YOUTH UPDATE
This year we have achieved a milestone with the Florida Youth Rugby Union having voted to join the FRU and for us to integrate a number of functions and services.
Added to that has seen Hillsborough County introducing Rokkie Rugby to over 50,000 Middle and HS kids this fall. They will be starting elementary schools in the next school semester.
Targeted next is Sebastien river and Broward school districts where we have key personel in place to introduce rookie rugby to the school PE curriculum.
The FRU/FYRU was elected as a full State based Youth organization in Sepetmber and we have seen the first benefits with USAR funding our representative to the Youth Confeence on the Game (YCOG). Ray Cambell was our rep, attending the meeting in Dallas last weekend, for the thrid year in a row.
Full report of the YCOG follows.
If yuo want to look at starting school or city Parks and recreation Rookie Rugby programs please coordinate with me and we will get you support.
Thanks for a great 2009 in Youth rugby in Florida, keep it growing in 2010
Martin
VP Youth
For Immediate Release
December 14, 2009
2009 Youth Conference on the Game Proves a Success in Educating Rugby Administrators Nationwide
DALLAS, Texas – USA Rugby’s fourth Annual Youth Conference on the Game kicked off this weekend at the Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas, Texas with over 60 attendees from across the nation interested in growing the youth game in their area.
“The YCOG is a great opportunity for people to come together, learn, share and connect with other youth and high school leaders from around the country,” Youth and High School Director Mark Griffin said. “This year, we wanted people to leave armed with tools to “Grow the Game” – the theme of the conference – while having fun during the various presentations and networking aspects of the weekend.
“There was a great buzz throughout the weekend and would like to thank all the participants for making the effort to attend,” Griffin added. “I know they all left charged with energy which has the potential to make a great impact to our growing community for 2010.”
This year’s conference started with the State-Based Rugby Organization (SBRO) general assembly on Friday afternoon. For the official reception, organizers planned dinner and a movie for all attendees. The group, clad in rugby apparel, ventured out to see Invictus at the Dallas Royal Studio Movie Grill on its opening night, before heading to the Cool River Café to listen to a local band and network
“The movie outing on Friday night was a great way to kick off the conference this year. The Dallas Royal Studio Movie Grill was a perfect location to accommodate our needs. Having a private theater filled with Dallas RFC members and YCOG attendees all in rugby jerseys was the perfect way to show our unity through rugby. The staff was incredible in making this excursion a success,” commented Erin Kennedy, USA Rugby Youth Development Manager.
Saturday morning kicked off with a presentation by Nigel Melville on USA Rugby’s strategic objectives to grow the game. From there, attendees were allowed to pick through a variety of different presentations with two different themes: the youth development and administration track or an Executive Director/SBRO track.
Over the next two days, several presentations and practical sessions were lined up including overviews on how to create an SBRO, how to promote Rookie Rugby in School Districts and P.E. classes, defense and lineout practical sessions, medical services presentations, an overview of sport psychology for rugby, sideline Official training and a Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Workshop.
Presenters included USA Rugby Coaches Norm Mottram, Luke Gross and Peter Baggetta, USA Rugby’s Youth Development staff Mark Griffin, Erin Kennedy and Katie Wurst, as well as USA Rugby’s Medical Director Michael Keating and USA Rugby’s Referee Development staff Ed Todd and Jen Gray. Other workshop leaders included retired NFL player Harry Colon from the PCA and Rugby Oregon’s Jeff Arker.
This year, USA Rugby was able to capture all the presentations on video and is currently in the process of making DVDs. Those sessions held in the Terry Center Auditorium were also streamed online and are available to view at www.ustream.tv/channel/usa-rugby.
The USA Rugby 2009 Youth Conference on the Game was hosted by the Jesuit College Preparatory School Rugby Team and was sponsored by World Rugby Shop.
“The venue was perfect for the needs of the conference, and the plethora of volunteers and support was overwhelming. USA Rugby specifically wants to thank Anthony Mattacchione, head coach of the Jesuit College Prep Rangers Rugby Team and member of Rugby Texas, for all of his help in putting on this conference,” Kennedy said. “Without his enthusiasm for the game of rugby and organization of the venue and local volunteers, this event would not have been possible.
“Each and every person present at this event played a crucial role in the further development of rugby at the Youth and High school level,” she added. “I am thrilled with the results of this conference and look forward to where Youth and High School rugby is going in 2010.
For more information on USA Rugby Youth and High School Development, please visit www.usarugby.org/goto/youth or contact Erin Kennedy at ekennedy@usarugby.org.
