| | | NCAA Emerging Sport Initiative
History and Mission of the Emerging Sports Initiative for Women's Rugby
Women's Rugby is currently classified as an NCAA emerging sport in Divisions I, II and III. Official classification as an emerging sport means that the NCAA recognizes women's rugby as a full varsity intercollegiate program and the institution may use the program costs and athlete participation to count towards their compliance with gender equity requirements. Currently, the NCAA houses four varsity women's teams. Of these teams one is DI, one DII and two are DIII.
The emerging sports initiative at USA Rugby has focused on expansion of varsity opportunities at both the Intercollegiate and Interscholastic (High School) levels. In August of 2008, Sebastian River High School in Sebastian, Florida, added the first girls' high school varsity program in the nation.
Rugby is currently the only full-contact sport in the NCAA for women. As one of the largest and continually growing club sports in the United States, women's rugby will look to become the next big sport by expanding within the NCAA and NFHSA. Growth at the high school level has increased from 50 registered female HS players in 2002 to over 6,000 in 2010. The creation of varsity high school girls' rugby is vital to the growth at the intercollegiate level.
USA Rugby can provide administrators and institutions with information packets and proposals catered specifically to an institution's budget, needs and desires for an additional women's sport.
USA Rugby maintains specific Levels of Participation (high school club/college club/NCAA)
- 5,000 girls participating in Girls' High School Club Rugby
- 30 High School Varsity student-athletes
- 11,000 women collegiate club rugby players
- 347 total women's collegiate rugby clubs
- 4 NCAA Women's Rugby programs currently
- 170 female rugby student-athletes in the NCAA
Estimated NCAA start-up costs: Approximately $15,000-$25,000 (not including travel, coaching salaries, etc.)
NCAA Equipment needed: Scrum sled, warm-ups, practice and game jerseys, shorts and socks, sweats, balls, cones blocking bags, cleats, head gear, shoulder pads, mouth guards
Facilities Necessary(can be gradual phase in project for many institutions): Field playing area is 130 x 75 yards, office facility, sprinkler system, team benches, scoreboard, public address system, goal post and goal post pads, fence enclosure, flag pole, equipment storage shed, spectator seating and locker room development for 30-35 player roster.
Coaching Staff: Two (one head coach and one graduate assistant)
Annual Cost of NCAA Program: Administrative decision based on level of interest in achieving immediate success against current NCAA programs. $100-120,000 in annual operating costs, excluding scholarships, (depends on road schedule and desire to showcase the team nationally) and including approximate coaches' salaries, equpment, travel, per diem, hotels, officials, additional training room and academic support.
Typical Season (dates, duration): Fall
Fund/Grants Available: Yes. If you are an NCAA and/or NFHSA athletic administrator interested in creating or elevating a varsity program at your institution, please contact Jim Snyder, jsnyder@usarugby.org
Contact information:
Jim Snyder, Director of Rugby Operations
2500 Arapahoe Ave, Suite 200
Boulder, CO 80302
303.539.0300
Fax: 303.539.0311
Email: jsnyder@usarugby.org