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The link below contains downloadable information created by the Sport & Community Service Class
Rugby Transition Flyer
Rugby Transition Program
Introduction
The purpose of this clinic is to help high school athletes understand and prepare for the transition from high school sports to the University level. A lack of information and understanding can work against the prospective student/athlete in a number of ways and with a variety of consequences. If these sessions can simply encourage you to ask better questions of both yourself and others and make more informed decisions, then this session will have more than served its purpose. We as athletes feel that there was a lot of information we wish we could have known before entering the university system as an athlete
Topic
1) What makes you different than the next prospective varsity athlete?
a) things you can control- weight program, skills development, decision making, effort, get informed, effort.
b) Understand there are things that will affect you making the team that you cant control- coaches preference/ game plan, skills of other players, decisions of senior players to stay or not, injuries.
2) Understanding the LEAP to University Level
This is a common mistake made especially by athletes who have played rugby at a representative level, like provincial or national. At University the season is condensed and intensified instead of every weekend or a couple days throughout the week, its 3 months of every day practices and every weekend competition. Basically the coaches give you the structure and it’s up to you to make it work. Not only to the rugby demands get increased but other demands on you from school and socially increase and the added pressure of most likely living on your own for the first time. With all these other distractions you barely have time to focus on your game. You were probably the best player at your club or high school, it may not be good enough here at the university level. You cant just be good at a few things, or good at one position.
3) A note on recruiting
Recruiting in Canada and rugby is not developed, therefore its still a very grey area in terms of rules and regulations. If you have been contacted by a coach that’s great, make sure you ask questions about what matters to you and use this clinic to help you make informed decisions about your post secondary education. If you have a school or a specific school has a rugby program that you would like to be a part of, there are some things you can do:
Contact coaches, campus visits, get yourself seen ( game tape, previous coaching contacts, let coach know your schedule, summer programs/ leagues) play for higher level – such as provincial.
If you aren’t “recruited” PLEASE try out anyway, many times coaches will only go to watch the best competition, and there are chances that you may be good, but your school didn’t make it to the competition that recruiting is done at.
When corresponding with a coach you must understand what you want out of your post secondary education. Whether rugby is of utmost importance, depending on your program the work load can be quite intense. Remember that the university coach’s objective is to put the best team on the field, so if you have concerns about playing time, he/she may have different ideas about first year playing time. ASK QUESTIONS
4) Getting accurate information
Who is the competition- who are you trying out against, who is already on the team, who else could be/ is being recruited (current players, transfers for grad school, players who tried out and didn’t make it but are back again)
Returning players: teams have different policies on this subject the Western Women’s rugby team has the policy that NO player has a secure spot on the team, every player must earn her spot and playing time every year.
5) SKILLS SESSION HERE (depending on venue will depend which skills we do)
Individual skills
Team skills
*either directly after or time depending before: mental skills and physical development discussion.
6) Assessing your chances
Can you make it, will you make it, will you have a chance to develop? The importance of realistic assessment
Depending on your goals for sport beyond the high school level all of these questions will be beneficial in making your decision. You must understand for yourself what is important to you and find a university that fits that. If playing time is important to you, but you may sacrifice development, or whether you can deal with limited playing time but realize that you are developing as a player. Some schools may have a more competitive atmosphere than others – make sure your up for that.
Be honest with yourself- Do you want rugby to be the focus, can you deal with an intensively competitive program or would you rather play rugby for fun and focus on school? Do you have the skill set, and mental abilities to play at that level and deal with increased demands, what if you don’t make it – are you still at the school that you want to be at?
7) The Tryout Format
What is the tryout format and where do you fit in?
Try outs are generally open, sometimes you will try out with new players and vets, and you may have separate try outs for new players and then first cuts and then try outs with vets. Try out format varies slightly. Find out from the coach the try out format.
You may (probably) will be required to come to school early. You may need to make arrangements for accommodation during try outs if you are staying in residence, find out what is expected of you, and what commitments are made to you.
ON THE PITCH – the try out itself will be grueling, it is meant to discourage less committed athletes to elect themselves to leave. You will need to be mentally prepared and knowledgeable about the expectations in terms of fitness standards and skill standards.
8) Academics
Academic programs – do you really know what you want?
There are endless options at a university, and even more among all the universities in Ontario. Are you comfortable focusing your program in first year? Would you rather test the waters, see if you like that type of material? What if you don’t end up liking your focused program? Or not doing well?
You may need to consider your longer term goals and objectives in terms of grad schools, post degree programs. Some schools/ areas may be better for your programs.
Some programs require you to have a specific average to STAY in the program, what if you don’t make it? What if you have to change programs? Is the university still good for the program you switch to?
A major resource for this is your faculties counseling office; they can give you your degree module, and help you make academic decisions based on your personal objectives. You also do need to DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH; the onus is on you to know what is needed for your degree and to get it done.
9) Financial
Do you know what it will cost you to participate in rugby at your specific school; are there programs set up to help relieve this cost? What is the cost of tuition for your program? What is the cost of living on campus (or off campus) if you need to travel to school? Does the team get any financial support for the program?
Asking these questions will help you be realistic about your options. Many times Canadian schools get very little funding (if any) to run their sport programs. There is also minimal financial assistance available for individual athletes. Are there academic scholarships available, often your faculty and school will offer financial assistance based on academics or need. If your team progresses into the post season, will you have to foot the bill for travel, food, and accommodation? Find out your schools funding structure.
10) Making the MATCH (Institution, team, and self)
Things to consider when making a choice about post secondary education
- the philosophy of the program and the coach (competitive atmosphere, playing time etc)
- Team mates – their views on the program
- Your objectives as an athlete (beyond university? Just at university? Fun?)
- Academics – Are you still at the right school if you can’t play sports? Are you in the right program, can you handle the increased work load? Do you know what is expected
- How important is it for you to continue sport at the university level?
- What if you don’t make the team- what does the university (or the city) have in terms of intramural and extra curricular activities, to keep you involved? Are there non varsity options are your university? Considered other aspects of sport?
- Are you / have you considering(ed) another varsity sport?
- What if you are injured are you still at the right university?
- NON Academic OR sport issues – campus culture, city, travel to home, friends, size of school, Will you enjoy your time here?
- COST- is it feasible to do? Will you be supported (parents), government funding, scholarships etc
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Helpful NOTES
To prepare for university sport some things to consider:
- be versatile different positions, maybe different sports?
- Seek better competition – play at a higher club level, try out for a provincial or representative team, don’t be afraid to be the worst at first
- Practice away your weaknesses in public- you wont get better focusing on your strengths.
- FUN- expand your notion of what is fun about the game, get clear about why you play this game, it will be challenged! Fall in love with the process.
- Academics and Rugby- don’t sell yourself short there is also an academic pyramid as you get into higher education
“Think of it this way. Are you the kind of player you would like to play with? Are you the kind of player that someone would like to coach? Are you the kind of opponent that you would walk off the field respecting? Does your attitude and the way you conduct yourself on the court enhance your game and the game of your teammate? Would you enjoy playing with you? These are questions worth asking yourself from time to time. If you don’t know the answers, ask someone else. They will.”
GOALS in your own ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT
- know yourself – set realistic goals
- YOUR goals – not someone else’s
- Accepting the risk of serious goal setting- you may not achieve your goal
- SPECIFIC – don’t set vague goals that you cant realistically assess
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