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Here's a message from the coach of the youth touch rugby team

Its time for a new season of rugby here in Los Alamos, and as coach of the touch teams for the Los Alamos Youth Rugby Club, I'm excited at the prospect of another great season of developing young rugby players. The key for every season is to have fun and learn the sport of rugby. I've put together introductory pamphlets to help everyone get started out (see the attachments). It includes spectator guides for those parents who may not be familiar with rugby, equipment requirements, practice times and locations, game locations and directions and some general info. I'll be giving out more information at the first practice and in the following weeks.

Those of you who have participated in the Youth Rugby Program before know that I like to keep everyone informed. This year I will again be e-mailing everyone with the upcoming event schedules. In addition I will keep everyone informed of any changes in schedules and requirements. If you know of players who are not receiving these updates, please send me their email addresses so that I can include them on the mailing list.

The first practice will be on March 9th (Monday), 4:30 to 6:00 PM at the White Rock Overlook Park Soccer Fields. This practice will be introductory and I will discuss the following:

* Introductions
* Standards and rules (how we interact as a team)
* What I expect from players and parents
* What players and parents expect from me
* Parents - player drop off and pick up; snacks for games if desired; equipment and clothing required
* Weekly practice and game schedule
* E-mails
* Registration
* Warm-ups
* Games/Drills
o Hot Potato
o Swerve and Side-Step Relay
o Stuck in the Mud
o Defensive lines
o Line Drill

I have included as an attachment with this e-mail the schedule for the second practice on March 11th (Wednesday) as an example of what you can expect to see on a weekly basis.

Practices are scheduled every Monday and Wednesday 4:30 – 6PM during the rugby season at the White Rock Overlook Park Soccer Fields. Games will be at the Santa Fe Rugby Football Club (SFRFC) Pitches (directions included in the attachments to this e-mail) on Saturday mornings from 9:00AM to 12:00. We usually schedule one weekend where Los Alamos hosts the games at the Los Alamos High School (LAHS) Pueblo Annex Fields. I will inform every one of game times and locations by e-mail throughout the season.

Uniforms; Parents will be responsible for purchasing cleats for their players. Soccer cleats are fine, but there cannot be a cleat at the apex of the toe. I have included a Touch Rugby Handout for this e-mail that describes this in detail (including pictures). As you all know, spring in Northern New Mexico can be extremely cold, rainy and windy. Dress your players appropriately! Knit hats, hoodies or wind breakers, sweat/warm up pants, rugby gloves etc. are excellent items that should always be packed in a player’s kit bag for practices and games. (Also parents, when coming to the games, bring warm clothes and coats for yourself! Its not as fun watching the game from the car.) In addition I need all players to bring a full water bottle to games and practices. (No kidding, I’ve had players bring empty water bottles! : ) This will help prevent a player from becoming a heat or fatigue casualty. This is important during cold weather also! People don’t realize how much moisture their body loses during cold weather activities – always bring water!

Game uniforms: I am ordering uniforms for the players this year so that they hopefully will be here in time for the first game. This year Los Alamos Youth Rugby will be dispersing its own funds through Los Alamos National Bank (LANB) where we have a special account set up for our rugby club. Hopefully this arrangement will streamline the process of obtaining funds for youth rugby gear, kit and tournament needs. Game jerseys will be distributed to the players by me prior to every game and be collected by me after every game. This is to ensure that there are jerseys for each player. If players keep the jerseys they “forget” them or, if they cannot make the game, the jersey is not available for a replacement player. Game jerseys will be given to the players to keep at the end of the season.

First game is on Saturday, April 7th at the Santa Fe Rugby Football Club (SFRFC) Pitches. (See the attachment for directions). On Saturday game days, please arrive at the rugby pitch 20 minutes before the game so I can organize the side and hand out jerseys. I will inform you of your game start time at the Wednesday practice before the game. We will have games every Saturday starting April 4th through the final tournament on May 16th.
Due to a busy work schedule this year I won’t be able to do a recruiting drive at Los Alamos area schools so please – tell your friends about the program and bring them with to the first practice! Also I have included a Northern New Mexico Youth Rugby Youth Non-Contact Application Form as an attachment. Please fill this out for each players participating and bring the registration fee to the first practice. I will also bring additional copies with me to the practice for those that need them.

I apologize for the length of this e-mail, but I believe its best to have too much information than too little. In addition, it will give me the nest three weeks to answer any questions you may have! I will keep you all updated as I receive new information. If you have received this e-mail in error and have a child that wants to learn one of the greatest sports on the face of the planet – come to the first practice! If not, please reply to this e-mail and I will remove you from the mailing list.


Look forward to seeing you all on the rugby pitch!

Cheers!


C. Gary Medrick 42 La Paloma Dr. White Rock, NM 87544 505-577-7545 cgm87544@hotmail.com