It's been a pretty good rugby Saturday even though I haven't played a minute myself - spent the day watching the NAWIRA qualifiers live, which was wonderful even though I could never really figure out who was playing who. It seems that the US women kicked ass, though.
And out in Missouri at Nationals, MARFU women had a pretty good showing - NOVA beat ORSU 15-5 and Furies beat North Shore 37-12, though Philly lost 10-41 to the Minnesota Valkyries. Can't wait to hear how the matches tomorrow go - although I'll have to wait until I get home, as instead of watching the itty bitty feed from the Bahamas and refreshing USA Rugby looking for scores, I'll be spending the day up in Salisbury trying out for the PRU U23 team. Mmmm, rugby weekend.
From USA Rugby:
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – The USA Rugby Senior Women’s Club Playoffs kicked off at Sportport sports complex on Saturday, with all but one of the higher seeded teams emerging out front in day one of competition.
The day kicked off with the No. 4 seeded Minnesota Valkyries taking on Philadelphia. In the end it was the Midwest team that prevailed, 41-10 at the final whistle. Minnesota will take on Keystone RFC, who started out its playoff run with a 17-5 victory over the San Diego Surfers in the first match of the day when competition resumes on Sunday.
No. 3 seeded New York pushed past Glendale 43-12 and will now face Northern Virginia (NOVA) in Sunday’s competition. The No. 11 seed NOVA team pulled the day's only upset, muscling past No. 6 Oregon Sports Union (ORSU) in the first round 15-5 to stay in the hunt for the title.
Meanwhile, last year’s Championship runners up from Beantown put up the strongest showing of the day, putting down Seattle 89-12 in their playoffs opener. The Boston team now goes on to face fellow Mid-Atlantic competitors the Washington Furies, who defeated Chicago North Shore 37-12, in tomorrow’s competition.
Rounding out a full day of play, reigning champions the Berkeley All Blues topped the Boston Women 45-10 and will now face the Twin Cities Amazons when the tournament resumes tomorrow. The Minnesota squad shut down the Atlanta Harlequins 45-12 in day one
Competition picks up again bright and early on Sunday morning, lasting from 9:30 a.m. through about 4:30 p.m. Please see below for the complete match schedule. Tickets to the event will be sold at the gate for $5 per day.
As the road to crowning the 2008 Women’s Club champions continues, the top eight finishers will next travel to the Seminole Soccer Complex in Sanford, Fla. for the Championships on November 7-9, 2008.
For more information on the USA Rugby Women’s Club Playoffs or Championships series, please visit www.usarugby.org or contact Director of Competition Dan Payne at dpayne@usarugby.org.
Senior Women’s Club Playoffs
Results – Day 1, October 25
Minnesota Valkyries 41, Philadelphia 10
Keystone 17, San Diego 5
New York 43, Glendale 12
Northern Virginia (NOVA) 15, Oregon Sport Union (ORSU) 5
Beantown 89, Seattle 12
Washington Furies 37, Chicago North Shore 12
Berkeley All Blues 45, Boston 10
Twin Cities Amazons 45, Atlanta Harlequins 12
Day 2 Schedule, October 26
9:30 a.m. Field A – Minnesota Valkyries vs. Keystone
9:30 a.m. Field B – Philadelphia vs. San Diego Surfers
11:15 a.m. Field A – New York vs. NOVA
11:15 a.m. Field B – Glendale vs. ORSU
1 p.m. Field A – Beantown vs. Washington Furies
1 p.m. Field B – Seattle vs. Chicago North Shore
2:45 p.m. Field A – Berkeley vs. Twin Cities
2:45 p.m. Field B – Boston vs. Atlanta Harlequins
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
D2 Nationals
Found the D2 Nationals info! Apparently Women's D2 Rugby has its own website... who knew?!
November 8/9, 2008
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE!!!
Saturday
Game 1 - 9:00am: Detroit vs Chesapeake
Game 2 - 9:00am: Miami vs Northeast #1
Game 3 - 11:00am: Cincinnati vs Brandywine
Game 4 - 11:00am: Orlando vs Northeast #2
Game 5 - 1:00pm: Winner Game 1 vs Winner Game 2
Game 6 - 1:00pm: Loser Game 1 vs Loser Game 2
Game 7 - 3:00pm: Winner Game 3 vs Winner Game 4
Game 8 - 3:00pm: Loser Game 3 vs Loser Game 4
Sunday - Times TBA to coordinate with DI National Finals
Game 9 - xx:xxam: Loser Game 6 vs Loser Game 8
Game 10 - xx:xxam: Winner Game 6 vs Winner Game 8
Game 11 - xx:xxam: Loser Game 5 vs Loser Game 7
Game 12 - xx:xxpm: Winner Game 5 vs Winner Game 7
November 8/9, 2008
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE!!!
Saturday
Game 1 - 9:00am: Detroit vs Chesapeake
Game 2 - 9:00am: Miami vs Northeast #1
Game 3 - 11:00am: Cincinnati vs Brandywine
Game 4 - 11:00am: Orlando vs Northeast #2
Game 5 - 1:00pm: Winner Game 1 vs Winner Game 2
Game 6 - 1:00pm: Loser Game 1 vs Loser Game 2
Game 7 - 3:00pm: Winner Game 3 vs Winner Game 4
Game 8 - 3:00pm: Loser Game 3 vs Loser Game 4
Sunday - Times TBA to coordinate with DI National Finals
Game 9 - xx:xxam: Loser Game 6 vs Loser Game 8
Game 10 - xx:xxam: Winner Game 6 vs Winner Game 8
Game 11 - xx:xxam: Loser Game 5 vs Loser Game 7
Game 12 - xx:xxpm: Winner Game 5 vs Winner Game 7
Standings for Nationals
I will admit, I'm not usually very good at following rugby outside of my own union. But whenever playoffs roll around, my interest in the state of US women's rugby peaks - especially this season, my first on the club side of things rather than the collegiate. And since the first round of nationals are this weekend, I've spent the afternoon figuring out which of my MARFU teams are playing who:
MARFU D1 rankings:
1 Washington
2 NOVA
3 Philadelphia
And MARFU D2 (even though it seems they play nationals Nov 1/2? I'm having a hard time figuring this out, if anyone wants to help!):
1 Brandywine
2 Chesapeake
3 Norfolk
4 Severn River
October 25th schedule:
Saturday
1 Minnesota Valkyries (MW #1) vs. Philadelphia (MARFU #3)
2 Keystone (NRU #3) vs. San Diego Surfers (SoCal #1)
3 New York (NRU #2) vs. Glendale (West #1)
4 ORSU (PC #2) vs. NOVA (MARFU #2)
5 Beantown (NRU #1) vs. Seattle Breakers (PC #3)
6 Washington Furies (MARFU #1) vs. Chicago North Shore (MW #3)
7 Berkeley All Blues (PC #1) vs. Boston (NRU #4)
8 Atlanta Harlequins (South #1) vs. Twin Cities Amazons (MW #2)
Sunday
9 Winner match 1 vs Winner Match 2
10 Loser Match 1 vs. Loser Match 2
11 Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4
12 Loser Match 3 vs Loser Match 4
13 Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6
14 Loser Match 5 vs. Loser Match 6
15 Winner Match 7 vs. Winner Match 8
16 Loser Match 7 vs. Loser Match 8
MARFU D1 rankings:
1 Washington
2 NOVA
3 Philadelphia
And MARFU D2 (even though it seems they play nationals Nov 1/2? I'm having a hard time figuring this out, if anyone wants to help!):
1 Brandywine
2 Chesapeake
3 Norfolk
4 Severn River
October 25th schedule:
Saturday
1 Minnesota Valkyries (MW #1) vs. Philadelphia (MARFU #3)
2 Keystone (NRU #3) vs. San Diego Surfers (SoCal #1)
3 New York (NRU #2) vs. Glendale (West #1)
4 ORSU (PC #2) vs. NOVA (MARFU #2)
5 Beantown (NRU #1) vs. Seattle Breakers (PC #3)
6 Washington Furies (MARFU #1) vs. Chicago North Shore (MW #3)
7 Berkeley All Blues (PC #1) vs. Boston (NRU #4)
8 Atlanta Harlequins (South #1) vs. Twin Cities Amazons (MW #2)
Sunday
9 Winner match 1 vs Winner Match 2
10 Loser Match 1 vs. Loser Match 2
11 Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4
12 Loser Match 3 vs Loser Match 4
13 Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6
14 Loser Match 5 vs. Loser Match 6
15 Winner Match 7 vs. Winner Match 8
16 Loser Match 7 vs. Loser Match 8
Monday, October 20, 2008
WNT MARFU camp
This Sunday I had the opportunity to attend a MARFU camp led by Women's National Team coaches Kathy Flores, Candi Orsini, and Krista McFarren. It was a great experience to be exposed to some very high-level coaching with a group of high-level players. The group was mostly Maryland, DC, and NOVA, with pretty good representation from Philadelphia. I have to admit, it was a little intimidating to be out there with such a talented group of women – I had to keep reminding myself that I'm a Division I A-side athlete, too, even if I'm nowhere near the same level as most of the players!
We warmed up with a game of double-touch and stretched before splitting into backs and the forwards. We forwards spent our entire split time on the same drill - running it, stopping and discussing, then running it again, over and over. It was incredibly rewarding to learn so much from a very intensive session with one simple drill.
Next, backs and forwards recombined to do a tackling drill working on body position in the tackle, with the tackled player trying to pike or lay full-out to provide the smallest gate possible and the tackler attempting to get up facing forward ready to poach the ball as soon as possible. Eventually one offensive supporter was added to protect against the poach by staying low and directly over the body of her tackled teammate. Then our last drill before lunch worked with different decision making in a wide field versus a narrow space.
After lunch, we warmed up with a game of ruck touch before spending the afternoon working on defensive alignment. We focused a lot on defending against an overload - Kathy introduced the concept of setting up a slightly staggered defensive line, so that the defender on the outside would be able to watch her teammate on the inside, who focused on "pushing" the line out.
We then did a few drills on the defensive alignment around a ruck, focusing on positions I've previously called "post, guard, runner"; that Kathy called "post, X, Y"; and that the Furies called "anchor, guard dog, ATTACK DOG!!" Regardless of your terminology, the first position focuses on the ball and the channel directly next to the ruck; the second takes care of forwards on a punch, the scrumhalf on a scoot, or the flyhalf; and the third position guns it for "one" or the flyhalf position. Finally, we combined these concepts with our earlier drills on overloads and "pushing."
All in all, it was an extremely educational day. I took a lot away about how to improve my personal performance and about new ways to think about my team on the pitch, and went home full of a love of the game - and a strong desire for a nap!
We warmed up with a game of double-touch and stretched before splitting into backs and the forwards. We forwards spent our entire split time on the same drill - running it, stopping and discussing, then running it again, over and over. It was incredibly rewarding to learn so much from a very intensive session with one simple drill.
Next, backs and forwards recombined to do a tackling drill working on body position in the tackle, with the tackled player trying to pike or lay full-out to provide the smallest gate possible and the tackler attempting to get up facing forward ready to poach the ball as soon as possible. Eventually one offensive supporter was added to protect against the poach by staying low and directly over the body of her tackled teammate. Then our last drill before lunch worked with different decision making in a wide field versus a narrow space.
After lunch, we warmed up with a game of ruck touch before spending the afternoon working on defensive alignment. We focused a lot on defending against an overload - Kathy introduced the concept of setting up a slightly staggered defensive line, so that the defender on the outside would be able to watch her teammate on the inside, who focused on "pushing" the line out.
We then did a few drills on the defensive alignment around a ruck, focusing on positions I've previously called "post, guard, runner"; that Kathy called "post, X, Y"; and that the Furies called "anchor, guard dog, ATTACK DOG!!" Regardless of your terminology, the first position focuses on the ball and the channel directly next to the ruck; the second takes care of forwards on a punch, the scrumhalf on a scoot, or the flyhalf; and the third position guns it for "one" or the flyhalf position. Finally, we combined these concepts with our earlier drills on overloads and "pushing."
All in all, it was an extremely educational day. I took a lot away about how to improve my personal performance and about new ways to think about my team on the pitch, and went home full of a love of the game - and a strong desire for a nap!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
ACL injury prevention
Ages and ages ago, I read and bookmarked this New York Times article, The Uneven Playing Field, that talks about how women and girls tear their ACLs disproportionately often in comparison to men.
One of the causes of this (according to the article) is that females tend to move differently than men - for example, "Girls tend to run differently than boys — in a less-flexed, more-upright posture — which may put them at greater risk when changing directions and landing from jumps."
The article also describes "a customized warm-up of stretching, strengthening and balancing exercises," designed to prevent ACL injuries. Of course I read that and thought, Sign me up! Like most rugby players I've had teammates tear an ACL (or MCL, or meniscus...) and it's something I want to avoid if at all possible.
Of course, the New York Times article didn't actually describe what those exercises were.
But recently, I found this American Physical Therapy Association pdf - Exercises to Help Prevent ACL injuries. Six exercises designed "to improve strength, flexibility, and coordination,
as well as to counteract incorrect existing patterns of movement that may be damaging to their joints".
Score! I know what I'm adding to my fitness routine.
One of the causes of this (according to the article) is that females tend to move differently than men - for example, "Girls tend to run differently than boys — in a less-flexed, more-upright posture — which may put them at greater risk when changing directions and landing from jumps."
The article also describes "a customized warm-up of stretching, strengthening and balancing exercises," designed to prevent ACL injuries. Of course I read that and thought, Sign me up! Like most rugby players I've had teammates tear an ACL (or MCL, or meniscus...) and it's something I want to avoid if at all possible.
Of course, the New York Times article didn't actually describe what those exercises were.
But recently, I found this American Physical Therapy Association pdf - Exercises to Help Prevent ACL injuries. Six exercises designed "to improve strength, flexibility, and coordination,
as well as to counteract incorrect existing patterns of movement that may be damaging to their joints".
Score! I know what I'm adding to my fitness routine.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Philadelphia vs. Maryland
Philly is, by all accounts, a difficult team to scrum against.
To be a lock on the smaller side of locks, against a pack on the large side of packs, is especially difficult.
And when I ended up being the larger of Maryland's locks?
Let's just say that those scrums were very inspirational, in the sense that I am now extremely motivated to head to a gym. Because my lack of gym-going recently was very, very unhelpful on Saturday.
To be a lock on the smaller side of locks, against a pack on the large side of packs, is especially difficult.
And when I ended up being the larger of Maryland's locks?
Let's just say that those scrums were very inspirational, in the sense that I am now extremely motivated to head to a gym. Because my lack of gym-going recently was very, very unhelpful on Saturday.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Locking body position
When I first started locking - that is, when I first got dragged over from wing to be a flanker, and occasionally got thrown in to lock during practice - I learned to start on my knees. Put my head in low between my front row, then go up and make eye contact with the lock across from me.
Then I went to a MARFU scrum clinic with Lisa Rosen, and we talked about good body position and the advantages of second rows starting in a stable body position on her feet. Putting the head straight between my prop and hooker, and keeping it in a neutral position, looking through my eyebrows and "over the sunglasses".
After that, I felt much more comfortable when I needed to step in at lock, whether during practice or in games. I was more stable starting on my feet, instead of frantically trying to pop up and readjust my body position in the seconds before "Engage!" So I became a huge advocate of starting in that crouched position, stabilizing myself with my prop and ready to power forward instead of just resting on the ground.
That is, until I started locking for Maryland. We're short on second rows so I've primarily been playing there rather than in the back row. However, I've been having trouble getting stable - the front row has a different cadence than I'm used to, and it gets them lower, but has been throwing me off.
Until last night, when Maria suggested that I start on my knees, and wait to get up into good scrumming position until after the front row had dropped - but well before the ref starts calling the cadence.
And wouldn't you know, it worked! I guess there are advantages to both methods; now I'm just trying to figure out what, exactly they are, so I can begin using both more intelligently depending on who I'm second rowing behind.
Then I went to a MARFU scrum clinic with Lisa Rosen, and we talked about good body position and the advantages of second rows starting in a stable body position on her feet. Putting the head straight between my prop and hooker, and keeping it in a neutral position, looking through my eyebrows and "over the sunglasses".
After that, I felt much more comfortable when I needed to step in at lock, whether during practice or in games. I was more stable starting on my feet, instead of frantically trying to pop up and readjust my body position in the seconds before "Engage!" So I became a huge advocate of starting in that crouched position, stabilizing myself with my prop and ready to power forward instead of just resting on the ground.
That is, until I started locking for Maryland. We're short on second rows so I've primarily been playing there rather than in the back row. However, I've been having trouble getting stable - the front row has a different cadence than I'm used to, and it gets them lower, but has been throwing me off.
Until last night, when Maria suggested that I start on my knees, and wait to get up into good scrumming position until after the front row had dropped - but well before the ref starts calling the cadence.
And wouldn't you know, it worked! I guess there are advantages to both methods; now I'm just trying to figure out what, exactly they are, so I can begin using both more intelligently depending on who I'm second rowing behind.
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