Picture of the week

Brookfield on the attack with a DS defender closing in for the tackle from thier Fall matchup.

Brookfield takes on DSHA this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at Dretzka Park to see if it can topple the 3 time national champions. Brookfield is one of the fastest growing clubs in Wisconsin and despite being relatively new (founded in 2004) tied for 3rd place in Fall 2006 season with Kettle Moraine (2000) and Northshore (1998), two of the oldest and most established clubs in the conference.

Plugging holes with our thumbs....

If there is one thing in the rugby community which we know for certain, there are not enough sirs. In the girls high school community, we've had difficulty, at times, recruiting coaches despite a demand for a team from player. In other areas, some teams struggle with player recruitment. In response to each of these crises, individuals or groups make valiant attempts to fill the particular need, like the picture of the little dutch boy sticking his thumb in the damn to save Holland from flooding.

In the meantime, even if one crisis is averted, putting our collective thumbs in the wall does little to stem the rising tides of problems behind the levy.

Here is Wisconsin, I think we've done pretty well at the U19 level in forming new teams and leagues. The boys have 2 separate conferences, and the girls have a number of very strong clubs with at least 2 sides. But, we cannot rest on our successes. Wisconsin has a grass-roots tradition to brag about. But, as we grow our U19 program, we increasingly stress the resources (fields, referees, coaches) to the limit.

Here is my off-the-cuff proposal. Let's create a marketing committee within the Union which pulls together members from all the various interest groups (referees, coaches, men's, women's, collegiate, boys, girls and youth programs). The purpose of this committee will be to market the sport of rugby in Wisconsin, regardless of level. My theory is that a broad based marketing campaign would help rugby at all levels. We in the rugby community already believe this is a great sport. Let's create the buzz in the rest of the community, so that non-rugby players begin to ask questions: Where can I watch a game? How do I become a sir? Where can I play rugby?

All our clubs can benefit from unified marketing, which actively includes all levels of rugby, and brands rugby as sport for the whole community.

Picture of the Week

This week's picture of a week is from Kettle Moraine's 2006 tour to California. This picture of the the KM pack includes Katie McCormick, now a U19 Eagle currently on tour in England, as strong-side flanker.

For more information on the U19 tour, check out the U19 girls rugby blog (link on side of page) or the USA Rugby home page.

Varsity Status for Girls Rugby

The new USA Rugby website (http://www.usarugby.org/) has a section devoted to USARFU's push for varsity status for high school girls rugby. This is an off-shoot of the Union's push for NCAA status for Collegiate Women's rugby. As a coach of a high school girls' team, I applaud the dedication of resources to promoting the women's game. But, I have concerns about the consequences.

The WIAA, Wisconsin's high school athletics governing body, has its own set of regulations governing high school sports. This may lead to inconsistencies between the current practice here in Wisconsin (i.e. a Fall season for rankings within the state and a Spring season for touring and participation in Mid-west/National tournaments). This type of system could be eliminated by WIAA rules which may prohibit out-of-season play.

In my mind, here are advantages to seeking WIAA membership:

• Part of a pre-existing structure to help organize/standardized administration;
• Legitimacy within schools to facilitate recruiting players;
• Access to school resources and funding.

However, there are some serious draw backs:

• Inability of high school teams to compete in territorial and national competitions;
• WIAA discourages (but does allow) multi-school teams for areas where no team is available;
• The team becomes linked to school district budgetary needs (e.g., the Waukesha School District is thinking about eliminating ALL extra-curricular activities and sports ).

USA rugby appears to think that high school varsity status is a natural result of or beneficial to its goal of NCAA status for collegiate women. However, looking at the soccer model suggests that varsity status is not necessary as a feeder system for collegiate programs. The best recruits for soccer (at least in this area) come not from high school varsity squads, but from community based select side teams. Varsity soccer is usually a step down from the club soccer.

By pushing an agenda of varsity rugby for high school girls, we are ultimately pushing towards a two tier system (club rugby and varsity rugby) similar to soccer. This may not be a bad result if it means more exposure to rugby for everyone. However, this presupposes that we in the rugby community have the capacity to support this level of involvement in terms of qualified referees and coaches. On the other hand, if the push for varsity status back-fires, varsity girls rugby within a WIAA structure could eliminate the more flexible club rugby. This would be a real loss to the club rugby programs because national tournaments and touring opportunities have been a real recruiting tool for local teams. Perhaps the better question is not how do we push for varsity status, but how do we collectively build support to grow the current club system? What do we need to grow high school rugby?

I would suggest that the answers will vary from state to state. Now that USARFU has broached this important subject, it is up to local clubs to carry on the dialouge and find solutions that work for local communities.

Wisconsin participation in USA U19 Tour

The USA U19 Womens' Rugby blog reported today that the National U19 team is setting out on its 2007 tour of England. Wisconsin's high school players, alumnae and coaches have historically had a strong presence on the national squad. This year Katie McCormick, a former player from Kettle Moraine Girls RFC and current UWM player is on the squad. In addition, Jeff Noe, the coach of Kettle Moraine Girls RFC is on tour as the team manager.

Congratulations to our local players!

Congratulations Northshore!

Northshore proved its mettle this weekend by winning the Fullerton International Rugby Tournament in California over the St. Patrick's day weekend. Wisconsin should be impressed by, and proud of, Northosore's success. Here's the coach's description of Northosre's progress in the tournament:

It was an awesome weekend!!!! Yes, we won the tournament!!!

Our touring group was 20 girls but the day before we left 4 had to pull out, because they came down with that ugly flue that was going around, so we traveled light with only 16 girls.

In the very first game my wing broke her arm so we were down to 15 for the rest of the tournament. Before each game the referee would stop by and ask that the subs check in through the table at the side of the field before they would be aloud on the field. My response to this was: "There is no need for that Sir, what you have on the field is what you have". They usually thought I was joking.

Saturday:

Game 1: Northshore Highlanders vs. Coburg East Comets from Ontario Canada 19
- 5 (We scored 3 tries)

Game 2: Northshore Highlanders vs. Cantwell from California 47 - 3 (We scored 7
tries)
Sunday:

Semi-Final: Northshore Highlanders vs. Fullerton Lady Lions from California (Hosting Team) 5 - 0

Final: Northshore Highlanders vs. Surrey Eagles from British Columbia 5 - 0

The girls wanted it really badly and that made the difference. Of the 15 we came home with one broken nose, one with a double hairline fracture in her foot and one with a dislocated finger, which might be broken, she was going in for x-rays today. The rest was all black and blue from the bruises and there was some really nice grass burns, but winning made up for it.

Picture of the week...

In honor of Northoshore's (red, white and black uniforms) trip to Fullerton for the International Youth Tournament, here is a picture from the 2006 trip for picture of the week.

Building Teams...

I learned the other day that one of our Wisconsin high school girls teams won't have the numbers to play its scheduled games this season. Hopefully, this is a temporary set back. However, its worth asking some fundamental questions about the obstacles that teams have had to either sustained growth or maintaining sufficient numbers for a side and what types of strategies are important in overcoming those obstacles.

Based on conversations I have had with coaches, observations of various team structures, and personal experience, I think the number 1 obstacle to maintaining a U19 girls team is recruitment. It appears that once a player has a game or two under their belt, the majority of players (and their parents) really come to love the sport. So, what are the recruitment obstacles? Why do some teams succeed in finding numbers and others do not?

Coaching Girls...

Given that this is a blog about Wisconsin's U19 girls clubs, I thought readers might be interested in this link, about coaching teenage girls, from another rugby blog. Here's the link: http://coachingrugby.blogspot.com/2007/02/how-to-coach-teenage-girls-your.html#links

Good luck to Northshore...

...as they head-off today to California to participate in the Fullerton International Youth Rugby Tournament. I am sure Northshore will do Wisconsin proud!

Youth Rugby Opportunities

I just wanted to put out a quick post of upcoming and planned youth programs in Wisconsin (by which I mean non-contact programs for U6-U14 aged players):

• May 9, 2007: City of Waukesha, Rugby High Interest Day for grades 1-4. (more information forthcoming)
• June 5-21, 2007: Catholic Memorial High School, Rugby Camp for children entering grades 6-8. Information available at the Catholic Memorial Webiste (follow the link on side of this page and clik on summer camp information);
• Saturdays in June, 2007: City of Waukesha, Rugby Camp for children in grades 1-4. (More information forthcoming).
• Program details for the 2007-2008 tag rugby league for players grades 1-4 and a "Little Rugby Academy" for players in grades K4 and K5 can be found at wisconsinruggers.com. Registration Fall 2007 K-4 programs can be picked up at the Town of Brookfield (http://www.townofbrookfield.com/) and on line at Wisconsinruggers.com.

If you know anyone who might be interested in either participating or creating a youth rugby program in Wisconsin, please pass along this information.

Saturday's A Rugby Day: "Waste your money and you're only out of money, but waste your time and you've lost a part of your life."

Saturday's A Rugby Day: "Waste your money and you're only out of money, but waste your time and you've lost a part of your life.".... Blondie raises some good questions about finances for premier level rugby clubs. I would point out two possible alternatives for financing club rugby, which are not mutually exclusive: (1) the all inclusive club (U6-Senior Men and Women) in one club; and (2) the semi-professionalizing of the team (by which I mean defraying costs, not necessarily paying players). Without 1, you wouldn't have the fan base for step 2. If the rugby community starts building an infrastructure of community wide teams (i.e. involving all levels of play and not just one aspect (i.e. men's/women's/high school), from the ground up, I think there is the potential to have these community wide teams support senior level play, by providing resources and a fan base.

If you look at the tax returns of local soccer associations, these organizations are bringing in $150 to $500K. These associations have the resources to buy fields, pay coaches, and develop players from the youngest levels. Think what a club could do if it had these kinds of resources!

Not to mention, if we can have semi-professional teir-II arena footbal or women's footbal, don't you think the public would come watch some premier rugby? Perhaps we need to bring in general managers and community organizers for our local rugby clubs.

Not too far away...

USA Rugby is hosting a training camp for the U19 Women's National team. The camp will be held June 17-21 in Blaine, MN. With the camp so close to home, this is a great opportunity for Wisconsin players to compete for a spot on a national squad. Not to mention that the camp will be following the USA Rugby Women’s Senior and Under-23 All-Star 15s Championships -- so this is also an opportunity to watch some high level rugby . More information can be found at the USA Rugby website .

Picture of the Week...

I read on someone's blog that pictures are importnat. So I thought I would add one, to start of this new blog. This is a picture of DSHA RFC from the first Girls U19 "Nationals" in 1998. Can anyone name the other two teams?

Once the season begins, you can email your pictures from your favorite Wisconsin U19 team and we will post the "winning" picture on the site.

The U19 Girls Season Opening Day

There is still quite a bit of snow on the ground as we move into March. However, opening day for the spring season a little more than a fortnight away. On the weekend of March 24-25, DSHA opens its season with games against both Northshore and Vernon. The Norrhshore/DS match should be an exciting Match up: DSHA will be attempting to shake out the winter cobwebs as it gears up for another run at a national title at the NIT in May. Meanwhile, Northshore will be returning from sunny California and its second appearance in the Fullerton Youth International Rugby Tournament. This warm-weather tournament should provide a good head start on spring-season training for Northshore who finished in a three-way tie for third place in the Fall 2006 regular season play with a 4-3 record. On March 25, DSHA-B side will take on number 2 ranked Vernon. This should prove to be a real test of the DS-B as it encounters Vernon's 7-1 record A side, which is gearing up for its run at a Midwest title, and perhaps more.

Keep posted as we track down the latest match reports.