online Archives

May 25, 2021

NEWS: didi rugby wins ‘Outstanding Community Award’ for online classes

A laptop computer shows an online didi rugby class

didi rugby have won an award for providing such a large amount of online classes and support for members during the pandemic.

The recognition came from international business management software provider TeamUp, who run systems in several countries for businesses which interact with members and customers via online platforms, such as Zoom.

didi rugby were awarded the ‘Outstanding Community Award’ for hosting 155 online classes between March 2020 and March 2021.

Founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen said she was both proud and delighted to see the whole team get rewarded for their determination and hard work during what was a challenging time for everyone.

Family business

“There is a real family feel to our business. So, as soon as lockdown began, didi HQ got together with our franchise owners and coaches on Zoom calls to discuss how we could still be there for our young did stars and their parents during lockdown.

“We know that face-to-face classes would be unlikely for some time. So, as a result, we grabbed the bull by the horns as a group. We embraced technology that was new to many of us and started delivering online classes instead.

“I am not saying it all went without a hitch! But to be able to deliver so many during that time is testament to the hard work of our franchise owners and coaches. Some of them had never hosted anything online in their lives before.

Local coaches

“We were all desperate to provide a link between local coaches and local children. We also wanted to try and make sure that we gave parents some interaction too. Lockdown was such a tough time for many of them stuck at home with young children.

“We received some amazing feedback during 2020 for our online classes and challenges. It was great to be able to put a smile on the face of kids and their parents while the pandemic took a hold on normal life.

“I would also like to thank our didi customers who stuck by us during this time and encouraged us to do more classes by their attendance and their feedback.

Entertainment

“I am extremely proud of everyone’s efforts and take my hat off to all of our coaches and franchise owners who provided inclusive fun and entertainment for their members, even if they only had a rolled-up pair of socks to join in with.

“A big thank-you to TeamUp for their support and for telling us that the award is richly deserved and a reflection of the strong family environment we operate in here at didi.”

Book a free taster session: Click on here and find your nearest class

WATCH: Why didi rugby ambassador Emily Scarratt loves helping out at a class…

January 8, 2021January 8, 2021

‘We are by your side’ – didi rugby’s pledge to parents and children during Lockdown 3

didi rugby franchisees hold a meeting online

Founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen has pledged to children and parents with didi rugby memberships that they will be offered fun, online classes and activities to last them through the latest national lockdown in England.

Having enjoyed an incredibly busy time since the restrictions of the first lockdown were lifted, indoor and outdoor didi rugby classes across the country were forced to stop once again for the foreseeable future on January 5.

Undeterred – and with plenty of experience from the first time around – didi rugby will be providing some exciting online options for its members to keep children engaged, learning and having fun with other members of their family.

Online classes will also enable didi members to see the friendly faces of their local coaches throughout lockdown and take part in a group activity with children they would normally see on a weekly basis.

Story time

Vicky will also be posting daily challenges and offering competition prizes to keep children and parents very much on their toes. While the incredibly popular evening ‘story time’ is set to make a return to didi’s Facebook page after England star Heather Fisher read to children every week day during Lockdown 1 back in 2020.

“Never has it been more important for kids to do some physical activity, see a familiar face and have fun,” says former England international Vicky.

“We are determined to make sure that the children and parents who love our sessions still have the opportunity to take part in a didi class every single week for as long as these latest restrictions last for.

“I can promise lots of fun and interaction in a delivery that will be easy to access for every parent on whatever device they choose.

Online classes

“As soon as the latest pandemic restrictions were announced by the Prime Minister, all of our franchisees got together on a Zoom meeting (pictured) to discuss ideas and share best practice and we left that meeting ready, determined and ambitious in what we could achieve for our members.

“Of course, we would all prefer to be meeting our wonderful didi stars in person but, until we are allowed to again, we are all really excited and can’t wait to get going with our online offering.

“This is a challenging time for parents across the country and I promise to those parents with children in our classes that we are by your side every step of the way and will do whatever we can to keep them active and engaged.”

If you would like to join one of our online classes for a free taster session, please contact your local coaches (check www.didirugby.com or on Facebook) or book in online at: www.didirugby.com/find-a-class.

WATCH: Remind yourself what fun you can have with Heather Fisher at her didi rugby Storytime sessions…

April 3, 2020April 6, 2020

didi rugby online classes prove popular during coronavirus lockdown

didi rugby’s online classes are proving to be a massive hit with parents and children across the UK.

While the coronavirus has led to schools closing and even a lockdown on all but essential travel, didi rugby coaches across the country have reacted quickly and are providing their ever-popular classes online instead.

didi rugby HQ is committed to keeping children active and having fun during the most testing time for families across the country.

The reaction from children and parents has been incredible with huge support coming from households in terms of both engagement and positive feedback to the classes.

Because of their success, didi rugby is now ramping up the amount of sessions they are offering which cover three age ranges from as young as 18 months up to 6 years of age.

It has been great to see older siblings joining in the activities too.

Online classes

Easy-to-use online platforms have made the delivery of the classes simple for coaches, parents and children alike and attendance numbers are increasing all of the time.

didi rugby founder and CEO Vicky Macqueen, who has been delivering classes to her didi stars while home-schooling two children, said she has been over-joyed with the response.

“During tough times for families across the UK, it has felt amazing to be involved in something which is able to give so many people, so much fun,” she said.

“We all miss our regular classes terribly and can’t wait to get back to them when things become safer for all of us.

“But, until then, we will keep providing for our members via a fun, friendly and energetic online delivery, as well as making sure that our ethos of ‘fun, confidence and activity’ remains at the heart of everything we do.

“Because our classes are being delivered by the local coaches who usually run their sessions, it has been amazing to see the children’s response when they see a face they recognise.

“Obviously, that has helped get the kids engaged from the very first minute and the rapport between the group has been great to see.

Book a class

“We have enjoyed some amazing responses from parents who say they are not only happy to get their kids active but to give them a structured focus during the day.

“Meanwhile, our coaches have found online delivery very rewarding and have been full of stories about brightening up people’s day.”

NON-MEMBERS Book your child a place on our national online classes by visiting our booking page

MEMBERS: For options of classes local to your area with the coaches you usually see at your face-to-face sessions, visit the Find A Class Page and click on your local link

VIDEO: Watch didi rugby South Wales coach Robyn Lock challenge you to a Lockdown Challenge

What is didi rugby?

didi rugby has been devised to get young children active and to teach them new skills while having fun in a safe environment. Classes have been designed by former England Women’s international Vicky Macqueen and are aimed at kids in three separate age groups from 18 months to six years old. These age ranges offer flexible boundaries and are based on each child’s ability and confidence as opposed to a strict age structure. didi rugby has franchises across the UK.