Dozens of girls and boys aged eight to fifteen, all in brightly colored team tee shirts, and all of them chasing, kicking, passing, catching and…scoring! Put away your Gameboys and your remote controls! This is "non-contact" rugby for kids, East Penn style. Kids learn basic rugby skills, increase fitness levels and (most of all) have lots of fun while doing so!
The East Penn Rugby Union’s non-contact, co-ed, U-15 rugby programs operate in June, July and early August. This time period was selected to fill the void between the end of Little League baseball and the beginning of Pop Warner football. The U-15 season culminates with a full-scale tournament involving all teams, and a family picnic.
The EPRU’s U-15 rugby program is based on the "non-contact" or two-hand-touch version of rugby developed and promoted by both USA Rugby and the International Rugby Board. The laws of the game are very simple, and are specially designed with player safety in mind. Seven to ten players per team on a 40 meter by 60 meter pitch. Scrums and lineouts are uncontested. No rucks. No tackling. Players have two steps (or two seconds) to pass the ball after being tagged. The referee is granted special discretion to increase the two-second rule for younger or less skilled players. In this way, players of different ages, sizes and skill levels can compete safely and successfully on the same field, at the same time.
Most teams in our region practice two afternoons or evenings per week, and schedule matches on Sunday afternoons.
Team entries in our 2003 program included: Ambler Dragons, Hatfield Hurricanes, Lansdale Lightning, Warrington Wolves and also an extremely successful U-15 organization in Wilmington, DE. In total, about 200 children participated in U-15 rugby during summer 2003.
Additional U-15 teams are planned for 2004. We are always looking for volunteers to help with starting new teams. A special start-up kit, including a very informative videotape, is available from USA Rugby. The start-up process is not difficult or overly time-consuming, and there is nothing more rewarding than providing kids with a terrific summer of rugby.
If you are interested in getting involved with U-15 rugby, please contact USA Rugby Youth Development Officer Jim Hall at (215) 641-2525 or halljamesr@yahoo.com
last revised: August 27, 2008,
send comments to updates@epru.org
11/15/08
- 11/16/08
USA Rugby Coaching Certification Courses (CDP) to be held in EPRU - Take the CDP Courses,Introducing Rugby and Developing Rugby Skills. All previous CAP accreditations (Level 1, 2, 3) expire August 31, 2008.
Contact: Sadie Thomas, USA Rugby Coach Development Officer, sthomas@usarugby.org, phone: 303-539-0300 ext. 111, details
Making Rugby Safer - Obtaining an Athletic Trainer - Have you read the EPRU's proactive safety practices "Making Rugby Safer"? If not, please take the time to do so. Do you have an ATC at your matches? Contact: 1027, details
08/25/08
Prizes for the Players and Coach of the Year - Nominate Your Choice Now - USA Rugby, WorldRugbyShop.com Want You to Nominate the Players and Coach of the Year for 2008
, details
08/15/08
- 08/31/09
CIPP Registration Opens August 15 for 2008-2009 Season - All coaches, players, referees, and club administrators must enroll prior to the start of the season to insure full coverage is in place. Contact: Kristin Richeimer, KRicheimer@usarugby.org, phone: 303-539-0300
08/04/08
Schuylkill River Hosts Youth Rugby Camp in West Philadelphia - August 4th saw the ground work laid for youth rugby coming to the city of Philadelphia. Contact: Denny Henderson, phillyyouthrugby@gmail.com
04/01/08
YOU Can Reach Thousands of Rugby Players !! - How? Advertise on the EPRU Website! Tournaments, Fundraisers, Businesses, Club Sponsors, Rugby Suppliers, etc. High hit volume and low prices.. , details
02/20/08
USA Rugby Membership System Information Update (CIPP) - IMPORTANT - Please read the latest information on CIPP enrollment and other membership items. Contact: Kristin Richeimer, kricheimer@usarugby.org, phone: 303-539-0300 x103
07/05/06
RUGBY SAFETY: Free Tool Kit on Concussions - The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has made available a valuable and free tool for all rugby coaches, players and parents. More than 300,000 people sustain sports and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries every year in this country., details
02/26/06
Injury Survey Report Validates Rugby Safety - HS Rugby Tends to Have Lower Injury Rates than Youth Football and Hockey, details
09/24/05
U.S. Rugby Football Foundation - Youth/High School Grants & HS Start-Up Kits Contact: Brian Vizard, Executive Director, USRFF, bvizard@usrugbyfoundation.com, phone: 619-233-0765, details
03/07/04
Enhancing Safety in Youth Rugby - In the past several years USA Rugby has devoted much of its effort to increasing youth rugby participation in this country. Grants from the International Rugby Board (IRB) have enabled USA Rugby to create promotional materials, hire a full-time Youth Manager, and host clinics and camps to demonstrate the game and how it is played safely at the youth level. These monies have also been used to establish clubs and leagues at high schools, YMCAs, boys and girls clubs, and local parks and recreation departments across the United States. USA Rugby now has 27 Youth Development Officers (YDOs) throughout the U.S., details
