2020 Cdc Youth Rugby Parent Guide
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2020 CDC YOUTH RUGBY PARENT GUIDE www.CarmelYouthRugby.org www.CarmelDadsClub.org @carmel_rugby @cdcyouthrugby @carmelythrugby 1 WELCOME TO OUR RUGBY FAMILY We are excited that you are learning more about our rugby program and hope to welcome you soon to the Carmel Youth Rugby family. Affiliated with the Carmel Dads Club, Rugby Indiana and USA Rugby, we provide opportunities for boys and girls in grades 2-8 to play flag and tackle rugby in a fun environment focused on safety, skill development, teamwork and participation, directed by experienced and USA Rugby certified coaches. Our club is focused on developing the fundamental skills required to play rugby. We believe that through development our athletes will grow to love the game and continue to play throughout their life. Many people in the United States aren’t overly familiar with rugby, but it’s a global sport invented in 1823 and now played in over 120 countries by 9.1 million people worldwide, including 2.4 million women and girls. During a time when some youth sports are declining, our program has grown by 40% the past two years, including the addition of our 7th/8th grade girls team in 2019. Rugby also rejoined the Olympics in 2016 in Rio with both a men’s and women’s 7’s tournament. And, in 2018, the United States hosted the Rugby 7’s World Cup for the first time, where more than 100,000 fans packed into AT&T Park in San Francisco. The 2019 World Cup in Tokyo, Japan had 1.84 million fans attend the 45 tournament matches while a broadcast audience of over 400 million watched on television. Rugby is a unique sport because it allows the players to make real-time decisions. The game of rugby includes preparation, training and coaching, but the non-stop action puts the strategy and game into the players hands. No other sport is quite like rugby – combining skills from football, soccer, track, basketball and wrestling all in one. All players can run, pass, catch, kick, score and tackle (or pull a flag) and all play both defense and offense at any given time during a game. There is a position on the field for everyone who wants to play – short or tall, big or small, boys and girls. Our flag and 5/6 grade coed tackle teams led the Indianapolis area in girls participation in 2018 and in 2019 we fielded a 7/8 grade girls tackle team for the first time in several years and they went on to finish 3rd in state! Above all, rugby is a social sport with strong values that cultivate camaraderie and competition while also demanding respect and good sportsmanship. Our club’s mantra, #FIRSTonthepitch, is a constant reminder to focus on Friendship, Integrity, Responsibility, Sportsmanship and Teamwork. We encourage you come to our Try Rugby night, explore our website, connect with us on social media, and register to play this fun and fast-paced global sport. Sincerely, Scott LeVeque CDC Youth Rugby Commissioner & father of three ruggers 2 OUR TEAMS We field four teams at three different grade levels, providing both flag and tackle options for boys and girls in grades 2 to 8. Game rules are modified based on age, providing a progression of age appropriate skill development. 2ND-4TH GRADE COED FLAG TEAM Our coed team for boys and girls in grades 2-4, plays a non- contact, 7 vs 7 flag version of rugby on a smaller field with modified rules. It’s a great introduction to the game that keeps our youngest players moving in non-stop action while introducing them to this exciting Olympic sport! 5TH/6TH GRADE COED TACKLE TEAM Our 5th/6th grade coed team is the introduction to tackle rugby for both boys and girls. Kicking is added at this level but modified age-based rules, including a 1/2 size field, fewer players (10), uncontested scrums and no lifting, keeps the focus on player development, safety and fast-paced fun. 7TH/8TH GRADE GIRLS TACKLE TEAM Our 7th/8th grade girls tackle returned to our program with great success in 2019, finishing 3rd in the state. This team plays Rugby Sevens, a more wide-open and faster-paced version of rugby played in the Olympics. Girls from all sports backgrounds and all shapes and sizes are needed and welcomed to join this new era in Carmel girls rugby. 7TH/8TH GRADE BOYS TACKLE TEAM Our 7th/8th boys tackle team plays full-field, 15 player per side rugby. Boys who have played football, basketball or soccer, or wrestled or ran track, already have some skills that transition to the rugby pitch. Boys seeking a fun, physical, sporting challenge are encouraged to join and experience the unique teamwork and camaraderie of rugby. 3 HEAD COACHES Coaching is the most critical component of any successful youth sports program. We are very proud our USA Rugby L200 certified head coaches who combine for over 70 years of playing and coaching experience at every level of the game from youth to high school to college and international rugby. Our coaches take pride in sharing their knowledge and passion for the game with our young players and creating a fun learning environment focused on safety, skill development, teamwork, and participation. EVAN ROBERTS - 7TH/8TH GRADE BOYS Evan began playing rugby in high school, where he captained Brownsburg HS to a Tier 2 National Championship. During that same period, Evan was also captain for the Indiana U-19 All-Stars team which earned both the Midwest Regional All-Star Championship and the Eastern Regional All-Star Championship. He continues to play the sport with the Indy Impalas Men’s Rugby Club, where he earned Rookie of the Year in 2006. Evan began coaching rugby in 2007 with the 5th/6th grade Brownsburg team, leading them to a State Title in 2008. Evan has coached with CDC Youth Rugby since 2014. His daughter will be a member of the 7th/8th grade girls team this season. KELLY ROMANO - 7TH/8TH GRADE GIRLS Kelly’s love of rugby began in 1997 when she played flank for the Illinois State University women’s team and won a national title. In 1999, rugby brought Kelly to Edith Cowan University in Australia where she continued to play while traveling the Pacific Rim. Upon her return to the U.S., Kelly participated in one practice with the U.S. National Team B side before returning to ISU to fulfill grant obligations. The 2020 season will be Kelly’s fifth year coaching with CDC Youth rugby. Her son will be a member of the 7th/8th grade boys team this season and her daughter will play with the 5th/6th grade coed team. MATT SAUNDERS - 5TH/6TH GRADE COED Matt began his rugby career in college at Indiana University, where he played and later coached under Sarasopa Enari. He has also worked in rugby data operations for Stats LLC in Chicago and as an intern for Rugby Illinois and the USA Rugby Collegiate Department. Matt is entering his second season with CDC Youth Rugby in 2020. GERRIT VERPLANK - 2ND-4TH GRADE FLAG Gerrit grew up on the sideline of a rugby field, as his dad was heavily involved in bringing rugby to Indianapolis. Gerrit started four years for Cathedral HS and made the All-State team three times. He also won a State Championship and took 3rd place in the National HS Tournament. After high school, Gerrit moved to England to play for the West Norfolk Rugby Club. Upon returning to the U.S., he was selected for the U.S. U-19 team that toured New Zealand. He then joined the rugby team at Indiana University, where the team finished 4th in the National D1 tournament and Gerrit was named a 2nd team college All-American. Gerrit’s son will be on the flag team this season. SCOTT LEVEQUE - COMMISSIONER Scott has been involved with CDC Youth Rugby since 2016 when his daughter began playing the sport with the flag team. Scott assumed the role of CDC Youth Rugby Commissioner in the fall 2017 and has since completed USA Rugby Level 100 and Level 200 coaching certifications. Scott’s daughter will be on the 7th/8th grade girls team this season, while his two sons will be on the flag team and 5th/6th grade coed tackle team. 4 SAFETY AGE-BASED PROGRESSION Our youngest team, for boys and girls in grades 2-4, plays a non-contact flag version of rugby with modified rules. It’s a great introduction to the game that keeps young kids moving in non-stop action while introducing them to the newest Olympic sport in a fun and safe way. Our tackle teams at the 5/6 and 7/8 grade levels, follow an age-based progression which builds upon their skills and offers more advanced game play as they get older. USA RUGBY CERTIFIED COACHES All CDC Youth Rugby coaches are experienced and USA Rugby certified and most have sons or daughters in the program. All coaches complete USA Rugby Level 100 online educational modules and all tackle coaches also attend full-day, hands-on instructional clinics to achieve Level 200 certification from USA Rugby. Topics covered include: Long-term player development / Pre-participation / Equipment, environment and emergency plan / Physical Conditioning / Lifestyle / Warm up / Principles of play / Open field play / The tackle / The ruck / The maul / The scrum / The lineout / Cool down & recovery / Injury management In addition, all coaches complete these two Player Protection Package courses: World Rugby Concussion Management and USOC Safesport Course CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINERS A certified athletic trainer, provided by Rugby Indiana, is on-site at all matches to immediately assess and treat any injuries that may occur and seek further medical support if needed.