USA Rugby recently announced they are starting their own ODP program. While it is not directly aimed at youth rugby players, yet, the announcment is another indication of how rugby's inclusion in the next Olympics in Rio continues to transform the sport. We at WGR predict we'll be seeing more and more "ODP" programs in coming years, especially for younger and younger athletes. While not explicitly expressed in the press release, it's also worth mentioning that programs like the Women's Junior All-American program could be considered part of the Olympic Develpoment process. These programs develop players and afford them opportunities to compete for Olympic spots, even if the All-Americans play 15's rugby and the Olympics is 7's rugby. There will be many players who continue to cross-over in both versions:
CHULA VISTA, Calif. – The USA Rugby Men’s Eagles Sevens program announced today that it will launch a new initiative designed to identify, develop and monitor potential Eagles throughout the year. The program will create independent regional academies that will work closely with USA Rugby National Team staff.
The Olympic Development Program
(ODP) will be the start of a long-term systematic approach to rugby athlete
development and will offer year-round training programs delivered at several
newly created Olympic Development Academies (ODAs).
“Aligning our
domestic progression with the international demands of sevens will help
intensify the competition for spots at the OTC,” said Men’s Sevens Head
Coach Alex Magleby. “It will also speed up each player’s access to
changes in the game, and expand the quality and number of
seven-a-side match repetitions over the course of a year.”
Each ODA will provide a 10-month
training opportunity with two four-week recovery periods, and continuous
assessment and playing opportunities throughout the year. Players attending the
center will receive rugby specific training, strength, speed and conditioning
sessions, video analysis, fitness testing, and skill development.
Players attending an ODA will also
have bi-monthly communication with USA Rugby Sevens coaching staff, and those
players demonstrating the potential to play for the Eagles will be offered the
opportunity to try out with the national team at the Olympic Training Center in
Chula Vista, CA.
“Our staff is looking forward
to working with some of our top sevens coaches and players on a regular basis,”
said Magleby.
The Olympic Development Program is
designed for:
- Up and coming players who are not yet
ready for international competition but have demonstrated the ability to
play on the national team
- Players who are in the extended player
pool but not part of the Eagles’ residency program.
- Domestic club-based athletes, non-collegiate age-grade athletes, and college athletes whose University programs are not delivering a high performance rugby experience.
College players will be encouraged
to have a formal connection with an ODA for out of season development in
conjunction with that athlete’s collegiate coach. Athletes attending the
centers do not have to play for the entity hosting the center; they will,
however, have to follow the program provided for them by their Academy coach.
The Olympic Development Program will
be launched in three phases:
- Phase 1 of the program will include six
ODA’s in Seattle, Chicago and San Diego (Serevi), Long Beach &
Columbus (Emerging Tigers), and Glendale Raptors and will be run as a pilot
program to build best-case practices.
- Phase 2 will increase the
numbers of centers to support the demand across the country.
- Phase 3 will see the establishment of a National Academy facility and an expansion of the current residency program at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA.
USA Rugby’s six initial ODAs will
begin in January of 2013 with a focus on building best-case practices for
future expansion. Applications for Phase 2 will be accepted after
February 2013. Full
program details can be downloaded here.
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