Youthquake redux

Coaches are reliable signposts to the future because they are very intent on coming events: tomorrow's practice, the next match, and so on.

High school coaches, leading America rugby's fastest-improving segment, increasingly view the sport as a conduit to college or a positive social influence for at-risk youth. Thus they are signaling that the contest between the sports education and sports entertainment models is being decided in favor of the former.

Naturally enough, coaches are proud when their players advance to representative competition. But they are not framing their programs so stars can one day 'play for their country'. 

They are building their teams as vehicles for the personal growth of every participant, and thereby establishing rugby within the time-honored tradition of sports as a core part of one's education.

Their success will be measured in athletes graduating, and the next generation exceeding the last. The implications are profound. Youthquake indeed.

Comments

[GL translator]

Let me translate for the commonwealth boys. We don't really give a wink about the badges on your blazers and if the Eagles are ranked 19th or 15th.

Its about getting rugby into the schools you patronizing morons. Its America, do this the American way.

If in Japan, do it the Japanese way. If in Tonga, well they must get the point.

How has this administration hung on wasting millions of dollars for this long. If the IRB said no more welfare, the organization USAR would close their doors overnight. US rugby would keep going but this fraud of an administration would be done and done.

Hey, maybe that's it. We can hope the IRB wakes up and starts funding tier two plans that make sense, thus sending the foreign legion backing...by George I think that's it!

[Skinner]

Case in point; Highlands RFC in Salt Lake City.

Building men of character and responsibility.

National representation is just a by product, not a goal.

.

[Jack Sparrow]

Hey GL
Most of he Commonwealth boys come from clubs that have kids running around from the age of five on a sunday morning with a ball in their hands.

They get it - maybe not those in Boulder, but don't tar them all with the same brush.

By George whose the moron now?

[GL translator]

Fair comment JS, but you missed the point. In the CW its easy to get kids playing rugby, its your Pop Warner football and your Little League baseball.

In American we need the game in the schools to grow the sport.

Also, in the CW the national team is the bread winner, so it becomes important to funding the whole of the game. In American it isn't. The Eagles soak up resources needed to grow the game while trading places 19-15.

What we can agree on is the clowns in Boulder have wasted four years and millions of dollars.

[Jack Sparrow]

GL
In the CW (England is my subject matter), its just as hard to get kids playing rugby just as it is here. Clubs make a huge effort, its their life blood. The club system won't work here, so I agree that its got to be through the HS system on a traditional American sporting model. Rugby is in schools, but its not the driving force that it can be here. All our efforts should be geared from the bottom up.

In England, some money does trickle down to the lower level clubs, but by and large they are self-sustaining entities that have to budget like everyone else.

I do agree that we've wasted alot of dollars and time trying to copy systems that work elsewhere.

[Jimmy Rorshach]

I just photocopied my arse, it looks like Chairman Roberts and CEho Melville are fighting over an apple?

[bruce mclane]

www.ruggamatrixusa.com has a pretty good show this week with Mike Tolkin, we discuss the happenings in fort lauderdale, the tackle area, different attacking scenarios and how he looks at them.

[college]

sweet bruce. best podcast in terms of technical rugby for sure.

cannot wait for u guys to attack the college rugby thing though. you teased it a couple weeks ago. where is the strategic plan. what the heck are they doing??

[anon]

Strategic plan was released yesterday by NM and USAR. Thoughts?

[college]

Where can we find it?

[Eagle fan]

Football, baseball, basketball are not school sports in the USA until junior high. All U-10 programs are 'little league' as the Americans call them, or 'clubs' as the CWs call them. Mommies and Daddies with little boys and girls run the baseball and football little league systems here. Rugby mommies and daddies cry and complain on blogs and want someone else to do it. There's your lack of growth. Do you think your local baseball little league cries to the MLB for funds?

[Bruce McLane]

does anyone know where that plan is, i have not seen it, nor do i know where to find it

i will try and get some questions together and maybe we will try and have some questions come through and do live questions by listeners. i don't know if djuro can do it. he is going to get todd clever into his studio in australia and let listeners ask some live questions to him.

i am not sure if he can do that with stateside guests?

if anyone wants a question answered, or has a question and a follow up, you can email me or djuro and we will ask it, we just ask that a name is attached, even a first name and a city, but a full name is preferred.

i am sure that the plan has many points that need clarification. i will try to track down the report today and look at it.

and college, thanks, i thought it was a good show, since it crapped out last week, it was like we had a dry run so it was pretty easy to do

[Bruce McLane]

i am also pretty sure that ARN podcasts will cover that report in a pretty in depth way.

[college rugby]

the college podcast on ARN is awesome because of Jack Clark and the ruggamatrix is great because of the content and Bruce's enthusiasm and Djuro being a professional. Not to diminish what you do Bruce by calling it just enthusiasm. Your enthusiam for building the game and disseminating good information is what I'm talking about.

If we agree that college rugby should be the flagship product in American rugby we need to get answers on that big time. How many uscra member programs are there anyways? If there aren't many, why is that? Are they not promoting or reaching out effectively? If there are enough programs in it then it is reeealll easy. get them all on board with withholding dues and thats the ballgame. Boulder will work with any org that wields that kind of power.

[college rugby]

And to Eagle Fan. That's not correct. Idk how they do it in CW nations. I respect however they get it done because it has obviously worked. But in this country youth football, baseball, soccer, basketball are all done through either schools (CYO/catholic grade schools funded by the Archdiocese) or through townships with either township teams for football or township leagues for more widely participated sports like soccer. called intramural. not to mention the townships have select "travel teams" for those sports in each township. This is all funded by sign-up fees and the taxes. So you actually dont have mommies and daddies running it all themselves. You have Blank township football teams for 145lbs, 150lbs, 165lbs etc and all the parents have to do is sign up their kids. For that to happen in rugby parents would really have to run it all. And thats a

[college rugby]

... a tough ask for them to just start up leagues with no foundation from a big entity like a township or the Church. But guess what? Many have done it anyways and that's what you see with all of the club teams and non-varsity club teams in schools. A great accomplishment but for us to ever go where we want to go we need a lot more support. USAR and TUs should be providing it but they arent.

[Bruce McLane]

I think the motto must be ask for forgiveness not for permission

Many larger entities want the dues and taxes and are not prepared (nor do they have the people) to get their hands dirty really helping to run it on the ground.

I think it is best to do your own thing and worry about your own program as they do with Morris and Union County youth in NJ and what they do in Tennessee

I don't know if any really significant level of support will ever come and if it does, it will only come when there are major structures in place and that help will only be to sign people up and collect dues from them, with the proviso that this info and dues will lead to sponsorship and funding that will never materialize on a grand scale.

sound familiar.

[Bruce McLane]

http://www.usarugby.org/media/EDocs/StratPlan_IntroPurpose.pdf

http://www.usarugby.org/media/EDocs/FinGovOpsIntlRelations.pdf

http://www.usarugby.org/media/EDocs/RugbyDevelopment.pdf

http://www.usarugby.org/media/EDocs/CollegeRugby.pdf

http://www.usarugby.org/media/EDocs/EventsMktgMedia.pdf

http://www.usarugby.org/media/EDocs/HighPerformance.pdf

my friend in the snowy midwest sent me these links, the whole thing is here. i am not good at computer stuff so i think you have to copy and paste each link to see it, the last thing in the link says what it is about

[Leksan]

GL has it backwards when he states, 'In American we need the game in the schools to grow the sport.'

The correct course is just the opposite: in America we need to grow the game to get it in the schools.

Youth programs run and coached by volunteers are the key. In NorCal you can look at Lamo, SFGG, Marin, Diablo, Danville, Peninsula, Pleasanton, Dixon, Granite Bay, Land Park, Sierra Foothills, etc. to see perfect examples of grassroots rugby at its best. If you want to see the Youthquake in action just come out the pitch on any Sunday...

[get into the schools]

Leksan,

Yours is a chicken/egg comment.

Lots of good work being done in NorCal with youth rugby.

But, when the local HS schools let the HS rugby team train during acceptable hours, on school grounds, and the football coaches quit messing with the kids that want to play rugby in the off-season we'll really have something.

We need to get into the schools. The youth movement helps by building sport participation interest. Parents reminding schools officials they're taxpayers would also help.

NorCal has accomplished much, but the major work is still ahead.

[Jack Sparrow]

The USCRA are like a bunch of Green Peace activists trying to clean up the ocean. At the moment they are out there, saving dolphins and and all that good stuff. But what they don't know is that they are swimming with sharks.

Today, one of those sharks took a bite at one of the water born do-gooders; more like a nibble really. But if they don't watch out those sharks will eat them whole.

Meanwhile, watching from the sidelines there is a pod of killer whales who could quite quite easily see-off the sharks and allow the do-gooders to carry on their work of cleaning up the ocean.

But those killer whales really arn't interested in cleaning up the oceans, they are just happy to keep their little piece of west coast real estate in order.

Too allegorical for you?
;-)

[USAR should be worried]

JS,

Your read is too cynical. The west coast top teams just don't want to throw in with the D2 and D3 teams in a food fight organization.

Now that the leadership of the USCRA has changed there is a chance for success.

The USCRA no longer wants to create an individual dues based org, with a massive staff. It seems they are coming around to some sounder thinking. This has always been about CIPP dues, sponsorship and a fair cut of the pie, not separate organizations.

Last point, remember this, no one in college rugby likes or trust Nigel Melville or this USAR Board.

[Eagle fan]

College Rugby: Who do you think runs the local township little league? The Board of Supervisors?? It's the parents of the players. My youth football and baseball teams were run by parents from the coaches to the administrators. My mom was an ER nurse, so then she became our athletic trainer. We had a youth athletic association that pulled from all the elementary schools in our district. The Township and Elem. School had nothing to do with it. Once I got to junior high I played for the school. Others that were on my youth team played for their junior high (it was a big district). There is no magic organization that runs youth sports. We raised our own money, bought our own uniforms, etc.

[college]

Eagle Fan, I agree. the workers are community members. But where is the money coming from? From the townships. The dues for the football dont cover all that equipment, fields, etc etc. I just think you're really understating the infrastructure and support advantages that these other sports in townships/cyos have. It's not all just elbow grease and effort. Look at how much every rugby player, rugby parent, rugby coach, rugby admninister goes through to get a team off the ground every year. The success we've had at the grassroots has been great. We need our national body to make it a priority though.

[Pete M]

Wow, I am not sure where College Rugby grew up but the roads must be paved with gold. I grew up in Fairfax County, Virginia (2nd Highest Median Income for counties with over 250K in 2007 per Forbes) and our numerous youth leagues didn't see squat from the Government. The best they could do was provide fields but the youth leagues either paid for them or did some sort of "in trade" agreement for the use of them. As far as new uniforms, well that came from sponsorships as in Koons Ford on the back of your jersey....does any of this sound familiar...no, oh that's because you are "college" rugby, living in that fantasy land of four (or five or six) years where everything is a-okay. Keep livin' the dream brother, keep living the dream.

[college]

Is Pete M not the biggest douche on this board? Everything the guy says is at a very high level of douchieness.

I have only one other comment. If you think that the only difference between pre-high school rugby and pre-high school everything else is effort then you need to think about it some more.

[Zé Cacetudo]

Thanks for the links to the strategic plan PDFs. That's some interesting stuff. I don't mean to stir the pot, but I think this statement will piss some people off - it describes one of USA Rugby's so-called Customer Groups:

"Administrators (TUs/LAUs/SBROs/Congress/Board)
The game’s governance and administrative structure relies on the hard work of a committed group of amateur administrators. This group must establish a close positive working relationship with the USA Rugby National Office. They populate committees, congress, board and unions."

It seems to be a pretty clear demonstration of their attitude, to wit: You amateurs better get in line, do your chores, and get right with the Man in Boulder.

Oh, and it also appears that they're planning to start charging the kids a CIPP fee of their own - one of the assumptions underlying the document is that "USA Rugby dues will remain at current levels; however, new categories of membership (eg: Rookie Rugby) will be introduced."

[Strat plan is a disgrace]

I've been looking forward to seeing the college strategic plan for a year.

Let remember that Melville and his cronies have been in power for 4 years. In Melville case, this is 4 years at $275,000 per year. It has taken them 4 years to get a plan down on paper, so I was really excited to see what the plan was.

The college strategic plan is a dues paying membership sales job. In is double spaced three pages. It informed us yanks of things we didn't know, like colleges have sports facilities and built in fan bases. Get the hell out!

The college strat plan informs us that after fours years time, the USAR strategy is to make a plan.

In effect the much anticipated college strategic plan could have been two lines, "we are hoping to hire a college rugby director, and we will form a new rugby committee from our congress and employees."

How do you get a job in any field anywhere in the world with this type of work product?

[Pete M]

Wow College, great comeback calling me a douche. Why? Because I pointed out that one of the richest counties in the country doesn't spend one red cent on youth leagues? It could be that where you played youth sports the township did pay for the league and good for you comrade or it could be that you have never done anything but be a participant in one of these leagues and really don't comprehend how it really works...as in you've never looked behind the curtain, I mean you go by the moniker "College" or "College Rugby" so you are probably still in college and aren't bothered with this sort of thing. Not everything is "effort"? Without effort would there be any sort of youth sports aside from kids playing in the backyard? In Fairfax County parents started all the leagues from the start. It is not unusually to see or hear about so & so dying and how he/she was a founding member of the Annandale Youth Club in 1959 or Braddock Road Youth Club in the late sixites....

One other thing I would like to point out is that aside from Football, most other sports are trending toward travel or select teams as a vehicle for the advancement of players and the game. Travel/Select soccer has always been more important then High School Soccer, AAU Basketball has surpassed high school basketball in level of importance, Travel Baseball is growing more and more important if kids plan on playing in college or getting looks from the pros, Travel lacrosse is getting bigger too with college coaches taking side jobs as coaches of these teams. It's funny to see these sports trending more toward the CW model and away from the varsity model meanwhile everyone here yelling about getting the game in schools and making it varsity.

[college]

Nah Pete, it wasnt a comeback. It was a statement pointing out that everything you say on this board is accompanied with a nice dose of dickishness that is completely unnecessary. But that's okay. The college name refers to my belief that college is the best product we have in this country and it, along with high school, should be our focus instead of the national team. I've been out of college for a while and currently coach a h.s. team and will put my contributions to rugby up against yours in a second. Quite bold of you to use your real name "Pete M." since it clearly identifies you as a Pete with a last name beginning with 'M'. Wow, you are holding yourself so accountable!

Anyways. The point I've been making is that there is a difference between pre-high school rugby and pre-high school soccer, football, basketball, baseball, softball. And that difference is not that the rugby group is putting in less effort than the latter groups. That really is my only point since Eagle Fan had originally insinuated that CW nations have harder working adults than the whiners in America. When actually rugby over there is like our football, soccer, baseball over here. It is MUCH more supported by the communities as a whole. What exactly that support is I don't know for sure. But the idea that all we American rugby people are doing is sitting around and whining instead of getting out and "doing it" is a crock. There is a lot more to it.

[OMG]

Enough with the name calling, let's get back to the Strat Plan, the incredible document that it is.

Do you think Melville and Co. thought that they could produce something so thin , months after the revised deadline, and no one would notice ?

Okay, the Congress probably hasn't noticed because they would only actually read the Strat Plan if Roberts told them they could.

My kid's book report on rugby was more comprehensive and detailed. Was Melville so busy landing significant sponsors for the Eagles that he just did not have time to write a sound plan in four years ? No.

Was he too busy getting America to fall in love with rugby ? Doesn't appear so because a majority are filing for divorce from USARFU.

From a richly compensated CEO and President of Rugby we should expect a hell of a lot more.

We got more work out of previous Executive Directors who made 100K.

[Pete M]

College (less accountable)-

Started one men's club,and restarted two college clubs in the last decade. Coached two college clubs, in the last decade. Taught rugby basics in an after school program and one summer program. Also been an officer for various clubs for over half of my 20 years involved in the game. Currently I am laying the ground work on getting a youth program off the ground in the Fredericksburg, VA area. Hat's off for working with a school age program, maybe you can send me some notes and what works for you: peterkmurray@hotmail.com

I admit when I read something absurd, I go over the top in my replies to match what I think is absurd.

Look forward to getting your thoughts.

[anon]

College the best product?

False.

I get more pushback because of the college rugby image (experience) than any other segment.

Even the good college rugby programs have seen enough bush league college rugby on D.C and B sides to not trust the sport.

As a youth and HS admin College rugby is the single greatest hurdle I face. Yes - greater than funding.

Parents and school admins all remember the rugby team from their college days. Naked on roofs and shooting boots. Hazing new members and encouraging binge drinking. All of which they probably still wear with a badge of honor.

A senior old boy or HS alum is EXPONENTIALLY more likely to invest trust and resources in the game than a former college player.

College rugby is what needs the most work - that I'll agree on.

But remember after CAl, BYU PSA, Service academies and all of the others fighting the good fight, there are 450+ other schools out there that are pulling us back.

I agree college needs work but don't try to sell me on the currect product. And I'll pass on supporting any administration (USCR) that has these same program heads as the driving force of the administration.

[Common-Wealth]

"I get more pushback because of the college rugby image (experience) than any other segment."

If you are going to make a statement like this, you have to say who you are and what your are doing. Otherwise you're just a troll in my opinion.

[vote college]

Anon has made a fair but slanted statement. In truth, no domestic rugby product is ready for prime time. But college rugby has the best chance.

[Jack Sparrow]

If lacrosse can survive the whole Duke affair and thrive, then rugby can get by on a couple of props banging a couple of sorority girls or two back in the 80's!

[Socal rugby]

Agree and disagree with anon. I think college rugby is our best opportunity to make a quality product at this time. There are a few dozen top college teams that have both great rugby and a responsible well run club. These teams can offer us a great product (the college super league). I think this league is neccesary to seperate themselves from the hundreds of college teams that kill american rugby's image every day.

I love the social side to rugby as much as anyone but I also am very serious about my rugby and being an athlete. Nothing angers me more than telling someone I play rugby and hearing them tell me how crazy and dirty their d2 college rugby team was. We need to accept that we live in a very socially conservative country and if we are ever going to move forward with rugby we need to abandon some of the social rugby traditions that are acceptable in other countries. All rugby players love their fun but it needs to be completely seperate from the teams image. The lower level clubs really need to take some responsibility for their image if we are ever going to go forward.

[college]

Pete, you must be an absolute pleasure to work with. Once again. I didnt state anything absurd. It is absolutely false to say that townships have no organizing function or any other involvement in the sports leagues that bear their names and play on their fields. Apples and oranges comparing rugby to those sports.

And college rugby isnt our best product? They have the facilities, players, and alumni all just waiting to be tapped into. What a crazy statement saying they are anything but the best tool alongside high schools to grow this game.

[Pete M]

College-

In my opinion your statement about townships organizing youth leagues and running them is absurd based on my experiences. Nothing like that happens here, there is no youth sports czar in our local government...therefore it is an absurd statement.

Still waiting on your email, after all you want to see this great game grow. Oh and maybe you can stop hiding behind the name "college" and tell us where you've been coaching...

[Jack Sparrow]

Nice one Pete - good to see people coming out and not hiding behind stupid made up names.
:-)

[curious on-looker]

off topic...just saw an announcement about a televised college 7's tourny to be held at the crew stadium in Columbus...its on NBC in June on June 5 and 6. Looks like 16 teams and is being put on by the USA 7's group...someone doing something...finally

[curious on-looker]

here's the link

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/137522

[DaTruth]

I saw the same announcement about the College 7's, and haven found ZERO information on it. I spoke to a few people "in the know" and they knew nothing either. All a bit mysterious...

[curious on-looker]

DaT

I hear crew stadium is reserved for the date but beyong that no details yet. Presuming it happens as billed its one of those steps in the right direction with the colleges that our friends at USA HQ haven't taken.

[WTF]

Arizona State U is in this 7s tourney? What a joke.

[sweet dreams Boulder]

USAR sleeping through the night...and day.

[accountabilibuddies!]

haha jack sparrow?? seriously.

[curious on-looker]

wtf...i'm guessing you're affiliated with some other Az team...

[curious on-looker]

account...do you have a rugby ball for a tummy...

[account-a-billibuddies]

huh curious? "jack sparrow" was calling people out for not using their real names. if jack sparrow is his real name then yes i have a rugby ball for a tummy.

[Mike]

It doesnt matter which model you choose. It only matters that you start a team. It will be hard whether in a school, a club, or thru a Youth program. Have low expectations and support each other, because no one else will. Make it fun, and you will draw kids to the game like ants to honey. If you're not in it to have fun with a bunch of crazy misfits, you're in the wrong gig.

[Jack Sparrow]

account-abillibuddies
Come on now ship mate, that is my real name.

Best player this side of the Spanish main

http://elephantbeans.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/jack-sparrow-pirates-of-the-caribbean1.jpg

:-)

[Puggsley Tidewater]

I agree with account-abillibuddies.
Can I call you count (with a silent 'o') for short?

These people not revealing their real name, using ridiculous made up cover-up names are nothing but cads and bounders of the highest order.