Tennessee
High School Rugby
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
|
|
The Bryant Model
How To Start A High School Rugby Program
That Will Thrive Beyond Your Leadership Term
Phillip C. Bryant, MBA
I. The Bryant Model
A. Start a 'League'
B. High School Affiliation
C. Organize For League Success
D. A State Tournament
E. High School age first
II. Plan the Program
A. Coaching Issues
B. Uniform purchase issues
C. Student athlete issues
D. Budget issues
E. Growth issues
III. Establish the Program
A. Private schools
B. Public schools
1. The arguments against having a rugby program.
2. The answers to the arguments.
3. Coach training and certification
C. School Boards approval
D. No Student Clubs allowed
IV. Stabilize the Program
A. Be an "official" club
B. Benefits vs. Obligations P.9
C. Athletic Directors and Football Coaches
D. Start another team for girls (boys) next
V. Advance the Program
A. Player Development, "Age Grade Rugby".
B. College Rugby Clubs for Coaches and Referees
C. Teaching the game at the "teaching" Universities.
VI. Finance the Program
A. Raising money from your player's families.
B. Raising money working for others as a club.
VII. Public Relations
for the Program
A. The students on your team.
B. The other students at the school.
C. The High School Staff.
D. The Parents and Family members.
E. Other Rugby Clubs in your LAU.
F. F. The Community where the club members live.
IX. The Political Program
A. Follow the Chain of Command
B. Put it in writing and copy others.
C. Look for Institutional Literature
D. The Last Resort, when all else fails.
X. Over View and Odd Thoughts
about a High School Program
A. Where to go for help.
B. Know why you want to start a youth rugby program.
C. Just Do It!
There are many different ways to start a new rugby club. An established club may 'Sponsor' a new club. An individual may start a new club in a community, a school, or as an adjunct to an "athletic organization" like a Boy's/Girl's Club, etc. Or, on a rare occasion a school athletic department will even sponsor a 'varsity' team. The USARFU supplies a guide that will work very well for beginning a community based club or a college club. If your purpose is to start clubs in either of these categories, contact the USA Rugby office in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for the "Start Up Kit." (see pg. 20) However, based on my experience establishing many clubs at all levels, I can tell you that success at the high school level requires an entirely different approach from the others. In fact, the youth club growth success that is currently enjoyed by the Mid West RFU, Follows the high school model that I developed in 1990-91. That model proved so successful that it was named the "Bryant Model" by the United States Rugby Football Foundation. (See Appendix 1. Sample Grant Application) The foundation board believed in the model requirements enough to publish the model outline and mandate that they would only provide start up grants to new youth rugby efforts following this plan. With this paper, I have reprinted the "Bryant Model" in an expanded format including some seasoned reasons as to why you should follow this model for making your high school program a legacy rather than a memory when you, the initial leader, must move on. The following is a marketing study that continues to evolve. You are encouraged to send me your experiences so that this study may expand our collective body of knowledge. Enjoy the study and take action, for the love of the game.
A) Start a "league."
If you are planning to start a high school age rugby program, be prepared
to start a local 'league' of at least four clubs in the first year. Never
consider starting a single high school club unless there is already an
established league in your area to provide 'local' competition. A good
rule of thumb is a travel time of about one hour from your target high
school in after school traffic. This distance may be considered, local
enough to play a match before dark in the early spring. The reasons for
this suggestion are numerous: 1) The kids play rugby in this country because
it is a FUN game to play. If your students don't get enough competition,
they will lose interest, very rapidly. 2)Most of your referee and coaching
support must come from the current college and community club structure.
The big boys and girls play their matches on Saturdays, and your high
school club can't compete without a coach and a referee present. 3) The
number of referees available on weekends is limited so any scheduled weekend
matches should be in conjunction with the "High School Coach's"
Rugby Club's home match. 4) Parents and students are already familiar
with weekday competition. 5)Finally, mid week matches along with a Friday,
Saturday or Sunday match, allows for you to double amount of competition
in a season that loses a week because of Spring Break, and ends early
because or graduation, proms, and the current national high school tournament
in mid May. High School graduation dates vary widely across the nation.
Back to the Top
B) School Affiliation.
Always affiliate with a high school. A School has instant community recognition
and identification for the student participants. If your target school
Is a public school, then the school is a community asset owned by the
tax payers. As you are a taxpayer, you cannot legally be denied access
to the school activities and property as long as your requests are reasonable
and do not interfere with other scheduled events. If the target school
is a private institution, then you must rally the support of several parents
of current or future students and then meet with the President or Head
Master. Once again, with the support of " those paying the bills,"
you will not be denied the opportunity to start a rugby club. In fact,
you may achieve instant "varsity" status with full school financial
support in a private school. Either way, affiliation with a school solves
many problems. Uniform colors and a mascot are already in place, even
a fight song if you have the need to use one, and of course, instant community
presence. These things alone, are enough to guarantee the continuation
of your club when you have to move on. The institution will have invested
in the rugby club and will even recruit a new coach to replace you because
you established a "market demand" in younger brothers and sisters
while you were teaching their older siblings and their parents. It certainly
is all right to team up with the local community rugby clubs, if they
currently exist. Many senior rugby clubs "sponsor" one or more
high school clubs. However, if the local town doesn't have a college club
or town club, it soon could develop a club a few years after your high
school club is rooted. The leadership to start those new clubs will actually
come from the ranks of students that you have introduced to the game and
those who play in college and then return to the community to work. In
Indiana, three years after starting the High School program, the local
union enjoyed a surge of growth in new college clubs. In ten years, the
local union is starting to see new town clubs form in those same communities.
Back to the Top
C) Organize for "league" success.
Set your league eligible rules to protect your high school clubs from
predatory recruiting practices. All students must play for their own high
school, if their school has a rugby team. Students from other schools
may play with your team only until there are enough students to start
a club at their school. (Some school rules may dictate your policy on
other students.) Encourage the post match get together… as is our
rugby tradition. This will break down cross town rivalries that have disrupted
some programs. The home club should provide drinks and snacks for the
visiting club. After the match have each of your players go to the ice
chest, get two drinks and deliver one of them to the person he played
opposite in the match. Encourage the kids to engage in light conversation.
Most clubs have T-shirts made up, extras can be presented to the outstanding
back, and forward of your opponents team. I always ask their coach who
he would like for me to recognize. ( Sometimes it is better to award someone
who is working hard in practice rather than some who had a lucky match.)
That is why you ask the other coach, he knows his kids. When time allows,
plan a post match cookout. Organize the host team parents to do the cooking.
One match a year, feed all your fans as well, in a "Fan Appreciation
Day." This will always bring out a lot of the high school classmates.
Back to the Top
D) A "State tournament."
Conclude the very first season with a "State Tournament." Even
if your league of four teams is isolated, but is the only 'league' in
your state…hold the tournament. State tournaments, produce 'state
champions.' State champions are great public relation messages, in local
newspapers if released with pictures. (SEE Appendix 6) The trophy should
be large and significant so that it will be a lasting PR tool in the 'school's
trophy case.' After, ten years, no one will care that there were only
four teams in the first state championship, only that their school won
the tournament. For state championship trophies I prefer large plaque
(18' x24') carved in the shape of the state, made of solid oak with brass
plates and a rugby player mounted on the face. (Matt Godek sells a molded
4" figure that is ideal for this purpose. For a total of about $150
you get an impressive advertisement for rugby that takes up significant
space in a school display case, for a lot of years. Back
to the Top
E) Start with High School Age.
This is a new recommendation in addition to the original model. In many
areas of the country, the resistance at the high school level is so structured,
you feel that you have no choice but to start youth programs first. Don't
fall to this temptation.
1) It is impossible to coach tackle rugby if you have never played tackle
rugby and those who have played tackle rugby are the people you need to
coach the high school team. If you use them up in elementary, no contact
leagues, you may have no coaching assets left to extend the program later.
2) The resistance will only stiffen, because now the opposition will see
you coming.
3) The kids who start in your elementary programs will have no where to
play rugby in high school when older and your work and limited resources
will have been wasted. This error has been repeated many times around
the country. Call youth rugby directors and ask how many high school teams
their programs feed into. I believe that if you have the coaches available,
you may start a high school program and a youth program at the same time.
Try to have the youth league follow the high school season and you will
have some of your high school players available to coach younger kids.
Finally, I would like to point out that it isn't necessary to have played
rugby to coach non-contact rugby. Parents can be taught. Physical Education
Teachers can be taught. There are many ways to expand into non-contact
rugby once high school rugby is in place. Back to the Top
A) Coaching issues.
The hardest parts of starting a high school rugby club… is finding
a competent coach and buying the first set of uniform shirts. Rarely,
the same person will be able to do both, but normally, a young person
who is still an active club or a local college player, is able to coach,
but can't fund the start up. I personally like to find and old boy/girl,
who is established in the local business community and couple them with
one or two older college players who have been hand picked by a University
Head Coach. The old boy knows how to cut through the politics and paper
work, while the kids are current in teaching the game. The down side is
that the kids will turn over two to three years as they graduate, and
the program must find continuity. The Old Boy holds things together during
these transitions. It is important that the High School Coaches must be
mature in their understanding of leadership responsibility. They must
know not to socialize with the kids, as " to become familiar will
breed contempt, and cause the loss of the mutual respect necessary to
lead." They must know that they CAN NEVER tolerate any DRUG, TOBACCO,
or ALCOHOL USE OR POSSESSION on the squad…or risk losing the program
and going to jail for "contributing to the delinquency of minors."
on the other hand, as an employer. There is no better resume' builder
for a young person than to say that you had the self- discipline to organize,
manage, and lead a youth athletic team. Any employer should know that
this task is as difficult as starting a business and that you can lead,
solve problems and take responsibility. WOW! That's better than a 4.0
G.P.A.
Determine the best time of day for your practice times. The best time to get kids, is immediately after school as many will have jobs and will be able to work around their schedule. You, of course, must take the coaches work schedule into account and the coaches may not be available until after 5 P.M. What nights do the coaches have their own practice? Tuesdays and Thursdays ? Then have your high school practice on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Each team will have to work out the circumstances that they find, the best that they can. When programs become "serious," they usually find a way to move practice to five days per week.
Finding high school students willing to learn the game has been easy since rugby matches started to appear on U.S. television about 15 years ago. The students have seen rugby and think it looks like fun to play. You may even be blessed with a foreign exchange student who has played the game. There may even be father and mother who played in college.
At the first meeting, get student names, phone numbers, E-mail addresses, street address, year in school, and any rugby experience. Tell them when and where to meet for practice. You should contact your LAU President with the news of your new club and ask for support with scheduling and referees. Often youth (under-19) scheduling is done by a central authority in the union. If a new league is being formed, you will have to work out the schedule with the other coaches until the rugby union has been organized to schedule your matches. Back to the Top
B) Uniform purchase issues
Another area of difficulty, is with the need to purchase a set of uniform
shirts. You are not a team until you can take the field in uniform. It
is very difficult to buy a team set, in the sizes and colors, off the
shelf from any of the U.S. rugby supply companies. Further, you don't
really know that you have a team until they go on the field for the first
match. Some one will have to purchase the first set of shirts on speculation.
This could be the job the Local Area Rugby Union, as the more clubs that
exist, the more union dues are collected. To date, I am sure that no LAU
has ever budgeted for a set of shirts to furnish a new club… to be
recovered by dues from that club. With out that support, you will either
front the cost of the shirts and run the risk, or find an angel/sponsor
for the uniform shirts. The shirts will last about three years and should
initially be kept as a team set, until you can afford to buy extras. The
kids will want to wear them to school on game day…let them. This
is great advertising for your club and you won't lose shirts this way
because you will know who has each shirt. For other uniform items, the
kids should purchase their own shorts, socks and shoes. I always included
the shorts, socks, a special club T- shirt, and the CIPP fee in the club
dues structure, and issued these items when the dues were paid. (This
helps get the CIPP forms returned and the dues money paid.) The CIPP forms
are a lot of work for the coach if filled out individually for the "union
information" that the kids have no way of understanding. I suggest
filling out one form as master copy and photocopy both sides for distribution
to the kids to get permission signatures, and personal data completed.
When these forms are returned to you , again photocopy a set for your
records and submit the original signatures to USA Rugby . This is a great
time saver. Back to the Top
C) Student athlete issues
Go to the school board and ask for the state athletic association publication
of student athlete eligibility. You will get a few athletes who compete
in other sports and YOU must protect their eligibility in those sports
if your program is to avoid a crisis of major proportion. Know the school
rules on attendance, grades, behavior, and club membership eligibility.
Rugby Union eligibility will usually vary some from the school and you
may make some exceptions in school age and grade requirements. Indiana,
varsity athletes must maintain a passing average in order to compete.
I have successfully made an exception to this standard, requiring all
C's or better in order to play for the "A side" rugby team.
The result has been that some athletes, by being included in the practice
and matches, were encouraged enough to want to play "A side"
to bring their grades to a higher lever. The love of rugby will have a
positive effect on any life, and a coach can use that to transfer the
interest into the classroom. This point has not been lost on the Teachers/Sponsors.
If a student is suspended from the school, you suspend them from rugby
too. Support the schools system if you ever hope for a reciprocal relationship.
Back to the Top
D) Budget issues
The dues structure varies widely from club to club. $100 per player will
cover Union Dues, Referee fees, and basic uniform needs. Field paint,
rental, training gear, goal posts, pads, flags, and a touch line safety
barrier system, must all be planned for but can be shared by teams and
the cost can spread over several years. Plan your own budget. (See Appendix
, "The Budget Work Sheet") In the Wisconsin Rugby Union, the
high school coaches are paid out of the player dues. Their dues may be
$250 Plus per student per season. I know that Wisconsin was able to find
a lot of rugby coaches using this approach initially. However, I see a
drawback in the fact that a high fee means that only the more affluent
schools will be served… and that will limit rugby's growth later.
Second, Once you start a 'paid coach' program, you aren't likely to find anymore volunteers. I believe, that a scholarship or fellowship approach to university student rugby players may work better. (See Section V."Advance the Program)
Another area where funding may be helpful is in attracting a club teacher/sponsor in your target high school. Penn High School, Elkhart, Indiana is planning to pay $1,500 per semester to the club teacher/sponsor for conducting after school study hall and to tutor the rugby club members. Penn holds practice, while keeping them at the school until practice time. This idea has great merit, as it is necessary to have a teacher to have an "official school club" and the extra money would attract a teacher and reward them for being involved. Further, this plan will win major points with all of the club parents. Back to the Top
E) Growth Issues
If you are starting a boy's high school team, start planting the seeds
for a girl's team (and vice versa) as soon as your team is rooted. Look
to locals clubs for coaching support, but don't be afraid of holding combined
boys and girls practices. I have discovered a lot of benefits for expanding
the program as a single club effort. The parents of the girls are by far
more aggressively supportive or you club efforts. The boys will encourage
the girls and will behave better in practice, as they don't want to appear
foolish in front of the girls. Further, you double the number of parents,
double the teacher sponsors, double your clout in school politics without
anywhere close to double the expense or effort. This growth approach has
a great return on your on your time invested. Back to the
Top
There are four different high school political structures that I am aware of: A) The private school, B) Public schools with a student club program administered by teachers sponsors and the principal or a vice principal C)Public schools with a club program determined by the school board. D)Public Schools with NO club program allowed. Each of these are somewhat different in some important way. Analyze your target school in advance or simply go to the target high school and ask to see the assistant principle in charge of club activities. When you meet with this person, they will tell you what system that the school employs. Sometimes, The principal will refer you to the athletic director to seek his input. For the most part, the AD visit will be a waste of your time. You really have nothing but problems for him, as far as he is concerned. The are rare exceptions, but 90% of the time, the last thing a school's established athletic team coaches want is another team to dilute the "rare athletic talent," Or even "distract" their current crop of athletes, or even add another to his current management, budget and head aches. He still remembers what when soccer came in the door. Back to the Top
A) Private schools
In order to start a rugby club at a private school, you need the support
of the parents. The President or Head Master will order the athletic department
to add rugby as a sport if he sees that " those who pay him"
are serious about a rugby program. This is no harder than finding some
parents of current or future students. Back to the Top
B) Public schools
Most public schools will have a student club program administered by the
Principal and or Assistant Principal with Teacher Sponsors. This is by
far the most common situation that I have encountered. You should ask
for an appointment with person in charge of Club activities. When you
meet, you should "tell them that you are going to start a rugby club
at the school and need to know the routine for starting student clubs.
You will need a room to meet the interested students, after school and
a public address announcement for the meeting time and location."
(SEE SAMPLE LETTERS IN APPENDIX 1a and 5) Sometimes, the Assistant principal
will want to run the idea by the Principal or even the athletic director.
The Principal of the school is someone that you should take the time to
meet as soon as the club is formed, to notify him or her of your activities
and your credentials for coaching. (a copy of any coaching certification
should be provided for his file) this meeting allows you a wonderful opportunity
to explain the virtues of a rugby education and how a rugby club will
reach students how should be involved athletic teams but have been turned
away by the formal structure in the athletic department. If he is intellectually
honest with you, he will acknowledge that many students do not participate
in sports and that this is a serious concern of the administration. Rugby
is an answer to help with this universal problem! Back
to the Top
1) The Arguments against having a rugby program.
YOU WILL BE TOLD THAT:
A) "No one is interested in another sport in
our school."
B) "There are no fields available for your practice matches."
C) "I remember rugby players from my university days, they were rowdy
and heavy drinkers"
D) "Rugby is a very dangerous sport and school can't accept the liability."
E) "Rugby isn't a sport in the state high school athletic association
and therefore the school isn't 'allowed' to have a rugby team."
DON'T LET THIS STOP YOU!
2) The answers to the arguments: KNOW THE ANSWERS before the meeting.
ANSWERS:
A) "If no one is interested, we will know this
at the call out meeting." ( I have never had less than 22 kids show
up at the first call out… and then they will bring out others. In
the first season you want to have 20 to 25 kids at the tournament. This
is a solid start for a rugby program.)
B) "If you don't have a field for our practice,
the local parks department is always willing to find space for youth sports
activities." (In fact, field space will be one of the greater challenges
as soccer and lacrosse have captured every available field in some parts
of the country. Be creative, check with local colleges and universities
especially if they have a rugby club. They should be delighted to help
with youth programs. The rugby clubs, not necessarily the university administration.
Try to work out a "youth sponsorship" relationship with the
local clubs as that status will help them gain access to fields for you
and retain access for them at the same time.)
C) "Yes, that was probably a long time ago
when there were no coaches for the college clubs, and with out supervision,
college students can be rather rowdy, don't you agree? Today, all of the
Division I college teams now have coaches and many of the smaller college
teams do as well."
D) "Liability is not an issue. USA Rugby Union
provides liability insurance with club registration. (Call USA Rugby for
a copy of the policy and details about 'additional insured,' to cover
the school and parks department.)"
E) "The State Athletic Association, as you
know, has never started a new sport actually, many of the current high
school sports pre date the athletic association by many years, while soccer,
volleyball, Lacrosse, and other have all started as local clubs."
(Call your State athletic association and ask them what is the process
in your state. In Indiana, and all other states that I am ware of , the
state athletic association is an organization of high school principles,
and when enough of those principles vote to accept a new sport in the
pool of " association sponsored sports," the association starts
to look into the management of the tournament and eligibility for that
sport. In other words, the sports start as a "club" organization
in the school or local community first. In Indiana, there are 385 member
schools in the IHSAA, and the association policy is to consider a new
sport when there are 100 principles interested.) Back to
the Top
3) Coach training and certification
Just a final note on knowing the answers. In 1989, I often heard school
principals say that "all their coaches were teachers under contract
to school corporation." This of course is the ideal for the school
as it lets them screen and hold accountable all their athletic coaches.
However, with the growth and strength of the teacher's unions, teachers
no longer are mandated to coach or take on extra curricular responsibilities.
In most parts of the United States, there would be few athletic programs
in the schools if they were only coached by teachers. ON the other hand,
YOU must take this as a warning that ALL your coaches MUST get their Coaching
Certification as soon as possible, If you expect to have continued access
to the kids for rugby, you should show that you have had training to conduct
the activity, Check the web site: www.usarugby.org for the coaching certification
programs schedule, NOW!
Further, the National Federation of State High School Association (NFSHSA) has selected the American Coaching Effectiveness Program (ACEP) as the vehicle to provide consistent coaching training that provides a solution to ease the concerns of parents, legislators, and administrators and to address the needs of interscholastic coaches. This course is called the: "National Federation Interscholastic Coaches Educational Program (NFICEP) and there are several instructors in many communities across every state that participates. (see page 20) Indiana requires this course for all non-faculty coaches. As this is the recognized system you need to get this training as soon as possible in order to remove this barrier to mainstream acceptance. Additional information may be obtained through your state high school athletic association office. Back to the Top
C) School Board approval
The third type of school club structure is one that requires the school
board to screen all student clubs, In this case, go to see the Superintendent
and let him know what you are doing, Ask if there are any forms for this
purpose and if you should plan a formal presentation to the board, Write
a letter to Superintendent detailing your meeting and follow up on his
recommendations, It will help to identify, Student, teacher, and parent
support for your plan, and bring these people or these details to the
board meeting. (Note: If you are unable to gain a positive result from
these efforts, See: Section IX, "Evansville Soccer.") Back
to the Top
D) No School Clubs Allowed
The fourth school structure that you may encounter is a school system
that allows no student clubs what so ever. This attitude actually exists
at Highland High School, in Salt Lake City, with the most outstanding
high school rugby program in the United States. The Rugby Club, calls
itself "Highland High," and has students from that school, But
no official affiliation. It is a community based club and will remain
so until the Athletic Department chooses to adopt rugby in to the Varsity
programs. As a means of explanation, this very rare circumstance exists
because of the "Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual (GLB) Liberation" and
"Satanic," or even "Christian," club efforts to seek
"equal rights" access to the student population of certain public
schools. The schools often "dump" all club activities in order
to avoid the negative publicity, boycotts and lawsuits. The answer is
here, is that you start a community club, outside the school, Contact
USA Rugby and ask for the "Rugby Club Start up Kit.") Back
to the Top
Now that you have your club established, you must continue to improve relations with the school principal, assistant principal in charge of club activities, the superintendent, the local sports media, and the business community. Your players' parents will be a great asset in this.
A) Be an "official" club
Just because the school allowed you to meet with the students and organize
a club doesn't mean that you are an "official club." Check the
School's literature and ask the principal for the list requirements for
"full" affiliation as a school club, There will be some standard
according to the rules of the school district for extra curricular activities.
There are restrictions involved. It is more difficult to accomplish. You
must recruit a "teacher sponsor." The football coach and athletic
will usually fight you every step of the way. The book store manager,
or some other school employee, may be required to receive all moneys raised
and disburse them for the clubs benefit from you voucher requests. This
need not be the only funding method, However, as I recommend the parents
and local fans form a supporters organization that goes beyond the school's
activities. A "Touch Line Club" (SEE APPENDIX 3, for detailed
purpose of TLC) should be focused on all the rugby played in the community
and therefore will not come under any one school's jurisdiction. The "TLC"
can develop and sponsor elementary rugby, organize trips to see the local
Men's and Women's club teams play or Organize a bus trip to see an "Eagles
Match" etc… Support the local College Clubs with attendance
and scholarships for players and coaches. Back to the Top
B) Benefits vs. Obligations
The school may have other requirements as well. I believe that the benefits
far outweigh the trouble. You may obtain school buses for away trips.
You may meet during the school day as other clubs. You may use school
grounds for practice and matches. Even use the football stadium for your
rugby matches if you can justify the expense with a paid gate, or sponsored
event. The school will require an annual list of student club members
to verify that they are all currently students in the High School. In
Indiana, and probably most other states, the law allows for any "home
schooled" student in the school district to participate in any extra
curricular activity that is offered by the school. This is not publicized
and very little known by home schoolers. The other eligibility rules will
be set by the rugby union. High school students should not play with Adult
Clubs. Playing with college or adult clubs may make them not eligible
for high school play and could raise "liability issues" if a
player is injured. Check the current Law Book on High school eligibility.
Back to the Top
C) Athletic Directors and Football Coaches
Don't waste time trying to work with the athletic director or unfriendly
football coaches. They normally will see rugby as a threat to their empire…taking
good athletes away from the current sport offerings and challenging them
for financial support. You may be fortunate enough to find one of the
few intelligent football coaches who will recognize his opportunity to
develop his football team by using rugby as a "Off Season Training
Tool." Normally football coaches will remain hostile because there
is the obvious threat that the kids will find something that is fun to
play because they get to make decisions on the field and they get to carry
the ball too. As I see it, this will not be a long term problem. Back
to the Top
D) Start another team for girls (boys) next
Encourage a girls (boys) club to organize. Usually the girl friends of
the boys team, have attended games and will already have become fans,
They will be ready to organize in the second or third year after the boys
started. We have already discussed the advantages in another section of
the paper. Back to the Top
A) Player Development, "Age Grade
Rugby."
Your High School program is working well now. It is time to work on a
player development system in the middle and elementary schools. Where
will you find coaches and referees? One way to extend your program down,
is to use your own team to help coach the "age-grade rugby"
non-contact system in a brief summer league. You may also use soccer's
trick of registering kids for the program, then going to the parents with
a plea for more coaches to meet the demand. It worked for soccer. You
will have to hold a "rush up" training clinic for those who
bite…then call USA Rugby to plan a formal "Foundation"
coaching clinic in your area. Try to recruit the school PE teachers if
you can. They are all looking for new spring sport activities that will
interest the kids. PE teachers tell me that softball bores the kids after
three weeks. They are looking for rugby, but they don't know it yet. Back
to the Top
B) College Rugby Clubs for coaches and referees
For the long term, we must strengthen the link to the college rugby clubs.
The first step is to install a quality coach in the local college program.
For the long term, we must strengthen the link to the college rugby clubs.
The first step is to install a quality coach in the local college program.
Then, you will soon find a source of quality rugby players that can be
turned on to coaching and refereeing in your community. Back
to the Top
C) Teaching the game at the "teaching" universities
I believe the "VITAL LINK" between the national goal of main
stream sport with 500,000 plus participants, and the current rugby club
structure of the USARFU, is the college rugby network. Yes, the largest
number of rugby players are currently in college, but this group receives
the least attention for their union dues. If rugby is to grow in this
country, we must follow the 'American method' for building a sport. The
"English "club" model' won't have any impact in this country
for another 50 to a 100 years. In the United States, all sports train
their coaches and referees and administrators as professionals, in the
university system. The SERIOUS SPORTS in this country, grow both directions
from the UNIVERSITIES. Athletes who make the cut, go to the professional
leagues. Physical Education Majors, are employed as managers, coaches,
trainer and referees in the parks programs and school sports programs.
This is the "institutional" path that rugby must follow in order
to grow rapidly. Fortunately, rugby is already deeply rooted in all of
the major teaching universities of the nation. For many years, both men's
and women's rugby have been rated the most popular recreational sport
in the nation's universities. Back to the Top
How does one go about penetrating the "golden ghetto," of teaching
universities? In 1991, the year after establishing the pilot high school
program in the Midwest, I discovered that my own college club, Indiana
University, was in dire straits. Even though the high school programs
were sending players to college, many were not continuing with rugby.
1) In high school the players had organized practices with an adult coach.(Most
University Recreational Club Sports Programs want the under graduates
to run the programs.) 2) The university rugby culture was a "drinking
club" with a rugby excuse. (Large schools have lots of ways to waste
a student's time and serious athletes will find a serious activity.3)
the alumni didn't see the program as serious and therefore would not support
it with serious money. 4) The club had actually been "kicked off
campus" due to a lack of organization. (No officer reported the budget
or season schedule to the office of Rec. Sports, and the club was determined
to be disbanded by RCS.) Back to the Top
The solution: An emergency meeting of the alumni. A coach was appointed and his direct expenses were funded by alumni members. A new Club Constitution was written that gave the coach authority over all matters in practice, eligibility, and selection of the team. A committee of five was established to oversee the coach's activities. (Three alumni (paying the expense), one university staff person, the rugby club president.) The alumni, then searched for the very best rugby coach that could be found who would be interested in pursuing an advanced degree through a fellowship funded by alumni members through the "Rugby Education Academy, Inc." This Non Profit Corporation was put together in order to channel funds quickly to the needs without going through the committee and approval process of the university departments. The club went through a cultural change, but became competitive in the first season under the new structure. The team qualified for the Division I, Sweet Sixteen in the third year of the new program, the final four in the fourth year, and continues to be on of the "Elite Eight" consistently challenging for the national championship. The next goal is to build an "endowment" the coaching program that will include a "professor of rugby". To coach, and teach rugby coaching and refereeing, and administration in the classroom for college credit.
In this state, Indiana University is the largest university system with eight campuses. This is the best target system in this state to place the best professional coaching available and gain the greatest state wide influence for advancing the game. Work with the alumni of the rugby club to get this as a goal, accomplished. If you are wanting to start a smaller College club in your area, It may occur naturally. There will be a growth of new clubs shortly after your high school scholars graduate from your program. High school graduates who have the combination of a love of rugby and the spirit of and entrepreneur are quite common. They will start the club when they discover their chosen college is without a rugby presence. Go to the university foundation office and find out what is necessary to establish and endowment fund for the rugby club. It may take several years just to set up the fund with terms that will preserve it just for rugby. Insist on this in writing and read the fine print carefully, before you sign off and make the initial contributions. Rugby will not be the foundation's priority for many years to come.
Once this system is in place, consider duplicating the system of coaching fellowships at each of the universities campuses. Each coaching fellow, while working on an advanced degree, would have the responsibility of starting and coaching the campus club. Extend this program into the local high schools with older college players as coaches. Repeat the system as before. Back to the Top
VI) Finance the Program
A) Raising money from your Player's Families
How do you raise money? The first way to finance the program is from dues
from the students. This will vary according to your first year budget
and your ambition. I would warn you that in the first year, rugby won't
be the highest priority for most of your students so keep the budget and
the dues in a modest range.
Start a "Touch Line Club," A supporters club made up of alumni, parents, grandparents, old ruggers living in the area, friends of players, local business, etc. Charge dues, and find a slogan to print on a yard poster to sell to members: "We Support Wildcat Rugby," "RUGBY FOR SERIOUS FUN!" "This is a SOUTH rugby Family!" I like any fund raising project that ties back to the activity. Tournaments can raise a lot money if they are done well. Buy a block of tickets to an Eagles Match, or the national Collegiate Championship, at a deep discount from the promoter, and then sell the tickets with a bus trip to your fan club in a package trip to the match. (Trips are great for bonding people together for a cause) Back to the Top
B) Raising money working for others as a club
If there is a major sporting event held in your area, it is always possible
to work as group at concessions, or selling programs, to make money for
your club. Publications are a lot of work but can be great fund raisers.
Penn High School Rugby Club, in Elkhart, Indiana, Sells advertising in
a program that nets over $20,000 profit annually. This covers all their
expenses and plane trip to the National High School Tournament. Be creative
and share your ideas with others who are trying to solve the same problems.
Back to the Top
VII) Public Relations for the Program
The public relations activities are often
taken for granted. Yet, with a little knowledge of the PR system existing
in every community, you can build a powerful public presence with very
little effort. A "public" is understood to be a "group"
of people with similar needs or interests that in turn, may be influenced
by what you are doing. Know who your publics are: A) The students that
you are coaching. B) The other students at the school. C) The high school
staff, the custodians and bus drivers, your teacher sponsor, the principal,
the superintendent, the school board. D) The parents and family members.
E) The other rugby clubs in your area: college clubs, Community clubs,
the LAU. F) The greater community where your club members live. The parks
department, YMCA/YWCA, the Boys/Girls Clubs and of course the physical
education teachers at all education levels.
Consider each of these groups for what they may need from you in the way
of information, not what they can do for you. Look for the best way to
communicate with their group and serve their information needs. Back
to the Top
A) The students on your team
The students need recognition and identification for their accomplishments.
If your program is "varsity"…Matt Godek supplies a Brass
"varsity rugby" pin in the shape of a rugby ball. If your program
is a club, you may purchase a six inch chenille shield, in White with
Black letters, that says "Rugby 1st XV" For display on system
of chevrons for each year of service. Custom patches may be ordered tournaments
and special accomplishments: State Champions, High School All American,
All State Team, etc…Back to the Top
B) The other students at the school
The students who are not playing rugby at the schools, have friends who
may be curious about your activities. They will want to attend matches
and support your team any way they can. Some day, many of them will want
to join the club, or they have little brothers and sisters who will be
a part of your program. Encourage their interest by where you practice
and where and when you play your matches. Have a "fan appreciation
day" home match with free food. Back to the Top
C) The high school staff
These folks don't want you to make their jobs more difficult by trashing
the grounds, buses, locker rooms, and halls. Further, special recognition
when a teacher, bus driver, or custodian has gone to special effort for
your team, must be recognized in writing. After forcing the issue of the
use of school grounds through the superintendents office that placed the
teacher sponsor in a political vice, I wrote a "special letter of
commendation" to the teacher. (See Appendix 2 and 2a) All students
and parents signed the letter and copies were sent with cover letters
to the school principal and superintendent with the request that the commendation
be added to the teacher's personnel file. You simply can't be all trouble
if you expect to win support. Back to the Top
D) Parents and family members
These people just want to be informed about your activities and plans.
Printed schedules, and programs on "how to be a rugby spectator,"
are very important. Have at least two meetings with the parents during
the season, and have them help you plan the awards banquet at the end
of the season. Parents prefer that a school bus is used for team transportation.
Back to the Top
E) Other rugby clubs in your LAU
Other clubs in your area want to know your activities as they may encourage
your graduates to join their ranks by use of special programs and scholarships.
Much of the support for your rugby program will come from your local rugby
union. The training of referees and coaches is sponsored by the union
and the clubs will sponsor many of the youth programs that provide the
competition for your youth program. You must attend the union's "Youth
Club' meetings for the collective understanding of organization issues
in your area. Let everyone else know what ideas have worked for you, and
what are your current obstacles for youth rugby advancement. Your program
may have an answer that works for someone else. Back to
the Top
F) The community where the club members live
The public relations to the general community takes a media campaign to
reach, but in the long run will make your work easier as more people will
know about your efforts. Find a parent who will take pictures of your
team. Individual photographs, team shots and action shots as well. Develop
an archive for current and future needs. Scan the pictures into a CD ROM.
This is a great way to preserve the history and copies can be used as
fund raiser. Send press releases in the local newspapers, but only when
the information is of interest to the general community: i.e..the significant
accomplishment of a student athlete who plays rugby on your team…National
Merit Scholar Finalist, All State Team Selection, All American Team Selection,
perfect score on the SAT, your team finishes season very well…as
State Champion, or Runner Up. Etc. ALWAYS INCLUDE A PHOTOGRAPH, with your
information, Attach a printed or typed explanation with scotch tape to
the back of each picture. Provide a Typed Story with all the details.
Ask someone for the proper format for a press release and follow the directions
carefully (i.e.. "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE," at the top of the
first page, and "-30-" at the end of the information being release
for publication). Sometimes a letter to all the people in a certain group
about something for their interest i.e.:a clinic on "non-contact
rugby" to physical education teachers. Set up a e-mail address and
contact lists to all special interest groups.
If your club should qualify for the regional or national tournament, invite the head football coach, the athletic director and the principal to go at your club's expense. Even if the can't go, you will improve your relationship in the Athletic Department and the school.
The graduates of your program will move on, but after three or four years you should try to hold a season finale with an Old Boys and Old Girls match. Plan this far enough in advance for families to attend a cook out and/or a dance. In time you may make it a large part of the "graduation week" activities. This helps communities keep the ties to the past and it will help with fund raising for scholarships or a community club house and grounds when you need to grow your program.
Send your young players to the select side camps…those who have a chance of making the squad, and those who will learn from being exposed to a higher level of expectation, and national coaches. Block this time in your schedule…it is important in the development of your club's understanding of the game. Coaches should go as well…you will learn new drills and methods of training.
Whenever possible, bring the high school match into your club grounds for a 'curtain opener' to your home matches. This is great way to get the students to see the pace, talent and speed of the big guys and will help develop a local fan support base for your club. A word of caution, make sure the sidelines are alcohol free and the kids parents won't leave wondering what has my kid gotten into now. CLEAN IT UP FIRST! IF YOUR CLUB HASN'T CHANGED IT'S CULTURE YET, DON'T INVITE THE KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS.
A special note about the media…take the trouble to meet sports writers in your area and find out how their paper covers sports like rugby. Develop other ways to gain general public support and knowledge of your work, by going on talk radio shows, etc…. This will pay off later when grounds use issues surface, Today, adult clubs are finding themselves kicked off grounds by youth soccer programs, because they didn't start youth programs to counter the demand of the soccer folks. Don't look now but Lacrosse and even ultimate frisbee are coming on to demand access to your parks and school grounds. A youth program is the only way to hang on to what has been yours for many years. Develop public support for the youth work now. Finally, use current technology to help you do your communications work. Establish a club e-mail address is easy, and a website for club information. It is easy to set up "contact lists" to all special interest groups. Back to the Top
"Yes, Virginia, there are political agendas in the school sports programs too." Learn the power structure of your school systems. Don't be afraid of going up the chain of command when you feel that you are making no reasonable progress at your current level of communication.
A) The chain of command
But ALWAYS follow the chain of command. Start with the Principal. Then
make an appointment with the Superintendent. Even if you have no initial
problems in the start up at the school, you should go there after you
have started your club effort at the High School because you can the discuss
the "virtues of a rugby education," the number of kids that
are interested, their comments, and your concerns. Back
to the Top
B) Put it in writing and copy others
Document every meeting in a letter or memo of understanding, and mail
it to the person you met with a thank you for their help. You may copy
the letter to all others that need to know as soon as possible. Hold parent
meetings. Meetings with the Superintendent will open doors of all of the
schools in the school district if your program becomes popular with the
students. Be prepared to go to the media with your case, once you have
established media rapport by getting to know the journalists in your area.
Get on local talk shows and tell your side of the issue. (Don't libel
yourself…be careful to always say just what you can prove with a
witness, a video, or a document. Always have witness statements in writing,
signed with a witness.) Back to the Top
C) Look for institutional literature.
Whenever you are in the school, Look for the literature that is readily
available to pick up. You will learn about School Board Policy on "Student
Harassment" by school staff. Ask for a "Student Guide,"
here you will find the legal tools necessary to go to jugular vain when
the administration is trying to put heat on your kids and the rugby program.
(SEE the example in Appendix 4 "Student Harassment code from student
guide.") When the athletic director, principal, football coach, etc.,
is systemically blocking your efforts and "harassing" the students
who want to participate in the rugby program, start with a parent meeting
and discuss using a "petition" to gain the persons attention.
Circulate the petition throughout the community for signatures. When a
"tyrant" is active, he will use this tactic against many other
as well. Deliver a photo copy of the petition to the next higher authority.
Keep the original petition in a safe place in order to prove that you
have addressed the problem directly and at the next level of command.
Finally, the issue may go before the school board, the voting public,
and even the local courts system. (see Appendix 4.a Sample "petition
to seek redress of Grievances.") Back to the Top
D) The last resort, file a lawsuit
As you are aware, soccer is on a growth curve of some 20+ years ahead
of rugby in this country. There was a great deal of resistance to soccer
movement but soccer had the advantage of the appearance of "safety"
to the "Soccer moms," and therefore the sport could be introduced
effectively in youth leagues at age 4-5 and up. In 1977, I became frustrated
with the slow growth of rugby and decided to learn first hand what soccer
was doing. I coached youth soccer. I purchased a Professional soccer franchise,
in the old American Soccer League, found investors, hired a coach, contracted
players, and ran the franchise for three years. Eventually my investors
bought me out, and the franchise failed after two more seasons.
I know something about professional sports and something about soccer as well, there were lots of high school kids wanting to start clubs without coaches or school recognition, One pertinent story that I heard at the time was from Evansville, Indiana. The soccer programs had started in the younger ages, and grown up to the pre high school ages. Over 800 participants in the league, and no high school teams to move up to. The local Coke Bottling Company, who's owner had several children playing soccer, offered to provide land and uniforms for a high school league. The Soccer League President, went to the "schools Athletic Director" who took the issue to the school board, The board's reply was that there were already enough sports in the high schools of Evansville. The Soccer League President , who happened to be a local attorney, replied:"See you Boys in court!" The judge reviewed the educational opportunities for the students, the established student interest, and that there was no cost to the schools. The ruling was a order for the school board to add soccer not as a club sport but to the varsity programs. This ruling cost the Athletic Directors a great deal of money and they are still very bitter about it, ( I talked to an AD in Evansville last year) Varsity status, required boys and girls soccer, paid coaches, travel expense, etc… Had the case not gone to court and, a club sport program been formed, the cost wold have been carried by the parents, sponsors and kids until the Athletic Department could see an advantage to including the soccer program as varsity. The Evansville school board controlled eight high schools.
If you feel that you have no recourse but file a law suit, I recommend that you share your frustration with the USA rugby staff. They are a repository of information and contacts that should be able to help guide you to the next logical steps. Be sure to talk to the LAU President and the Territorial Youth Director.
Then find an attorney Old Boy, who will lead the Charge against the Status Quo "Wind Mill." (Re: Don Quixote) Back to the Top
X. Over View and odd thoughts about a high school program
A) Where to go for help
Don't feel overwhelmed. Many have already done this and you don't need
to be an expert in all areas at once to make this work. It is most important
that you are not afraid to make a mistake…you will learn from those
efforts. If you run into an unusual problem, call the USA Rugby Youth
Coordinator. All these people have knowledge of how similar problems were
solved. Call me. I love a new challenge. Back to the Top
B) Know why you want to start a youth rugby program.
In order to maintain focus, when the opposition tells you that you can't
do it, keep in mind why you want to take on the job of starting a youth
program. For me, when I started playing rugby at Indiana University at
the age of 20, in Spring 1963, I loved the game so much that I promised
myself that when I had a family I would make sure that my children would
be guaranteed a 'rugby education.' All five of my children have played
rugby. The girls in college and the boys in high school and college. My
youngest boy started at age 11 with the AAU Junior Olympics.
My greatest reward for my youth rugby work has been being able to see
the next generation take the field in high level competition and love
the game as I do. The sons and daughters, of my old team mates, not only
play better, and smarter than we did, but they are a delight to watch
develop. The Motto of The Rugby Education Academy is: "They shall
mount with the wings as Eagles," (Isaiah 40:31) is being fulfilled.
In fact the local program has already produced numerous U-19's and Collegiate
All Americans.Two National Team 7's EAGLES, and one National 15's EAGLE.
Your efforts will be rewarded as well.
I have one last rugby goal. To sit in a Hospitality Suite, cold adult beverage in hand, with 100,000 cheering rugby fans, in our national rugby stadium and see our Eagles defeat the All Blacks in a close contest. To me, this will mean the game will be one of the top three or four sports in the United States, as it is in the rest of the world. I believe that my dream is only about Twenty Five years away. You set your dream and get the job done in your corner of the country. I hope to meet you at the game. Back to the Top
C) JUST DO IT!
The national sports demographics are currently in a great State of flux.
Baseball and Softball participation has dropped by the millions over the
last few years. Basketball is now the largest participation sport but
has leveled off. Soccer is second, ahead of football which is declining
in participation. And Rugby, has finally made the charts in the top 50.
The next twenty five years will be awesome.
"Remember, it's a great spectator sport to challenge the status quo"!
Career bureaucrats, by their nature, are usually crippled by an "institutional mind set," and think in a comfort zone that is dictated by "the book" and "how things have always been done," until they are forced to consider ideas "out side the box," (the way things are). They will scurry about like cockroaches when YOU turn on the lights with a new idea of how to do things better. Back to the Top
Philip Bryant started playing rugby at Indiana University in January 1963, shortly after the club formed. He played with the club until he was drafted for the Vietnam War in February 1966, but returned to play matches for Indiana after Army Basic Training in April. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Infantry, trained as a ranger, and served as a tactical officer in the Infantry Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, Georgia. He then was ordered to Vietnam, February 8th 1968 with the 25th Infantry Division. He arrived during the "Famous Tet Offensive" and was assigned to command the 2nd Platoon, "B" Company, 3/22 infantry, unit later immortalized in the movie "Platoon." Oliver Stone, the movie's creator, had served with the 2nd Platoon until late January 1968. 1LT Bryant, was wounded twice on his tour in Viet Nam, and received two Purple Hearts, The Silver Star, the Combat Infantry Badge, Ranger Tab and three campaign stars. While, recuperating in Fitzsimmons Army Hospital, in Aurora Colorado, he started the American Eagles RFC in 1968. (Some think this was the first U.S. Military rugby club outside the academies.) In 1969, in his last tour of active military duty, serving as an advisor to a reserve battalion stationed at Fort Carson, he started the Colorado Springs Grizzlies RFC, still active to this day. His last match with the Grizzlies, was in the Championship Match of the 2nd Aspen Ruggerfest. The Grizzlies, in their first season to 2nd place to San Francisco RFC, by a score of 10-7. In this match, Phil was doubled "CPT Crunch," by fans watching the match. He was Captain in the Infantry, and his hard tackling slowed the San Francisco attack to the point of bringing a win into reach by the Grizzlies. On returning to Indiana, He joined the Indy Reds RFC, in February 1970. He has served several terms as a union officer in the MWRFU, and organized the first referee society in the Mid West, the "Tri-State Rugby Referee Society." The need was so great for trained referees, that he conducted several traveling seminars to jump start the Mid West RRS. In 1976, he organized a brief high school rugby experiment, with four high school "Key Clubs," in Indianapolis. After two weeks of practice, a "fund raising' tournament was held at John Marshall High School, in the football stadium, under lights, where the four teams played a single elimination competition. In 1977, he started work on the Indy Dare Devils, A Indianapolis franchise in the American Soccer League, and served as an owner and General Manager of the operation until his buyout in 1980. In 1989, he was asked to serve as the Youth Director for the Mid West RFU and spear head a high school development effort, The "model" program was set in Indianapolis. With the first competition of four clubs in the spring of 1990. In addition, he has found and manage a wide range of businesses: data processing, medical doctors office, sporting goods wholesale/retail, life and health insurance, stock brokerage, and finance companies. The Rugby Education Academy, an Indiana Non-Profit, dedicated to advancing the playing, coaching and referee education and applying business methods to advancement of the game. He earned a BS Degree in Secondary Education from Indiana University, 1970. An MBA from the University of Indianapolis, 1989. Back to the Top
Phillip C. Bryant
The Rugby Education Academy
9292 Harrodsburg Road
POB 50
Harrodsburg, Indiana 47434-0050
E-mail: bryantphil@hotmail.com
Work 812-824 3028
Fax 812 824 3233