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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 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 aren’t overly familiar with rugby, but it’s a global 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 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 , soccer, track, and all in one.

All players can run, pass, catch, , 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 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 , 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 . 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: 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.

CERTIFIED REFEREES All game referees are certified by USA Rugby and required to take Player Safety online classes. A rugby referee’s primary role is to create a safe environment for the players while enforcing the adherence to the laws of the game.

5 THE RUGBY TACKLE

The laws of the game, flow of play and the absence padding and helmets results in a tackling method and approach to contact that, while physical, is very different than football.

• Rugby players don’t wear protective equipment, thus the rugby player doesn’t have the same disregard for the safety of his or her head, neck, and shoulders when tackling or trying to break through a tackle.

• Players are taught shoulder tackling techniques and to use their arms to wrap a player’s legs and let the momentum of that player cause him to go to ground.

• All tackles require players to wrap with their arms between the shoulders and knees. Any contact above the shoulders is considered a “Reckless Tackle” and a player can be yellow carded or removed from the game. Even accidental contact can result in a penalty.

• is not permitted in rugby. The only player allowed to be contacted is the person with the ball, therefore there are no blindside hits or hits on unsuspecting players. Nearly all collisions can be anticipated, allowing athletes to better prepare for contact situations.

• Rugby is a game of possession, not yardage. Coaching technique emphasizes passing before being tackled and other skills aimed at retaining possession. This is in place of struggling to gain yards while opponents attempt to stop players at all costs.

• Without blocking, space to run cannot be created by brute force. Therefore, rugby encourages the use of evasion and misdirection which creates opportunities to run plays and score points.

• Shoulder blocks, at the knees, or other dangerous tackles are illegal in rugby.

“How we teach tackling was recently inspired by those who play rugby around the world. Rugby players have taken the head out of the game and truly exemplify shoulder tackling.”

— Pete Carroll, Head Coach, Seahawks

6 RUGBY’S VALUES

Rugby’s values are what makes the game special for those who enjoy the environment and culture they create. These traditional values remain as important to rugby’s future as they have been throughout its long and distinguished past. The principles of rugby are the fundamental elements upon which the game is based and they enable participants to immediately identify the game’s character and what makes it distinctive as a sport.

In 2009, the World Rugby member unions identifiedintegrity , passion, solidarity, discipline and respect as the defining character-building characteristics of rugby. These are now collectively known as the World Rugby values and are incorporated within the World Rugby Playing Charter, a guiding document aimed at preserving rugby’s unique character and ethos both on and off the field of play.

We bring this ethos to the youth rugby level in several ways, including: • ONLY THE TEAM CAPTAIN MAY SPEAK TO THE REFEREE • ALL PLAYERS SHAKE HANDS AND TAKE COMBINED TEAM PHOTOS AFTER EVERY GAME • EACH TEAM SELECTS A PLAYER FROM THE OTHER TEAM AS THE “PLAYER OF THE MATCH” FOR THEIR SKILLED PLAY, EFFORT OR SPORTSMANSHIP • THE HOME TEAM PROVIDES A FREE MEAL FROM CONCESSIONS TO ALL VISITING PLAYERS

Our club mantra is #FIRSTonthepitch, which translates to displaying our club values of Friendship, Integrity, Respect, Sportsmanship and Teamwork on the field (the pitch).

“It’s the only game in my eyes where there’s real values...Rugby brings friends from around the world together, and whilst you go to battle on the pitch, as soon as you leave the pitch, you have friendships for life.” — Mike Friday, Men’s USA 7’s Head Coach 7 RUGBY SEASON WHEN DO WE PLAY? Indoor practice will begin on Friday, February 28th at Creekside MS. Indoor practices will occur each Friday until spring break. After spring break, all teams begin outdoor practices twice per week on Wednesday and Friday evenings at River Road Park.

The rugby match season is five weeks in length, beginning inmid-April and concluding in late May prior to Memorial Day weekend. Games are played on Sunday afternoons with each team typically playing two opponents at one location. Rugby Indiana will release the final game schedule in March. Expected match dates for 2020 are April 19, April 26, May 3, May 10 and May 17.

WHERE DO WE PLAY? Home matches and practices are at River Road Park. We typically have 2 or 3 home Sundays and 2 or 3 away. WHO DO WE PLAY? Our teams play opponents from neighboring communities including Avon, Westfield, Fishers, Pendleton, Brownsburg, Broad Ripple, Noblesville and Pike. REGISTRATION & FEES Step one of registration takes place on the Carmel Dads Club website at www.CarmelDadsClub.org. After completing the rugby registration on the CDC website, parents will receive further instructions by email to complete the required youth rugby registration with Rugby Indiana.

2ND-4TH GRADE COED FLAG TEAM • $90 sport fee to Carmel Dads’ Club • $75 fee to Rugby Indiana (scheduling, referees, trainers, USA Rugby blanket liability policy) • Each player receives a t-shirt • New players receive a rugby ball 5TH/6TH GRADE COED TEAM • $90 sport fee to Carmel Dads’ Club • $95 fee to Rugby Indiana (scheduling, referees, trainers, USA Rugby blanket liability policy) • Each player receives rugby shorts, rugby socks and a t-shirt. Game jerseys stay with the team. • New players receive a rugby ball 7TH/8TH BOYS TEAM & 7TH/8TH GIRLS TEAM • $90 sport fee to Carmel Dads’ Club • $120 fee to Rugby Indiana (scheduling, referees, trainers, USA Rugby blanket liability policy) • Each player receives rugby shorts, rugby socks and a t-shirt. Game jerseys stay with the team. • New players receive a rugby ball

Carmel Dads Club Annual Fee Unless you have Lifetime CDC membership, Carmel Dads’ Club will charge an annual family fee of $50.00, paid one time during the calendar year when the first family member registers for any CDC sport. The fee is good for the whole year and for all children in the family. If registering for rugby is your family’s first CDC sport registration of 2020, the annual fee will be added to your rugby fees. 8 RUGBY 101 Rugby is one of the fastest growing team sports in the United States. Often considered a fringe sport by many in the U.S., most are surprised to learn that it is a global, Olympic sport played in over 120 countries by 9.1 million people worldwide, including 2.4 million women and girls.

All players play both defense and offense at any given time during a game. Similar to the game of soccer, rugby is a continuous game where the ball is constantly moving and play will not stop unless a team has scored, the ball goes , or a penalty is given.

Most appealing is the fact that there is a position for everyone who wants to play – short or tall, big or small, boy or girl. Above all, rugby is a social sport that praises competition but demands respect and good sportsmanship.

How it Started: The legend goes that a student at the Rugby School in England, William Webb Ellis, was playing soccer in 1823 when he picked up the ball and ran down the field to score.

Scoring: There are four ways to score points in a rugby game. • Try – When the ball is grounded over an opponents’ line in their ‘try zone’ it is worth 5 points. • Conversion – After scoring a try the team gets an attempt to kick the ball over the crossbar and through the posts of the rugby uprights. Worth 2 points. • Penalty – If the opposition commits a penalty, a team can choose to kick at the goal. Worth 3 points. • Drop Goal – During play a team may drop the ball on the ground and kick it over the goal. Worth 3 points.

Number of Players: Traditional rugby consists of 15 players on each side. Other versions of the game include 10 players on each side and seven players on each side, called Sevens. Rugby Sevens was recently added back into the Olympic Games for 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. Duration: Traditional rugby with 15 players on each side consists of 30 minute halves and a 5 minute half time. Field: Rugby is played on a field not exceeding 100 meters in length and 70 meters wide. Passing: The rugby ball can only be passed laterally or backwards. There are no forward passes in rugby. If a forward pass is made it is an infringement of the rules and results in a scrum awarded to the other team. Tackling: Rugby is a continuous, contact sport. What this means is that once a tackle is made, play continues. A tackle occurs when the ball carrier is taken to the ground by a member of the opposition. Once tackled, a ball carrier must release the ball. Once a player makes a tackle, he/she must roll away from the play. Ruck: Once a player is tackled to the ground, a ruck is formed when one or more players from each team close around the ball. The ball then emerges and play continues. Maul: When the ball carrier is held up by a member of the opposition and by a member on his own team, it is called a maul. The ball can either be removed from the maul or taken to the ground, which then forms a ruck. Scrum: A scrum is used to restart play after a minor infringement occurs (i.e. forward pass). The scrum consists of eight of the 15 players, called forwards. These eight players bind together and come head to head with the eight players of the opposition. The ball is thrown into the middle of the scrum on the ground and the players work with their feet to hook the ball behind them, making it available to play. The ball is then collected by the scrumhalf and passed out to the back line. Lineout: When the ball goes out of bounds, play is restarted with a lineout. Two lines are formed with opposing teams. The ball is thrown in the air in the tunnel between the lines. Teams will lift players to contest for the ball.

9 BEYOND YOUTH RUGBY

HIGH SCHOOL Carmel High School has club rugby teams for both boys and girls. The boys team has won three State Championships (1997, 1999 and 2017) and the girls team won the state title in 2001 and were runners up in 2010. Learn more at www.carmelrugby.net.

There are currently twenty-nine (29) high school boys and fourteen (14) high school girls rugby teams in Indiana. There are two divisions for boys (Super League, Division I) and two divisions for girls (Super League, Division I). Indiana has one of the largest numbers of youth and high school rugby clubs in the USA.

COLLEGE Nationwide, 443 colleges offer men’s rugby and 309 offer women’s rugby. Ten colleges and universities in the state of Indiana offer club programs:

• Ball State University • Marian University • Bethel College • Indiana State University • Indiana University (D1A Big Ten) • IUPUI • Purdue University (D1A Big Ten) • Taylor University • University of Notre Dame - (D1A Independent) • University of Southern Indiana • Wabash College

The D1A is for certain colleges and universities based on higher ability and skill. Division IA is an elite collegiate rugby competition sanctioned and administered by USA Rugby. The conference-based league features 37 elite men’s teams competing in six conferences: Allied Rugby, Big Ten, , East, Mid-South, West, and one independent team.

OLYMPICS Rugby was reintroduced into the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016. The version played for men and women in the Olympics is Rugby Sevens, which is a higher scoring, more wide-open version of rugby played with seven players on on the field for each team.

PROFESSIONAL There are many international professional rugby leagues worldwide. A new American professional league, , began play in 2018 and has expanded to 12 teams for the 2020 season.

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