GOLDEN TRUTHS –The End in Mind

STUDENT OF THE GAMEEmbraces new ideas; yearns to learn;

deep understanding of the tactical history of the game and why it was and what it could be;Mental tracks developed for future decision

making given on-field pictures presented at the time; Can adapt to future scenarios, make decisions under pressure, and find creative

solutions.

L E A R N S

S O G

Places the team’s needs above own; Dependable; does not engage in behaviour that might cause division

among players or staff; leads by positively influencing teammates, making them better and more productive; empathizes with

teammates; cares about others; listens. Respects others and space: leaves meeting rooms, training venues, and other common areas

better than when s/he finds it.

E M B R A C E S

Te a m 1 s t

Attempts to do what’s right no matter who’s watching, even if the choice is unpopular or personally costly;

sees the big picture; sees her/himself as fluid, a work in progress; appropriate management of social media and e-devices; humor; admits wrongs, seeks solutions, and tries to control only what can be controlled. On the field

the athlete respects opponents, officials, rules of the game, & competitive spirit of the game of rugby.

G R O W S

E m o t i o n a l l y G ro u n d e d

A mind-set to always win the contact;gets back in play (BIP); work works;

loves to compete; profound desire to focus on and win the micro-contests in a match;

sportsmanship;playful; has fun on the field.

W O R K S

P h y s i c a l l y D o m i n a n t

Technically superior under pressure within changing environment; understands choices;

adapts; limits surprises; quicker to make decisions; can play multiple positions; multiple game-plans; finds a way to move ball up-field;

prevents attack from moving ball up-field.

G O E S F O R W A R D

S u p e r i o r S k i l l s

I n t h e e n d : “ Wo u l d w a n t t o b e s t u c k o n a d e s e r t e d i s l a n d w i t h t h i s p e r s o n ”EMBRACES, LEARNS, WORKS, ADAPTS, GROWS, GOES FORWARD

GOLDEN TRUTHS – The E nd i n M indWhat is a future World Cup Winning, Olympic Gold USA Eagle?

S.T.E.P.S.Student of the GameTeam FirstEmotionally GroundedPhysically DominantSuperior Skills

Drive development to the local level helping make improvements to team / club Daily Training Environments. Appropriate competition framework (time, travel, costs) at each biological age band. Regionalize talent identification to reduce travel costs where feasible (RCTs and USA Rugby Academy camps). Regional HP Camps for local area enhancements, should be outside of local peak competition window. Goal: increase quality reps in local DTEs.

L O C A L

OPPORTU N IT IES

End in mind: peak periodization at senior level is at the Olympics or Rugby World Cups (7s / XVs) historically late summer or early fall. Development pathways evolve to match this calendar peak.

P E A K

PER IOD IZAT IONEncourage multi-sport student-athletes through

youth and high school competitions, beginning with rugby in elementary school. All players all positions

through youth and up to high school play. Pre-puberty, for example, “Everyone learns and gets to kick.” Increasing the volume of athletes who have opportunities to perform at the High School (U18) and Stars and Stripes (U19) levels, with the first

major narrowing of the pipeline happening at U20s. Increase volume of athletes below full-

maturation (<=20 years old) who could one-day compete for the Eagles: avoid needle in the haystack

identification before full physical maturity.

A G E - A P P R O P R I A T E

D EV ELOPM EN T

National team age-grade identification to start after peak growth spurt, so 16 years old plus (RCTs after sophomore high school year). Avoid needle in the haystack ID before full physical maturity. Entry Points for talent identification needed at each level: • RCTs So / Jr -> HSAA Blue / Red U18• RCTs Sr -> Stars Stripes U19*• Stars Stripes & College 1st year (club U20) -> JAA U20• College 2nd Yr to Seniors -> CAA (~U23)*• JAA / CAA -> Selects (Falcons 7s)* • Selects (Falcons 7s) -> Eagles• *talent transfer athlete entry points

A T E A C H L E V E L

ID EN TRY POIN TS

GOLDEN TRUTHS – The E nd i n M indWhat needs to happen domestically to produce Eagles of the future?

?

Support scholastic model facilitating opportunities for high school athletes and parents to connect with college programs (via RCTs). Limit conflicts with academic calendar.

S U P P O R T

A C A D EM IC S

Consistent development pathway with annual schedule at

reasonable costs.

C O N S I S T E N T

SC H ED U LE

Internationally successful coaches and players of the future must be put in pressure competition situations domestically on a weekly basis through later stages of high school, college, club, and professional.

R O B U S T

C OM PETIT ION S

J u n i o r i n H i g h S c h o o l

Initial USAR HP talent entry point begins at

RCTs directly following Sophomore year (16+)

F a l l W i n t e r S p r i n g J u n J u l - A u g

F A L L   S P O R T

A C A D E M YB l o c k   T r a i n i n g

H S   R U G B Y

U N I V E R S I T Yf a l l   p r e p   s e a s o n

REGIONAL CAMPS

NAI 7s

LVI 7s

RCTS:Collegiate Showcase

REGIONAL CAMPS

REGIONALCAMPS

USA Rugby A l l -Ame r i c a n R oa dma p

© W i n t e r 2 0 1 8U S A R u g b y

NAT’LS

JAA U20TOURNAMENT

REGIONALCAMPS

STARS & STRIPESNA4 (U19)

JAACAMP

JAA U20QUALIFIERS

S e n i o r i n H i g h S c h o o l

Talent preparation at HSAA North American 4

Dec 26 to Jan 1

1 s t Ye a r C o l l e g e

Talent verification at Stars Stripes NA-4

Dec 26 to Jan 1

W I N T E R   S P O R T

A C A D E M YB l o c k   T r a i n i n g H S A A   7 s

B l o c k   T r a i n i n g

HSAA 7s

F A L L   S P O R T H S   R U G B Y

ACADEMY TOP-UPS

RCTS:U20 Talent ID

A C A D E M YB l o c k   T r a i n i n g

HSAA 7s

W I N T E R   S P O R T

H S A AB l o c k   T r a i n i n g

HSAA RED HSAA BLUE NA-4 (U18)

H S A A 7 sB l o c k   T r a i n i n g

S & S U 1 9B l o c k   T r a i n i n g

U N I V E R S I T Yc o m p e t i t i o n s

A C A D E M YI n t ’ l   T o u r

A C A D E M YB l o c k   T r a i n i n g

LVI 7sNAI 7s

H S A AB l o c k   T r a i n i n g

HSAA RED / HSAA BLUE NA-4 (U18)

J A A  T o p -­‐ U p s

J A AB l o c k   T r a i n i n g

REGIONAL CAMPS

REGIONALCAMPS

ACADEMYTOP-UPS

C o l l e g eU p p e r c l a s s m a n

Support university DTEs;Talent Breakthrough with Collegiate All-Americans

June

F a l l W i n t e r S p r i n g J u n J u l - A u g

U N I V E R S I T Yf a l l   s e a s o n U N I V E R S I T Y

c o m p e t i t i o n s

E L I T E C L U B   X VW P L / A R P

REGIONAL CAMPS

REGIONAL CAMPS

REGIONAL CAMPS

USA Rugby Ea g le Roadmap

© W i n t e r 2 0 1 8U S A R u g b y

REG 9 CAMP

REGIONAL CAMPS

P o s t S c h o l a s t i c

Ye a r 1

Emerging elite to overseas immersions; Performance spring MLR (men) & March

NA-4 (women)

P o s t S c h o l a s t i c

Ye a r 2 +Develop WPL / ARP;

Performance spring MLR (men) & March NA-4

(women)

C A AB l o c k   T r a i n i n g

CAA 7s

I M M E R S I O N SM i t r e 1 0 / N R C M L R   ( M E N ) / N A -­‐ 4   ( W O M E N )

REG 9 CAMP

E A G L E SS U M M E R   T E S T S

NDA 7sS E L E C T S

A P C ( M E N )

R W C 7 s / O L Y M P I C S

M L R   ( M E N ) /   N A -­‐ 4   ( W O M E N )

E A G L E SA R C ( M E N )

CLUB 7s

CAA XV UNIVERSITY CUP

NAT’LS

C A A 7 sB l o c k   T r a i n i n g

E A G L E   S E V E N SR E S I D E N C Y

A C A D E M Y  ( P R O )   S E V E N S

C L U BS E V E N S

R W C X V sE A G L E SN o v T e s t s

E A G L E SS U M M E R   T E S T S

E A G L E SA R C ( M E N ) R W C X V sE A G L E S

N O V   T E S T S

R W C 7 s / O L Y M P I C SE A G L E   S E V E N SR E S I D E N C Y

A C A D E M Y  ( P R O )   S E V E N S

C L U BS E V E N S

NDA 7s CLUB 7s

RUGBYTOWN 7s

RUGBYTOWN 7s

F O U N D AT I O NYOUTH THROUGH PUBERTYMinimize Adult influence. Informal, small-sided. Compete locally. All players all positions. Multiple sports. Multiple environments.

TA L E N T P R E PA R AT I O NHIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICANS -> STARS & STRIPESCoach teaches. Introduction of explicit instruction layered on top of games-based, player organized curriculum.

P E R F O R M A N C EJr ALL-AMERICANS -> COLLEGIATE ALL-AMERICANSCoach guided, player led learning environment. Closed repetition work outside of core training of games-based constraint learning.

H I G H P E R F O R M A N C E T O E L I T EUSA SELECTS (15s), FALCONS (7s), EAGLESCoach guided, player driven performance environment.

Y OUTH THR OUG H P UBER TYBall Movement. Defend Ball Movement.

BODIES IN ACTION. EMPOWERED TO MAKE CHOICES.

Transition, Counter, and Exits LINEOUT SPEED

SCRUM STABILITY

UNI V ER S I TY ( c l u b )Speed of Play-> Physicality

LINEOUT POWERSCRUM AS WEAPON

P R OIntensity ->Precision

HI G H S CHOOL

LOCAL

REGIONAL+

NATIONAL+

INTERNATIONAL

A.R .M. Ta l e n t De ve lopme n t Py r a m id

Selects/Falcons Eagles

All-­American / Age-­GradeUpdates

• Goal: increase volume of athletes below full-maturation (<=20 years old)

• Goal: increase quality reps in local DTEs• Avoid needle in the haystack before full physical maturity.• More opportunities:

• CAA, fed by JAA (U20) & Collegiate Rugby• JAA, fed by U19s & Frosh / Soph Collegiate Rugby• Stars & Stripes (U19), fed by RCTs & HSAAs• HSAA Red, HSAA Blue, fed by RCTs / Academies

• Add 3rd HSAA team in later years• HS Academies: Standards of training repetitions

Program Age # Rep Teams Player Pool Competition

Selects ~U24 1 30 APC

Collegiate AA ~U23 1 60 Can x2; +1

Junior AA U20 1 90 Can x2; JWT

Stars Stripes U19 2 150 NA-4

HSAA U18 2 (~3) 250 NA-4 (~NA-6)

JR NDAs <U18 40 1000 RCTs

SummaryKey Points

• End in mind: peak periodization at senior level is at the Olympics or Rugby World Cups (7s / XVs) historically late summer or early fall.• Consistent development pathway with annual schedule at reasonable costs.• Support scholastic model facilitating opportunities for high school athletes and parents to connect with college programs (via RCTs)

• Limit conflicts with academic calendar.• Entry Points for talent identification needed at each level:

• HSAA (U18): RCTS• Stars Stripes (U19): RCTS• Junior All-Americans (U20): Stars Stripes; Frosh / Soph College; U20 Club• Collegiate All-Americans (~U23): Upperclassmen College• Selects “A” (~U24): JAAs; CAAs; 1st year Elite Club• Eagles: Selects; MLR / WPL

• Encourage multi-sport student-athletes through youth and high school competitions, beginning with rugby in elementary school. • All players all positions through youth and up to high school play.• Pre-puberty, for example, “Everyone learns and gets to kick.”

• Entry Points available for talent transfer athletes at each major transition, particularly High School to College and College to Pro.• Opportunities for athletes (talent transfer and late bloomer rugby athletes) to come into the sport at 18 - 19 years old and at 22 -

23 years old through DTE club recruitment and Talent ID / National Assessment Camps. • Appropriate competition framework (time, travel, costs) at each biological age band.• Drive development to the local level helping make improvements to team / club Daily Training Environments.• Regionalize talent identification to reduce travel costs where feasible (RCTs and USA Rugby Academy camps).

• Regional HP Camps for local area enhancements, should be outside of local peak competition window.• National team age-grade identification to start after peak growth spurt, so 16 years old plus (RCTs after sophomore high school year).• Increasing the volume of athletes who have opportunities to perform at the High School (U18) and Stars and Stripes (U19) levels, with the

first major narrowing of the pipeline happening at U20s.• High School All-Americans to increase to 2 teams (HSAA Red and HSAA Blue), and adding in 2 teams at U19 (Stars and Stripes).