Top rugby players are often praised for their great “field vision” or ability to look at their opposition and put together runs and passes that make it seem like their defenders aren’t even there. Even exceptionally gifted rugby players must work hard to build the peripheral vision that makes this possible, helping them identify defenders or support players in the corners of their eyes. Strong peripheral awareness helps players quickly assess what is happening around them, so

Time Management can be a struggle for everyone – especially collegiate athletes with a FULL class schedule, practices to attend, homework, social life etc. Our friends at Hall Wellness & Sports Consultants have an awesome tool to help you maximize your time and become a better student-athlete! How can this Match Week Planning Tool help? Gain Better Clarity throughout the week and in the lead-up to a game (which we all want!) Good for Scheduling Skills, Extras & Fitness top u

Too Big! Too Small! One of the most critical things I do when working with a family is helping the student identify rugby programs that would be a “good fit.” But what does a “good fit” mean ? As the pictures above clearly demonstrate, it is easy to see when clothes or shoes don’t fit, but it's not easy to envision whether a collegiate rugby program will work for your athlete’s goals. Below are a few questions I encourage players to consider in determining what program will

Add Meditation to your Weekly Practice! It’s not complicated, it’s not religious, it’s not spiritual, and anyone can do it. It’s just what we said above: you practice focusing to concentrate better. Most research is behind the “single point focus,” meaning you try to spend 10 to 20 minutes thinking about just one thing. And just like spending ten to twenty minutes training a body part eventually makes it stronger outside of the workout, intensely training your focus improves

Special Guest Post By: Army West Point Men's Rugby Head Coach, Matt Sherman Changes in the Recruiting Process:  Over the years, the recruiting process has evolved significantly. I think, overall, higher-caliber players and athletes are drawn to the sport. As the game has grown at the youth and high school level, the level of experience and coaching has increased, and the caliber of players looking to play at the collegiate level has improved.  There are also more formal pathw

Sports Psychology Tip No.1: Lower Expectations It is probably a no-brainer that coaches’ and parents’ high expectations for their kids can cause them to feel pressured. Parents and coaches sometimes impose their own expectations on their kids, aiming to boost kids' confidence. But often, this has the opposite effect. Athletes with high self-confidence levels end up in the winner’s circle. You want your child/athletes to feel fully confident at game time. That means you need t

Photo Credit: https://www.optimumnutrition.com/en-gb/articles/fitness/leinster-and-saracens-setting-rugbys-gold-standard For any athlete,...

Something I will always remember one of my first coaches telling me I needed to do if I truly wanted to become a better player was to...

After watching so much rugby over the years, especially high school and college rugby, I've come to realize the importance of having both...

Photo Credit: PikWizard.com A few years ago, I chatted with Coach Paul Keeler , who has been the head coach for numerous rugby programs,...

Guest Post by Austin Ryan, Fairfield University Men’s Rugby It is a privilege to be counted among a relatively small group of...

By Kittery Ruiz (Current Brown University Asst Coach & former USA Eagle) Core strength protects the spines of all of us rugby players...

Written By: Lindsey Wilson, ESPNHoopGurlz The summer schedule is hectic. You move from gym to gym, it's loud, it's crowded, and it's...

Photo Credit: www.desmoinesregister.com High School Rugby Tournaments , as well as winter and summer camps and clinics, continue growing...

So, you want to be an elite athlete? What if I told you that you might be missing out on one crucial step in your development, and it...

I recently renewed my SafeSport certification as a requirement for my accreditation as a USA Rugby & World Rugby Educator. Part of this...

Guest Post By: Justin Goonan, Universal Sports Strength & Conditioning If you're in your off-season, it's a great time to set some goals...

Guest post by Sean Duffy, Head Coach, University of Arizona Men’s Rugby So, you get the call, email, or a coach comes up to you. It’s a...

If there's one thing every coach wants on their team, it's a FIT player. This is great news for student-athletes because they can work on...

Photo Credit: eugenereimer.abbyschools.ca As a high school athlete preparing to take the next step into college rugby, one of the biggest...