According to Rugby Magazine (the journal of record for US Rugby) a recent National Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association survey reported that the number of US Rugby enthusiasts was 600,000. Further, youth and college rugby is growing rapidly making up over 50% of registered participation nationally with 750 High School and Youth teams and over 600 University teams.

Youth rugby with Play Rugby USA
Youth Rugby can be introduced in a non-contact form to children of any age. It’s great because all players get to run, catch, pass and score, regardless of their position, gender, size, shape or ability. This combined with the nature of the game itself and the fact that it is new and different, mean the KIDS LOVE RUGBY!

Flag Rugby is one example of non contact rugby, resembling an all inclusive and continuous team game of tag with a ball. This is Play Rugby’s chosen coaching vehicle for the game, which is easy to learn and (with appropriate training) easy to referee and coach. It encourages individual leadership and responsibility balanced with team work and communication. It is also very complementary to other sports; increasing generic athletic skills such as balance, coordination, agility, visual awareness, handling, decision making and of course core fitness.

Safety
In the United States, some associate rugby with aggression, as it looks like "a crazy game resembling football without padding." In fact, it is a game of strategy, decision making, finesse, agility and teamwork and if coached professionally has proven to be safer than many other contact sports (refer to study by Dr. Lyle J. Micheli, MD). Please also note, only Play Rugby’s older participants (14 years and up) are involved in our Youth Rugby Academies that play/coach the contact version of the game. They are professionally coached in a safe and enjoyable environment which prepares them well to go on to play High School and/or College rugby. All other Play Rugby programs are non-contact.

Basic skills

At Play Rugby we coach and explain basic techniques that with practice develop into skills. Such techniques and skills are very complementary to numerous other sports and include:

• Lateral passing under pressure
• Catching (passes and high ball)
• Carrying the ball securely
• Side stepping (evasion techniques)
• Effective lines of running (attack and defense)
• Individual and team defense from front, side, back
• Swerving
• Running technique
• Changing pace effectively
• Committing the defense
• Selling a dummy pass
• Picking up the ball on the run
• Scoring a ‘Try’

Check out some rugby instructional skill videos on the Play Rugby Club.