My son wants to play what!!

Many parents are concerned when their child comes home wanting to play rugby.   It is viewed as American football without helmets or just a mass of colliding bodies with rules that nobody understands or no rules at all.   Admittedly,  it is not a sport for all.   However, there are those who love its unique combination of passing, kicking and running and its basketball-like flow of offense to defense and back again.   

Our major goal is safety.  I will not say there are no injuries.  They do happen.   These are young men playing a contact sport.  A study of high school rugby injuries funded by the US Rugby Foundation equated it to high school wrestling/football.  Admittedly not a medical professional,  I did provide information to this study.  One major area of concern listed in the study was concussions.  Most of this is brought on by football style tackles or putting the head down while going into contact.  We do strive to teach proper tackling techniques which are based on taking the man to the ground and not stopping his progress.  Rugby tackles require the tackler wrap their arms around an opponent.   Shoulder charges where a body slam is used to take down an opponent will result in a penalty as well tackling above the shoulders.       

We do strive do what we can.  There is a med kit at all practices.   Tape magically disappears as do the instant ice bags.   I buy 40+ mouth guards a year as somebody always forgets them at game time or practice.  I am always glad to dump out an unused container of injury ice at the end of the game.   If you have concerns,  please feel free to contact me.     

Coach Brock Ellwood