Rugby's Youth Conference on the Game

Next month the national Youth Conference on the Game is being held in nearby Carmel, Indiana.

A quick review of Wisconsin shows that youth participation continues to grow steadily. Rugby Magazine recently conducted a state-by-state census and found that Wisconsin teams grew 16% from 2006-2010. The high school girls league showed the most growth, peaking at 12 teams this fall. The Badgerland boys high school conference has 15 teams in the Madison and Milwaukee area, while the Northeast Wisconsin (NEW) Conference now boasts 12 programs in the Green Bay and Fox Cities area.

This census did not account for some youth programs run through local park and rec organizations, since they are not considered official clubs in their own right. The Fond Du Lac rugby club has been offering elementary age kids a program for years, as has the Waukesha County Park and Rec Dept each summer.

One area where Wisconsin differs from other states, at this time, is organizationally. The three high school organizations run independently of one other. This decentralized approach has resulted in substantial growth. What's interesting is that all of Wisconsin's bordering states have moved in a new direction, forming State-Based-Organizations like Rugby Indiana or Illinois Youth Rugby. Their sole focus is the growth of high school and youth rugby. 26 States now have chartered SBO's.

In the long run, will these other states outpace Wisconsin's growth, because they have paid administrators organizing and promoting the sport? A recent example: Rugby Indiana hired a professional executive director in January 2009.

These issues and more will be discussed at the national Youth Conference on the Game (YCOG). It is an annual event held for all those involved in youth and high school rugby. This conference provides professional development workshops and presentations to better the game at the youth level.

When and Where is the YCOG?
The 2011 YCOG will be held on the following dates:
January 21-23, 2011
Carmel, IN

What is the agenda for the YCOG?
The agenda includes:
Workshops and Discussions on Game Development
High School Coaching Course Modules
Rookie Rugby 7s Launch (Introduction to Contact)
Youth Referee Certification
Concussion and Safety Information
CEUs for Coaches
Networking Opportunities

State Championship Results

Championship
DSHA 27 Kettle Moraine 3

3rd Place
Brookfield 39 Catholic Memorial 5

5th Place
Menomonee Falls 21 Vernon 10

7th Place
Oak Creek 12 Northshore 10

Division II
Championship
Fond Du Lac 12 DSHA 10
Oak Creek 32 Wauwatosa 12

Final Standings:
1 DSHA, 2 KM, 3 Brookfield, 4 CMHS, 5 MFalls, 6 Vernon, 7 Oak Creek, 8 Northshore, 9 Fond Du Lac, 10 Wauwatosa, 11 Muskego, 12 Cudahy

The Final: A Preview

This is the first time since the tournament format was adopted that Kettle Moraine and DSHA have met in the final. Both venerable teams battled back and forth for the State Championship from 2000 to 2004. In fact, KM is the only other team to win the state championship besides DSHA.

Is this KM's year again?

KM has seniors, alot of them. You win in high school sports with seniors. KM is driven and the new law interpretations have swung the game back in favor of possession teams to a degree.

DS: they have far more playoff experience, even if they have a younger squad. They are also much faster. Will they get enough ball? Earlier this season, DS scored four tries to one against KM. This is also the first year that DSHA enters a final without a perfect record. Are they better because of it, or more vulnerable?

Last year, the final ended 54-7.
Prediction: it could well be closer than that and KM has a chance. DSHA though, as defending-champions, remain the team to beat.

State Champion Records
Year 1st 2nd 3rd
2009 DSHA Brookfield Vernon
2008 DSHA CMHS Vernon
2007 DSHA Vernon CMHS 1st State Tournament
2006 DSHA Vernon
2005 DSHA Vernon
2004 DSHA Kettle Moraine
2003 DSHA Kettle Moraine
2002 Kettle Moraine DSHA
2001 DSHA Northshore
2000 DSHA Kettle Moraine

State Tournament 2010

Wisconsin Girls Rugby, in combination with its State Tournament sponsors, Waukesha State Bank and Athletico, announces the field for the 2010 State Championship Tournament, Sunday Oct 31st at Naga-Waukee Park. Twelve teams will participate, with the awards ceremony twenty minutes after the conclusion of the final

Division I
Championship 2:00pm DSHA v Kettle Moraine
3rd Place 12:30pm CMHS v Brookfield
5th Place 11:15am Vernon v Menomonee Falls
7th Place 11:15am Oak Creek v Northshore


Division II
Championship 12:30pm Fond Du Lac v DSHA
3rd Place 10:00am Oak Creek v Wauwatosa

Playoff Results 10/24

In a competitive set of semifinals, the top two seeded teams advanced to the final match at 2pm next Sunday at Naga-Waukee Park. CMHS and Brookfield will play for 3rd place.

DSHA 22 Brookfield 7
KM 23 CMHS 5

Consolation Rounds

The consolation rounds for the State Tournament continue play this weekend. The matches still carry significance as they affect ranking, conference alignment, and promotion/relegation between Division I and II for the 2011 conference season.

Of particular interest should be the Oak Creek v Menomonee Falls matchup. Falls was undefeated in Division II and proved competitive against Kettle Moraine last weekend. The winner secures Division I promotion.

Updated Brackets Released