large number of rugby and netball clubs in our area to come together for the eagerly-awaited event to be held at King George V playing fields off Old Hale Way.

Adam has been busy travelling and working since the last BacktoSchoolival event two years ago, having visited south America in the intervening years – as well as recovering from a broken leg incurred playing rugby.

Despite Adam admitting he is made of 'balsa wood' when it comes to playing rugby he brushes off the injury as 'one of those things' and used the time to reflect on how to hone the event.

Coronavirus crisis makes organiser Adam take stock

The Covid crisis allowed him to take stock, prompting him to renew his vigour for the popular sporting event – which is also a great way for teams and players to socialize with sport as the backdrop.

"We had a couple of years off," explained Adam, adding: "It was actually two years ago last month when our last event took place. Since then, the reason we haven't put on BacktoSchoolival is due to 'life getting in the way' really.

"I've spent time in Brazil and Peru. I've changed jobs so I'm now working in sport development with a company called Active in the Community. I've also had two months off after breaking my leg playing rugby – there just hasn't been the time to run another event – so I was at that point when I thought: 'If we don't do something it's never going to come back.

"Lockdown has been tough for everyone, but it gave me the time to reflect. So I made the decision that we're coming back in 2021.

"It's a very sociable event – 100 per cent. I don't want it to be too serious. That said the levels we've seen at previous events have been excellent. There will be really serious rugby played at a really good level – that's what's always surprised me about our previous events, the standards.

"I always expected people to come down and have fun and not take it too seriously – but actually the standard has been superb – but in a fun, welcoming environment."

BacktoSchoolival to return bigger and better

Adam says that his new job role has meant he has learned so much over the last 18 months which will stand him in good stead with organising the next Back-to-Schoolival.

Such as?

For example, project management he says, passionately rising to his theme. The big thing previously he underlines was the fact that he was the man in charge running the concept – but after reflection he is looking for the players and clubs to step up.

Adam has been actively canvassing Hitchin, Stevenage, Letchworth, Welwyn, Datchworth rugby clubs. He's been trying to get their ideas and to learn what works best for them. For example, what time of the day would they like to play? How would they like to play, he asks.

Would they prefer a team fee, or an individual fee? This year he says he's being led by people, rather than him dictating. And that's something I've learned from sports development.

BacktoSchoolival - A social event

The warm feedback from the previous BacktoSchoolival events also convinced Adam to continue.

The fact that so many people had fun with sport as the catalyst made Adam realise he simply had to ensure the festival would return.

"There's definitely that element of light-heartedness, of social interaction," he explained, adding: "The reason play sports is because it's with their mates. And that's what we're trying to do. Having a bit of a no-pressure laugh.

"For anyone who has started their own project and put a lot of hard work and effort into it, you do get that period when you fall out of love with it a little bit. But I'm back, fully refreshed and raring to go.

"Lockdown gave me a chance to look back at what our previous events and I've rediscovered that fire and passion to make it a real success, to make it the biggest and best day it could possibly be and for the right reasons."

BacktoSchoolival is inclusive says Adam

One of the core tenents of the festival that Adam is keen stress is that it is as much for women as it is for me.

Women's rugby and netball will be heavily involved too he assures.

He says: "Speaking to a couple of the girls who play netball they miss that chance to spend a whole day with their team, to play the game and socialize in a friendly environment afterwards with other local teams.

"Also - one of the things I've got into is that I've started to coach the Hitchin Ladies," adds the engaging Adam, adding: "We've got four coaches and I'm one of them.

"The first team might have romped their league last season but I don't want to put it all down to me," he says laughing. "No, we've got a great crowd there and one of the things that is impressive is that women's rugby is growing all across the county.

"The way the ladies embrace it is superb. Unlike the men's rugby they are there Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday. And they are they come rain or shine. So there will be a massive presence from women's rugby at BacktoSchoolival."

So save the date: Saturday, July 10, 2021.

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Hitchin businesses rally round BacktoSchoolival

Adam is keen to highlight the excellent support he has had from companies and businesses in and around Hitchin.

"We've had great support from local businesses," he says, adding: "People like Mason Navarro Pledge. And BeatSchoolUniform on Hermitage Road. Twisted Fabric i the Arcade.

"What I really want from sponsors is for them to want to get involved but also for them to really buy into what we want to do. And for me to really understand why they want to get involved. I want partners rather than sponsors.

"In these challenging times it's really difficult to get people to part with their money. I want to make sure I want to put in place what they want form it and how I can help. It's not something I would have really thought that much about before, but now I'm much clearer in what I want from those partnerships – and what they want from me.

"I also want as many women's clubs across Hertfordshire as possible to come on board to join alongside the many men's teams we've got on board."

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