The Southeastern Rugby Club will be adding a flag rugby team to the spring 2014 S.P.O.R.T.S (*S*outheastern *P*rogram *O*f *R*ecreational *T*eam *S*ports) lineup for second, third and fourth grade boys and girls. This new opportunity for sports participation in Fishers may spark many questions for parents. As a parent, I was intrigued when I heard about this new spring sports option for my two boys. But what is rugby?
I grew up watching football with my dad. I learned enough about the sport for it to come in handy during college as I enjoyed playing Madden Football on the PlayStation with the guys in my dorm. A great skill for a single college girl…I am now the mother of two boys who play football. So why am I telling you about my football knowledge? Well I thought rugby was just like football but without padding or a helmet. I was wrong. If you have never been introduced to rugby or only have limited knowledge about the sport, you are in for a surprise.
Michelle Leroux, Executive Director of Rugby Indiana, explains it best: “Rugby is more like a cross between soccer, football and basketball. It is like football because you run with the ball in your hands, you pass the ball with your hands and you run across a goal line in order to score. But the flow of the game is more like soccer, constantly moving up and down the field, where possession changes often with very few stoppages. We pass the ball in rugby, but the passes are always backwards and with pressure, so players must have great ball handling skills like in basketball.” Michelle’s description made me want to learn more about the sport, so I watched several videos available at www.rugbyindiana.com. Everyone seems to be having so much fun on the videos. Why?
Rugby has a position for everyone. Curt Trout, Head Coach/Sponsor of the Fishers High School Rugby Club, described the diversity and inclusion inherent to the sport of rugby: “I’ve been coaching sports for 20 years and have seen every type of athlete fall in love with rugby! I’ve coached All State tennis players, swimmers, basketball players, football players and kids new to the sport. The game consists of 15 players on the field for each team, so there is more opportunity for everyone to play.” Michelle also mentioned the wide range of male and female athletes who play rugby. “There is a position for everyone who wants to play – large or thin, short or tall.” This sport is looking better and better. What about opportunities to play after high school?
John Harley, Youth Coach for Southeastern Rugby, highlighted the growth in rugby participation: “Since the 2016 Olympics will introduce rugby as an Olympic sport, the USA Eagles rugby team and colleges all over the country have started to give financial aid to players coming to play rugby. This is another opportunity to continue playing sports and get an education.”
Rugby is a game for all ages, but many players in our area aren’t exposed to the sport until they reach high school. Michael Barry, Southeastern Rugby President, shared, “Year after year, we get new players in high school that regret they did not try rugby sooner. With the addition of the middle school program two years ago and the new elementary school age flag rugby, young players can now develop and grow as players for years to come. I would love to have another player on the USA Rugby Youth National team, like Colin Snyder was in 2011.” Hmm…maybe it will be a Mucha?
The famous phrase, “Rugby is a beastly game played by gentlemen,” had me wondering about the values and safety of the sport. Nico Squadroni, Head High School Coach for Southeastern Rugby, helped alleviate my concerns: “The number one reason I hear that someone does not play rugby is because it is too ‘dangerous’. Rugby is safer than soccer, hockey, football and numerous other sports, per statistics.”
“Rugby laws are set to protect each player by reducing dangerous plays. We are all aware of the NFL movement to take out hits to the head, hitting defenseless players and overall unnecessary hits. Rugby is set up so these dangerous plays are not allowed, and players are actually kicked out for such tackles. Rugby also focuses strongly on proper and safe tackling. Once you have protected both the tackler and the tackled, the risk of injury in rugby (and other sports) is greatly decreased.”
The sport actually has a set of five core values: Teamwork, Discipline, Enjoyment, Respect and Sportsmanship. In the spirit of sportsmanship, rugby has a long running tradition of celebrating after each game with a social event for both teams, hosted by the home team. Michelle says these after-game celebrations are filled with good cheer and camaraderie. Watch more about rugby core values at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0jAbHXhRr8&feature=youtu.be.
Are you ready for some rugby? I know my kids are going to love trying this new flag sport offered in the spring. If you would like more information about rugby, email southeasternrugby@gmail.com. The coaches and staff are ready to answer your questions and welcome your children to the sport. Sign ups will be available in January 2014 on the S.P.O.R.T.S website at www.hsesports.org for second, third and fourth grade flag rugby; fifth/sixth, seventh/eighth and high school boys; and eighth through 12th girls teams.
