• "We play with pride in our hearts and passion in our blood"

Rainier Plateau Junior Rugby

Washington State Youth Rugby... in Auburn, Bonney Lake, Sumner, Orting, Enumclaw, Buckley        info@RainierJuniorRugby.com


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FAQS

about Rainier Plateau Junior Rugby

For a Description of How to Play Rugby, click A Short Rugby Primer

For more information, Contact us
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Each season significant parental involvement is an important part of creating, maintaining and growing our club. Equally important is the reward you as a parent will feel contributing to your child's involvement in a new and exciting sport. The Highlander Family includes players, coaches, parents, friends and other supporters who wish to come out and participate in any way they can.


About the club

Our rugby team is unaffiliated with any particular school district and is a nonprofit sports club that operates under the guidelines and rules of both USA Rugby and by Rugby Washington.

 

What age do I have to be to play?

14-19 (must be under 19 prior to August 1st 2011)

 

Who is in charge?

Our club is coached by a several experienced and mature coaches with overall management falling to Andy Ramsay. Andy is a USA Rugby Certified Coach. Additional accreditations include first aid, CRP and National Sports Safety Training. Andy also carries a current WA State Patrol Risk Assessment Card (background check) which is required for coaches in most youth sports organizations.

 

What Can Parents do to help the rugby program?

As well as cheering on your son/daughter and the rest of the team from the sidelines we always need assistance in many aspects of club operations. Some of these opportunities are listed below:

Our team needs parent volunteers to:

·        Launder the team's uniform jerseys (sign up on the Admin tab of the website)

·        Purchase, preparation and service of post match food at home games (costs refunded by club,sign up on the Admin tab of the website)

·        Video Taping of Games for coaches to share with team

·        Host touring team players in your home

·        Act as chaperones during overnight or tour stays

·        Provide transportation for other players to away games

·        Solicit and procure team sponsorship or donations
We also have a parent committee which meets monthly to discuss, plan and coordinate upcoming events, fundraisers or other club operations.

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When does the season begin and end?

In January outdoor practices will commence typically at 6.30pm and last 2 hours. The days of the week and start time are totally depended on field availability. We make every effort to avoid late evenings during the school week. In February we will play scrimmage games and also travel to Oregon for a tournament. The remainder of the month will include local friendly and non-league matches. In March the league season will commence which involves one game a week. The league season and playoffs will conclude in mid May. Matches are scheduled dependent on the opponent's geographical location. Local opponents will schedule games on Friday evenings and others will be played on Saturday. Girls will play on Sunday

During the Presidents Day Weekend in February we are typically invited to play in an interstate tournament in Beaverton OR. Teams from WA & OR will compete in this tournament that is played in a jamboree environment with little attention paid to results. It's intended to introduce new players to the game and provide teams their first semi competitive games of the season. We will depart Bonney Lake Saturday morning returning Sunday evening. Players traditionally will be hosted or billeted by opposing team's families who will feed, provide bed and hospitality on Saturday evening.

Aside from our game schedule we ensure that we include other activities such as paintball, snow tubing and team dinners which serve as great team building opportunities as well as a lot of fun.

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Can my son/daughter play other sports and also play rugby?

Yes of course! We do not support the idea of "single sport, year round athletes". We believe that all student athletes should have opportunities to experience as many sports as possible while young and able to do so. We encourage rugby player's t play fall sports at school and if they are inclined a winter sport. Athletes engaged in a winter sport may simply join us at practice and games when possible and then as that sport season concludes commit more extensively to rugby. We have had numerous players that have played a spring school sport and rugby. We leave this up to the individual player and parents to decide if the athlete has the time and stamina to play two sports and also complete all educational commitments.


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Do you suspend players who are not getting good grades at school?

No formal or informal arrangements are in place to monitor individual grades but the coaches will respect the right of parents to hold their child out of rugby activities including games. Academic achievement is equally important to us as any athletic achievement.


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What Kind of equipment is needed to play rugby and what does it cost?

One of the great things about rugby is the simplicity and the minimal equipment that is required to participate. As part of our membership or dues you will receive uniform shorts and socks plus a mouth guard. A uniform jersey will be provided each match day. Cleats are each players own personal responsibility. These can be soccer, football or rugby cleats. Rugby cleats are not necessary and are essentially the same as football ones. Rugby cleats along with other more specialized rugby supplies can be obtained on the internet from vendors such as world rugby shop, Red Rhino Rugby and Rugby Imports. Regular cleats can be purchased at Dicks Sporting Goods in Puyallup and Sports Authority.


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How much does it cost?

As we are a fairly new club and haven't been able to create substantial financial savings we rely heavily on collection of individual dues to offset our operating costs. Supplementing this income is a series of fundraisers which we schedule throughout the year. All players are expected to participate in these events. These fundraisers allow us to keep the membership fees to a minimum. The collected monies from dues offset player's uniforms, field rentals, field marking paint, post match food, referee fees, promotional materials and general administrative costs.

2012 Season Player Dues will be:

Rookie Player   - Yearly Dues $200

Veteran Player - Yearly Dues $175 if planning to use last years shorts and socks
                                                       $200 if not using gear.

Dues can be paid in whole by January 24th or divided into two payments with the final payment due by February 4th.

Checks should be made payable to Rainier Plateau Junior Rugby Club.

Confidential payment plans can be established for players requiring this provision. Dues can be waived on a confidential basis in instances deemed appropriate.

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Are there a lot of injuries in rugby?

No, there is a tremendous amount of misinformation on this important issue. Most of this misinformation is given our by folks who know little or nothing about rugby, or who are personally "invested" in sports that they perceive as competing with rugby for talented athletes.

There are actually very few injuries in rugby. As with all contact sports, there are bumps, bruises, and occasional sprains, concussions and fractures. Rugby is a contact sport, and a vigorous one. However the rate of serious injury is less than experienced in other contact sports, such as football and ice hockey. The rate of serious injury in rugby is roughly comparable to that in soccer and lacrosse and substantially less than sports like skiing and skateboarding.


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What happens if my son/daughter is injured during a match or practice?

A fully stocked first aid kit is always on hand to treat minor injuries that may occur during a match or at practice. Each player will complete a medical history document, emergency contact information and a medical authorization form which in the event of a serious injury requiring emergency treatment and a parent can't be immediately located will permit coach Ramsay to seek immediate medical care. These completed documents are added to a binder which accompanies the team to all practices and games. Players are responsible to report minor injuries to their parents; injuries that are suspected to be more serious in nature will be immediately reported by the coaching staff to player's parents or guardian.


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Who is in charge when the team goes to away games or overnight stays?

The ultimate responsibility for supervision of the players rests upon the head coach of the team with regard to all rugby activities, including team travel. This is a responsibility that is taken extremely seriously. In addition to the coaches parent chaperones may travel with the team on overnight trips. Parents will be provided comprehensive trip itinerary and telephone contact information that can used in the event of an emergency situation.

In addition to the head coach, parent chaperones and assistant coach will travel with the team on overnight trips. Parents will be provided comprehensive trip itinerary and telephone contact information in the event of an emergency.


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Club Code of Conduct

All athletes and their parents are required to review and sign a copy of the club's "Code of Conduct" which endorses the following values:

Personal Responsibility

Good Sportsmanship

Honesty

Respect for Teammates, coaches, officials and opponents

Fairness and team work

Included in this mandate is the zero tolerance policy for the use of drugs and or alcohol at any practice, match club tour or other events.


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How much time is spent on rugby on a weekly basis?

Our team will generally engage in two practices a week lasting 2 hours per session. No player is penalized in any way if he needs to skip practice or a match to study, complete homework or to attend a family, church or school event. Please report your absence by texting or calling Coach Ramsay. Game day depending on the location are generally an evening or a half day.

We will also encourage you to review on the website all the clubs practice, game and social activities. If you have known absences for work, school or perhaps a wedding or other family event you can log this absence in advance.


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How do I find out about current news, schedule or club related information?

The clubs website is the easiest and most comprehensive source of information and we also host a face book page.

Website :      http://www.RainierJuniorRugby.com

Facebook :    RainierRFC (no spaces)


How do I contact the coach?

Cell Phone :253-330-6816

Home Phone :253-891-8364

E mail : a.s.ramsay@comcast.net



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