Transcript In our country, true teams rarely exist . . . social

Youth Rugby and it’s establishment in
Central Washington
In our country, true teams rarely exist . . . social barriers and personal ambitions
have reduced athletes to dissolute cliques or individuals thrown together for
mutual profit . . . Yet these rugby players, with their muddied, cracked bodies, are
struggling to hold onto a sense of humanity that we in America have lost and are
unlikely to regain. The game may only be to move a ball forward on a dirt field,
but the task can be accomplished with an unshackled joy and its memories will be
a permanent delight. The women and men who play on that rugby field are more
alive than too many of us will ever be. The foolish emptiness we think we perceive
in their existence is only our own. ~Victor Cahn 1895
Rugby through history
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Common belief is that rugby was born in 1823 when William Webb Ellis "with fine
disregard for the rules of football” as played in his time at Rugby school, first took
the ball in his arms and ran with it.
Rugby has risen in stature since that time and is competitively played in 120
countries world wide. Well established as the 2nd most popular team sport world
wide.
Rugby was a medal sport in the Olympic Games as early as 1900, with the most
recent appearances in 1920 and 1924
The same nation took the gold Medal in both the 20 and 24 Olympics
Any Guesses ???
USA 1920 & 1924 Olympic Gold Medalists; Rugby
Who will lead the team onto the field to represent
our nation in future Olympic Games?
October 9, 2009
Rugby added to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio !!
(sorry, no more baseball)
USA to Retain the Gold!!
The Youth Rugby Players
of Today, will be leading
our nations team in 2016
•The National Sporting Goods
Manufacturers Association (SGMA)
2010 survey came out late last week.
According the report, rugby is now the
fastest growing sport in the United
States.
•High School Rugby is highly organized
with over 36,000 registered players,
featuring regional and national
championships.
•Only 5.8% of High School Football
Athletes continue to play in college.
Rugby is an outstanding alternative for
a collegiate sport, the best rugby
players nationally began playing in
High School.
•Rugby is played in most colleges;
CWU Mens and WSU Womens Rugby
Clubs are continually ranked in the top
10 of Division 1 schools.
Youth Rugby Comes to Yakima
• Conceptualized in late 2008
• Awarded a competitive grant through the National Guard to
outfit the team.
• Yakima competes with the other 35 teams in Wa Youth Rugby
• Head Coach Jonathan Douglas, leads a group of talented,
dedicated student athletes to a winning 1st season in 2009
2010 Griffins Undefeated Division
Champs!!
•Eight ambitious returning players; Outscore opponents 157-48
•Players ages14-19 worked hard for 5 months on the hunt for a State Championship
•Griffins finished 3rd Statewide, behind two nationally ranked teams
•3 of our Yakima players picked for the Loggers Representative side (22 players in NW)
•A first year Yakima Player chosen as ‘Great NW All Tournament’ and awaits play in the
US pool
•Griffins compete through July in Subway Washington State Games. Placing 3rd.
•Yakima community catch ‘Griffin Fever’, as a new great spectator sport. Hundreds line
the sidelines and Franklin Park is the ‘Place to Be’ on a Saturday Afternoon!
Griffins 2011 and Beyond
•Yakima Youth Rugby Foundation awarded 501c3 status as a charitable corp.
•2011 will field a U-16 team in conjunction with our current U-19 side
•U14 and Girls Teams not far behind!
•Goals continue to be the same; Develop Strong Character and sense of Sportsmanship
and Community with Rugby as a Vehicle
How we Measure Success
•Rugby has touched the lives of over 50 young men in the Yakima Valley; These lads
have a bright future far beyond Rugby
•We have blended athletes from 7 local schools, some arch rivalries; molded them into a
team and built a tradition of winning.
•Nearly 90% of Griffin Alumni have gone on to college; Including 3 that never considered
further education prior to playing rugby.
•Nationally, 95% of high school athletes never play college ball, over 70% of our
graduated Griffins are playing college rugby.
•Comments such as, “I’ve never had coaches care about my personal life until now.”
“This is the ultimate team sport, these are my best friends.”
How Can I Help Support Yakima
Youth Rugby?
Consider This:
2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand
will have a television audience of over 4 billion
(Superbowl 2010 viewership 105 Million)
Rugby is a Great Wave to Ride!!
Yakima Youth Rugby Foundation
• Griffins Rugby receives no monetary support from schools.
• Player Dues in 2010 =$50. (Including $57 worth of shorts,
socks, and extras)
• Unpaid coaches, they pay for own travel and clinics
• Our goal is to make rugby accessible to all, regardless of
financial ability.
• Remarkable support from a few local businesses.
• A 501c3; Sole support for youth rugby in Yakima.
• Various sponsorship opportunities for unique exposure.
Envision Your Logo Here! Help Up change Lives!
More Info:
www.GriffinsRugby.org
[email protected]