Changing How a Player Becomes an USA Rugby Eagle

from USAWomensRugby.org:

Selections for a National Team in American because of the size of the country.  In England the National Team Head Coach is no more than 4-5 hours drive away from any of their players.  In the USA there are many great players who do not get the opportunity to be seen, or not in a fair competition.   While the Eagles will always find players in different venues, the program has created an open process where all players have the opportunity to be seen and compete on an even playing field for a position in the squad.

Traditionally the USA National Team selections have been through the National All-Star Championships and the Club Championships.  In my first year as the Head Coach, the program followed that model.  We selected the Nations Cup squad from the 2011 All-Star Championship, and the camp in January at the start of 2012 was selected primarily based on performances at the club championships a year ago.

The All-Star Championship has gone away along with the Territorial Unions, so this year the Women’s Eagles brought the top 75 players in the country together in Colorado for a week long competition – the Elite Performance Series.  The squad was broken into even teams and played 3 games in a week.  We tried to make the event as close to an international environment as possible, with video analysis, recovery protocols and even post match interviews.  The event was a great success and for many players said it was the best rugby event they had been too.

In 2013 the Women’s Eagles will have a similar camp with the top 100 players for another Elite Performance Series.  The benefit of this selection vehicle is that each team will be of similar ability and in close games the best players will be able to show what they can do.  The challenge of selections from club or traditional All-Star play is that players on the best teams look the best.  We saw that last year as some players who starred for their club teams struggled at the Elite Performance Series.

To get an invite to next summer’s elite performance series a player will need to attend an Open Eagle Training Center weekend.  The Eagles launched the ETCs last spring and they are the major developmental vehicle as Eagle players come to the centers for a weekend of training.  ETCs cover technical skill development, strength and conditioning, nutrition, mental skills and life skills.  Next spring there will be an open Eagle Training Center where potential Eagles can apply to attend.  The application will have their playing experience, a coach recommendation and their physical assessment scores.  Players will then be selected to attend the Eagle Training Center and will train with the current Eagle Pool.  Their performance at the ETC will determine whether they get invited to the Elite Performance Series.

The other two ways to make the Eagles Pool is through the Junior All-Americans (formerly the U20s) and the Collegiate All-Americans.  Next years U20s Nations Cup will be an opportunity for players to be selected for the senior Nations Cup as an example.

Some have asked me about the role of club rugby in the new selection process.  Club rugby is vitally important for the players development.  Players should play where they get good coaching and they enjoy their rugby.  It is also important that the club they choose supports them in a life that allows them to be able to focus on their development as a rugby player (good job, local support etc).  However club rugby will no longer be a major selection vehicle for the Eagles.

Applications for the open Eagle Training Centers will be launched in December.  For all information on how to become an eagle go to Eagle 365.