Who are the top players selected for the USA Men’s National Lacrosse Team. How does the U21 team selection process differ from the senior team. What are the key tournaments these teams are preparing for.
USA Men’s National Team Roster: Elite Players Ready for World Championship
USA Lacrosse has unveiled its final 23-man roster for the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship, set to take place from June 21 to July 1 in San Diego, California. The United States, as the reigning world champion, enters the 30-team event as the top seed, aiming to defend their title against formidable opponents.
The roster selection followed an intensive process, including a 50-player training camp in Florida held in conjunction with the IMLCA Winter Summit. This camp marked the fourth training opportunity for USA Lacrosse coaches since June, allowing them to evaluate and select the best talent for the national team.
Standout Players on the National Team Roster
- Charlie Bertrand (A/M) – Virginia/Redwoods
- Ryan Conrad (M) – Virginia/Waterdogs
- JT Giles-Harris (D) – Duke/Chrome
- Brennan O’Neill (A/M) – Duke
- Michael Sowers (A/M) – Princeton/Duke/Waterdogs
These players represent a mix of collegiate and professional experience, with many having achieved success at both levels. Their selection underscores the depth of talent in American lacrosse and the competitive nature of the national team selection process.
Historical Dominance and Future Challenges for Team USA
The United States has a storied history in international lacrosse competition, having won a record 10 world championships since the inaugural event in 1967. However, recent tournaments have seen increased competition, particularly from Canada.
Can the U.S. break the alternating championship pattern with Canada? Since 2002, when the U.S. won its sixth consecutive title, the two nations have traded victories. Canada claimed victory in 2006 and 2014, while the U.S. triumphed in 2010 and 2018. The 2023 championship presents an opportunity for the U.S. to become the first nation in over two decades to successfully defend their title.
U21 Men’s World Championship: Nurturing the Next Generation
In addition to the senior national team, USA Lacrosse has also announced the 23-man roster for the U21 Men’s World Championship. This tournament, originally planned as a U19 event for 2020, has been rescheduled to August 10-20, 2022, in Limerick, Ireland, due to the global pandemic.
Nick Myers, head coach of the Ohio State Men’s lacrosse team, will lead the U21 squad for the second time, having guided the U19 team to gold in 2016. The selection process for this team has been uniquely challenging, given the extended timeline and age adjustments necessitated by tournament postponements.
U21 Team Selection Process and Challenges
How did the pandemic affect the U21 team selection? The extended timeline due to multiple postponements allowed coaches to evaluate players over a longer period, but also presented challenges in maintaining team cohesion and adapting to the age category change from U19 to U21.
Myers emphasized the unprecedented nature of this team’s formation: “This national team process has been like no other. We are grateful for the opportunity we had to compete against outside competition. It had been almost two years since we saw another colored jersey. It was a great step in our team building process.”
USA’s Dominance in Youth International Lacrosse
The United States has shown remarkable consistency in youth international lacrosse competitions. The U.S. has won the last eight tournaments in the U19 category, with victories in 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2008, 2012, and 2016. This impressive streak highlights the strength of the American lacrosse development system and the depth of young talent in the country.
Will the U.S. U21 team continue this winning tradition in the upcoming championship? The change in age category and the extended preparation time due to postponements add intriguing elements to this question.
The Impact of Professional Experience on National Team Performance
A notable aspect of the USA Men’s National Team roster is the significant presence of professional lacrosse players. Many team members compete in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) and National Lacrosse League (NLL), bringing high-level competitive experience to the national squad.
Key Professional Players on the National Team
- Trevor Baptiste (FO) – Atlas/Philadelphia
- Jesse Bernhardt (D) – Chrome
- Michael Ehrhardt (LSM) – Whipsnakes
- Rob Pannell (A) – Redwoods
- Tom Schreiber (M) – Archers/Toronto
How does professional experience benefit the national team? Players who compete at the professional level bring a wealth of experience against top-tier opponents, advanced tactical understanding, and the ability to perform under pressure. This experience can be crucial in high-stakes international competitions.
Collegiate Powerhouses and Their Contribution to Team USA
The roster of the USA Men’s National Team reflects the strength of collegiate lacrosse programs across the country. Several universities are well-represented, showcasing their role in developing elite lacrosse talent.
Notable Collegiate Representations
- University of Virginia: Charlie Bertrand, Ryan Conrad
- University of Maryland: Jesse Bernhardt, Matthew Dunn, Michael Ehrhardt, Connor Kelly, Matt Rambo
- Duke University: JT Giles-Harris, Brennan O’Neill, Michael Sowers
- Denver University: Trevor Baptiste, Danny Logan
What makes these collegiate programs so successful in producing national team talent? Factors include top-notch coaching, competitive schedules, state-of-the-art facilities, and a culture of excellence that attracts and develops high-caliber players.
Tactical Considerations for the 2023 World Championship
As the USA Men’s National Team prepares for the 2023 World Championship, coaches and players must consider various tactical approaches to maintain their competitive edge.
Key Tactical Elements
- Versatility: Players like Charlie Bertrand and Michael Sowers, listed as A/M, provide tactical flexibility.
- Faceoff Specialists: The inclusion of Trevor Baptiste and TD Ierlan ensures strength in gaining possession.
- Defensive Strategy: A mix of close defenders, LSMs, and SSDMs allows for adaptive defensive schemes.
- Goalie Experience: Veteran goalkeepers Jack Kelly and Blaze Riorden bring stability to the last line of defense.
How will Team USA adapt their tactics to counter specific opponents? The coaching staff will likely develop game plans that leverage the team’s depth and versatility, allowing for in-game adjustments based on opponent strengths and weaknesses.
The Future of USA Lacrosse: Bridging U21 and Senior Teams
The simultaneous announcement of the U21 and senior national team rosters provides an intriguing glimpse into the future of USA Lacrosse. The U21 team serves as a pipeline for future senior national team players, allowing young talents to gain international experience and exposure to high-level competition.
How does participation in the U21 World Championship prepare players for future national team roles? The experience of representing their country, facing international competition, and performing under pressure creates a foundation for future success at the senior level.
Additionally, the presence of current college players like Brennan O’Neill on the senior national team demonstrates the potential for exceptional young talents to make an immediate impact at the highest level of international lacrosse.
Developing a Sustainable Pipeline of Talent
USA Lacrosse’s commitment to fielding competitive teams at both the U21 and senior levels underscores the organization’s focus on long-term success. By investing in youth development and providing opportunities for young players to compete internationally, USA Lacrosse aims to maintain its position as a global lacrosse powerhouse.
What strategies does USA Lacrosse employ to ensure a continuous flow of talent to the national teams? These may include:
- Youth development programs
- Talent identification camps
- Collaboration with collegiate programs
- Support for professional leagues
- Regular international competition at various age levels
By focusing on these areas, USA Lacrosse can create a sustainable model for success that spans from youth players to seasoned professionals.
The Global Growth of Lacrosse and Its Impact on International Competition
While the United States has historically dominated international lacrosse competitions, the sport’s global growth presents both opportunities and challenges for Team USA.
How is the increasing global popularity of lacrosse affecting international competitions? As more nations develop competitive lacrosse programs, the level of competition at world championships continues to rise. This trend is evident in the expansion of the Men’s World Championship to 30 teams in 2023.
Emerging Lacrosse Nations
Beyond traditional powerhouses like the United States and Canada, several nations have made significant strides in lacrosse development:
- Australia
- England
- Iroquois Nationals
- Japan
- Germany
The improved competitiveness of these nations adds excitement to international tournaments and pushes established lacrosse powers to continually innovate and improve.
What impact does increased global competition have on USA Lacrosse’s approach to team selection and preparation? The national team program must remain adaptable, scouting emerging talents and tactics from around the world while continuing to refine the skills and strategies that have led to past success.
The Role of Professional Leagues in Developing National Team Talent
The growth of professional lacrosse leagues, particularly the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) and National Lacrosse League (NLL), has had a significant impact on the development of players for the USA Men’s National Team.
Benefits of Professional League Experience
- Year-round competition
- Exposure to diverse playing styles
- High-pressure game situations
- Professional training environments
- Opportunity to specialize in specific roles
How do professional leagues contribute to the overall strength of the national team program? By providing a platform for players to compete at a high level beyond their collegiate careers, these leagues help maintain and improve the skills of potential national team members. The professional environment also fosters mental toughness and adaptability, crucial traits for success in international competitions.
Moreover, the visibility of professional leagues helps grow the sport’s popularity, potentially expanding the talent pool for future national teams.
Preparing for the World Championship: Training and Team Cohesion
With the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship approaching, the USA Men’s National Team faces the challenge of building team chemistry and implementing game strategies in a limited time frame.
Key Elements of Championship Preparation
- Training camps
- Scrimmages against high-level competition
- Tactical sessions
- Team-building activities
- Physical conditioning
How does the coaching staff balance individual player strengths with team tactical needs? The diverse backgrounds of players – coming from different collegiate programs and professional teams – necessitate a thoughtful approach to team integration. Coaches must create a system that maximizes individual talents while fostering a cohesive team identity.
What role does sports science play in team preparation? Modern training methods, including data analytics, personalized fitness programs, and recovery techniques, can give Team USA an edge in maintaining peak performance throughout the tournament.
The Legacy of USA Lacrosse and Future Aspirations
As the USA Men’s National Team prepares for the 2023 World Championship, they carry the weight of a storied lacrosse legacy. The program’s history of success serves as both inspiration and challenge for the current generation of players.
Historical Achievements
- 10 World Championship titles
- Consistent medal finishes in international competitions
- Development of numerous lacrosse legends
How does the legacy of USA Lacrosse influence the current team’s approach? Players and coaches are motivated to uphold the tradition of excellence while also leaving their own mark on the program’s history. This balance between respecting tradition and pushing boundaries drives innovation and continual improvement.
What are the long-term goals for USA Lacrosse beyond the 2023 World Championship? While immediate focus is on the upcoming tournament, the organization likely has broader objectives, such as:
- Maintaining dominance in international competitions
- Contributing to the global growth of lacrosse
- Potentially aiding in the sport’s Olympic aspirations
- Developing a sustainable model for long-term success
By considering both immediate competitive goals and long-term strategic objectives, USA Lacrosse positions itself to remain at the forefront of the sport’s development on a global scale.
Virginia Men’s Lacrosse || Bertrand, Conrad Named to 2023 USA’s World Lacrosse Championship Roster
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Former Virginia men’s lacrosse standouts Charlie Bertrand and Ryan Conrad have been named to the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship final 23-man roster, USA Lacrosse announced Tuesday (Dec. 20). The United States is the reigning world champion and will be the No. 1 seed for the 30-team event which runs June 21 through July 1 in San Diego, California.
Bertrand completed his second season with the Redwoods Lacrosse Club in 2022 after being drafted 24th overall in the 2021 PLL Draft. Bertrand transferred to UVA from Merrimack College to compete in his final collegiate season in the spring of 2021. He appeared in all 18 games of the UVA’s championship run, scoring 26 goals and recording seven assists in the process. Prior to his arrival at UVA, Bertrand won back-to-back NCAA Division-II titles at Merrimack in 2018 and 2019.
At The World Games 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama this past summer, Conrad guided the U.
S. to a runner-up finish in the 6-on-6 format. Most recently, Conrad scored three goals in the 2022 PLL Championship game to help the Waterdogs secure their first-ever championship. Originally drafted by the Atlas, Conrad guided UVA to the program’s sixth NCAA championship at Lincoln Financial in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2019. He finished the 2019 season with 31 goals, 18 assists and 95 ground balls, earning him USILA First Team All-American honors. Conrad was also crowned MVP of the 2019 ACC Tournament, which UVA won at Klöckner Stadium. He was Virginia Athletics’ second-ever Senior CLASS Award recipient – also the first recipient in UVA men’s lacrosse program history.
The U.S. roster was selected following a 50-player training camp in Florida, held in conjunction with the IMLCA Winter Summit, earlier this month. It was the fourth training opportunity USA Lacrosse coaches held with the players since June.
The United States has won a record 10 world championships since the first international competition in 1967, but will face numerous challengers, including three-time champion Canada.
The U.S. is looking to become the first nation to repeat as champion at this event in more than two decades. The U.S. and Canada have alternated championships since the U.S. won its sixth straight world championship in 2002. Canada won in 2006 and 2014 while the U.S. won in 2010 and 2018.
2023 U.S. Men’s Team
| Name | Pos. | Pro Team(s) | College |
| Trevor Baptiste | FO | Atlas/Philadelphia | Denver ’18 |
| Jesse Bernhardt | D | Chrome | Maryland ’13 |
| Charlie Bertrand | A/M | Redwoods/Las Vegas | Merrimack ’20/Virginia (Gr.) |
| Liam Byrnes | LSM | Waterdogs/Panther City | Marquette ’16 |
| Ryan Conrad | M | Waterdogs | Virginia ’19 |
| Matthew Dunn | D | Whipsnakes | Maryland ’16 |
| Michael Ehrhardt | LSM | Whipsnakes | Maryland ’14 |
| JT Giles-Harris | D | Chrome | Duke ’21 |
| Zach Goodrich | SSDM | Cannons | Towson ’19 |
| TD Ierlan | FO | Redwoods/Toronto | Yale ’20/Denver (Gr./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63062299/UVA_lacrosse_group.0.jpeg) ) |
| Connor Kelly | M | Waterdogs/Albany | Maryland ’18 |
| Jack Kelly | G | Redwoods | Brown ’16 |
| Danny Logan | SSDM | Atlas/San Diego | Denver ’21 |
| Kieran McArdle | A | Waterdogs/Albany | St. John’s 14 |
| Brennan O’Neill | A/M | Duke ’24 | |
| Rob Pannell | A | Redwoods | Cornell ’13 |
| Matt Rambo | A | Whipsnakes/Philadelphia | Maryland ’17 |
| Jacob Richard | SSDM | Atlas | Marquette ’16 |
| Blaze Riorden | G | Chaos/Philadelphia | Albany ’16 |
| Jack Rowlett | D | Chaos | North Carolina ’19 |
| Tom Schreiber | M | Archers/Toronto | Princeton ’14 |
| Michael Sowers | A/M | Waterdogs | Princeton ’20/Duke (Gr. ) |
| Ryan Terefenko | SSDM | Chrome/Halifax | Ohio State ’21 |
USA Lacrosse names 23-man roster for U21 Men’s World Championship – Lacrosse TV
by Stephen Ippolito Nov 30, 2021
USA Lacrosse has announced their final 23-man roster for the upcoming U21 Men’s World Championship. The tournament will be held in Limerick, Ireland, from Aug. 10-20, 2022.
Originally the tournament was supposed to be a U19 event and held in the summer of 2020. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, it was postponed multiple times and changed to a U21.
Nick Myers (Ohio State Men’s head coach) will serve as the head coach for a second time. Myers was of course in charge of the U19 that won gold back in 2016.
Myers talked about getting the roster down to 23 players in a press release:
“This national team process has been like no other,” said Myers. “We are grateful for the opportunity we had to compete against outside competition.
It had been almost two years since we saw another colored jersey. It was a great step in our team building process. We feel strongly about the pool of men that have been in this USA process in different ways for the past three years. More than just these 23 men have made this team what it is today, and we will be playing for them as well as many others next summer.”
The U.S. has won the last eight tournaments in the U19 grouping (1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2008, 2012, 2016). Before they compete next July, The team will hold one final training weekend at USA Lacrosse headquarters in June.
Check out the roster below:
- Michael Alexander | D | West Islip (N.Y.) | 2019 | Yale
- Jackson Bonitz | D | McDonogh (Md.) | 2020 | Navy
- Kenny Brower | D | Massapequa (N.Y.) | 2019 | Duke
- Graham Bundy Jr. | M | MICDS (Mo.) | 2019 | Georgetown
- Jake Caputo | M | Middle Creek (N.
C.) | 2019 | Duke - Liam Entenmann | G | Chaminade (N.Y.) | 2019 | Notre Dame
- Brendan Grimes | M | Boys’ Latin (Md.) | 2020 | Johns Hopkins
- Patrick Hackler | M | Skaneateles (N.Y.) | 2019 | Yale
- Cole Herbert | M | Calvert Hall (Md.) | 2020 | North Carolina
- Patrick Kavanagh | A | Chaminade (N.Y.) | 2019 | Notre Dame
- Cole Kirst | A | Seton Hall Prep (N.J.) | 2018 | Lehigh
- Shane Knobloch | M | Moorestown (N.J.) | 2020 | Rutgers
- Quentin Matsui | D | Eden Prairie (Minn.) | 2019 | Virginia
- Jack Monfort | M | Syosset (N.Y.) | 2019 | Yale
- Jake Naso | FO | St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) | 2020 | Duke
- Brennan O’Neill | A | St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) | 2020 | Duke
- Jared Paquette | G | West Islip (N.Y.) | 2019 | Yale
- Danny Parker | M | St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) | 2019 | Virginia
- Ryan Schriber | D | Wilton (Conn.) | 2019 | Michigan
- Alex Slusher | A | Oregon Episcopal School (Ore.) | 2019 | Princeton
- Jacob Snyder | D | Calvert Hall (Md.) | 2019 | Ohio State
- Alec Stathakis | FO | Culver Military (Ind.) | 2019 | Denver
- Lance Tillman | A | Valor Christian (Colo.) | 2019 | North Carolina
C.) | 2019 | Duke
Anthony’s (N.Y.) | 2019 | VirginiaMost Popular Sports in Canada
There are several things that make Canada unique and interesting. The country’s wonderful climate, strong economy, low crime rate, and proximity to the US make it one of the best places to visit or live. But a description of Canada cannot be complete without mentioning the wide variety of games enjoyed by thousands of spectators in the country. Canadians value several sporting events not only for entertainment, but also as a means of strengthening the unity of the country.
The wide range of sporting events provides Canadians with great opportunities to showcase their talents and compete effectively against the rest of the world at the international level.
10. Wrestling
Wrestling is a popular recreational and competitive sport in Canada. There are various forms of struggle that reflect the diversity and multicultural composition of the country. Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling are widespread in high schools and colleges. Among the most popular types of wrestling are judo, sambo and submission wrestling. Wrestling was brought to Canada by foreign coaches who visited the country and by sports students who studied in other countries. Canadian wrestlers continue to excel in international arenas such as the World Championships and the Olympics. Some of the popular wrestlers include Daniel Egali, Nicholas Gill and Keith Morgan.
9. Curling
Curling is a popular sport in Canada, especially in the Prairie provinces where several of the country’s popular teams are based in Alberta and Manitoba.
Curling in Canada has always been associated with the military and was brought into the country from Scotland. The game is sanctioned by the Canadian Curling Federation. The organization also organizes an annual national championship for the sport. The men’s national curling championship is known as the Tim Hortons Brier, while the women’s championship is called the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Curling is also a major sporting event in schools and colleges where the top player is selected to compete in national championships.
8. Basketball
Basketball has strong roots in Canada. The modern basketball game was founded by Canadian James Naismith in 1891 while he was a physical education instructor in the United States. Several of the players who took part in the first game came from Canada. Today basketball is one of the main sports in the country, especially in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Alberta. The game is especially popular in high schools and colleges in Nova Scotia.
Professional basketball in the country began at 1946, but rose to prominence in 1994 when the NBA granted franchises to the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies. There are currently 30 teams in the Canadian National Basketball Championship.
7. Rugby
Rugby was probably introduced to Canada by the Royal Navy in 1823, which also contributed to its development in different parts of the country. Although the game completely disappeared from the country, it was reintroduced with the formation of the national team and the holding of domestic rebar competitions. Both rugby league and rugby union have gained popularity across the country since their reintroduction. The Canadian Rugby League hosts several domestic and professional competitions. Rugby Union represents four regional teams in the championship. Rugby union has attracted over 13,000 senior players and several junior players across the country, especially in British Columbia.
6. Football
Football has been a popular sport in Canada since 1876.
It is the most popular sport in the country in terms of participation rate, with over 2.7 million people participating in the game in 2006. Football in Canada is governed by the Football Association, known as the Canadian Football Association. There are 1450 clubs in 12 regions. There is an annual rebar competition known as the National Championship where the senior men’s team competes for the challenge trophy and the women’s team competes for the Jubilee trophy. The championship also includes the U-18, 16 and 14 levels. The Canadian national football team also competes in several international competitions such as the World Cup and the Olympics.
5. Cricket
Although Canada is not eligible to participate in test matches, the national team is allowed to compete in one-day international matches. The country had a very competitive women’s cricket team and an U-19 team that played in three U-19 World Cup tournaments. The senior men’s team has also competed in three Cricket World Cup tournaments./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45850104/usa-today-7278827.0.jpg)
Cricket in Canada is regulated by Cricket Canada, founded in 1892. The organization organizes domestic inter-provincial games and also introduced the Scotia Shield U-19 competition.and the T20 National Championship.
4. Baseball
Baseball has been played in Canada since the beginning and is one of the most popular sports in the country. The oldest baseball park in the world is still in operation at Labatt Park in Ontario. There is only one Major League in the country, the Toronto Blue Jays. Over 70 Canadian cities have hosted some major league teams. The country also has several independent league teams that take part in the Can-Am League and the American Association. Baseball in Canada is governed by the Baseball Association of Canada, based in Ottawa. Canada is also represented in international competition by the Canadian national baseball team.
3. Football
Football in Canada is a form of net football played by two teams of twelve players each. Football in the country has its origins in rugby but has since evolved into Canadian football.
The top sport professional league in the country is known as the Canadian Football League, while Football Canada governs the rebar game. The Gray Cup is one of the major football events in the country, attracting millions of television viewers. The sport is also played at the school and college level across the country while the sport is also played at the major league level during the summer.
2. Lacrosse
Lacrosse was declared the national game of Canada in 1859 and a summer sport in 1994. It is played by thousands of people across Canada. Lacrosse is governed by the Canadian Lacrosse Association, which was formed in 1925. The organization runs senior and junior championship tournaments in both field and boxing lacrosse. There are two professional lacrosse leagues in the country, the National Lacrosse League for the box lacrosse league and Major League Lacrosse for the field lacrosse league. Canada beat the US 15 to 10 in the 2006 World Lacrosse Championship Final, ending a 28-year US winning streak.
Great achievements in lacrosse are recognized and awarded by the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
1. Hockey
Hockey is a year-round sport in Canada at all levels. Modern ice hockey in Canada originated in the 19th century and is a popular form of entertainment in the country, involving people of all ages. Some of the popular national championship trophies include the Memorial Cup and the Allan Cup for juniors and senior men, respectively. There are also divisional championships throughout the country. Ice hockey’s governing body is Hockey Canada, which is also a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The Canadian men’s ice hockey team competes in international tournaments such as the Olympics.
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Rugby in the USA – how it works
In general, the situation with rugby in the USA is not that bad, but still not very good, although there is a positive trend and optimism about the future.
Over the past few years, the US team has dropped from 13th to 18th place in the RBI rankings, but this happened more likely due to the fact that the USA (and Russia too) were marking time at the bottom of the second ten in the ranking, while other teams moved ahead.
Despite this, the RRB is very interested in the development of rugby in the US, because in order to ensure the future of rugby, the most developed and richest sports market in the world and 310 million people cannot be ignored. But the fact that this sports market is so developed makes it difficult to “enter” this market. The media space in the United States is already oversaturated with sports, and the viewer simply cannot physically capture all the sporting events and spectacles. In addition to the so-called “big four” traditionally commercially successful sports (American football, baseball, basketball and hockey), which are shown on central television channels and where athletes receive multi-million dollar contracts, ordinary football (soccer) and lacrosse (another specifically American sport somewhat reminiscent of field hockey) are actively developing.
That’s why rugby has a very hard time fighting for a spectator. Most ordinary people know nothing about rugby at all and have never seen it. Rugby is shown very rarely on central TV channels, a couple of times a year, and they practically do not write in newspapers either. The level of the domestic rugby championship is quite low, as he is completely amateur. There are some more developed clubs that can afford to pay for the travel expenses of the players and a little for the coaches at the expense of patrons, but in most clubs the players play practically at their own expense.
In general, a typical “vicious circle” characteristic of many countries with amateur rugby: the national team does not show good results because. no professional home championship, therefore no professional championship. sponsors do not want to invest, therefore, sponsors do not want to invest because there is no mass viewer, therefore, there is no viewer. there is no professional championship and the national team does not show results.
Nevertheless, in terms of the total number of rugby players, the situation is not bad and is constantly improving – there are amateur clubs in almost all major cities, there is a student team in almost every university, and the segment of school teams (14-18 years old) is most actively developing. In total, there are approximately 2 thousand rugby clubs of various levels, in which about are involved 100 thousand registered players of different ages.
Over the past few years there has been a constant debate in the country about the best way to develop rugby – “top down” or “bottom up”. The IRB seems to be betting on the “top down” path – they believe that it is necessary to ensure that the national team shows good results, and then American viewers “on the wave of patriotism” will start watching rugby, signing up for teams en masse and sponsors will be happy to invest in a professional home championship. Under this scheme, the IRB has spent the last few years in the form of grants virtually funding the administration costs of the national team, paying the salaries of the US Rugby Union coach and executives, and attempting to organize a North America 4 championship modeled after the provincial championships in developed rugby countries.
For younger age groups, the IRB wants to create “Rugby Academies” following the British-Irish model.
Adherents of the “bottom up” path believe that the funding of the national team at this stage should be minimal, and all funds and efforts should be directed to the development of rugby through the existing system of school and university sports, which is simply unique in America. And when more and more people are introduced to rugby at school and college, then the existing club championship will professionalize on its own due to growing spectator/sponsorship interest. I refer myself to the second group, because. I agree with their thesis that even if the US team wins tomorrow, for example, the national team of England or New Zealand, then this will not even be told in the news due to low spectator interest. And the system of “Rugby Academies” does not make sense. will conflict with the existing university sports system.
The US has a very strong school and college sports system.
At the same time, most children go in for sports on the territory of their own regular high school in the sports complex that belongs to this school. There is no CYSS system in our concept in the USA. But almost any ordinary high school in a decent area, as a rule, has a sports complex, which can be the envy of any sports school of the Olympic reserve in the CIS. Several grass fields, an athletics arena, a swimming pool, basketball, volleyball, wrestling and gyms are the norm. When I see this and compare it with a shabby “sports town” and a small trampled football field in secondary schools, where I studied in the provincial cities of Russia and Ukraine, I almost want to cry.
Schoolchildren and students in the US have a very strong self-identification with their school/college, a sort of patriotism and defending the colors of the school in competition against the neighboring district or another college. College football and basketball teams are even commercially successful, especially at major universities.
Some schools have their own stadium for 5-10 thousand spectators, and American football games between major universities easily collect full hundred thousand (!) stadiums. Graduates of schools and universities do not lose touch with their “alma mater” after graduation, and attending sports events at their university is part of American culture and a family tradition for many graduates. Many also actively donate personal money to the development of the academic and sports base of their university, as if in gratitude for the “start in life”.
University rugby teams have existed for a long time, but unfortunately in most universities they receive very little support from the administration and funding is much less than other sports, even the same Euro-football. There are many reasons for this. First of all, it must be said that sports in the university system are divided into so-called varsity sports, i.e. sections on sports officially administered by the sports department of the university and receiving powerful funding, and club sports, i.
e. teams that are administered by the students themselves, where the coach is usually on a voluntary basis (free of charge) one of the teachers, and they receive a minimum of funding. So, in most universities, rugby is a club sport and is considered by the administration on a par with billiards, bowling, fencing, frisbee and other “niche” sports.
University administrations are very reluctant to classify rugby as “varsity” [ university sports – approx. “Rugby Online” ]. One of the reasons is the negative image of rugby among the American public. In the 70s, 80s and part of the 90s, rugby gained the reputation of “hooligan sport for NOT gentlemen” – many rugby clubs in universities paid more attention to the third half than the first two, alcohol flowed like water and rugby players were viewed mainly as “crazy dudes” who are always drunk kneading each other in the mud. “Unfortunately, rugby players did not try to change this image, and many specially went to rugby clubs with the main goal of “poking around”.
At 9Much has been done in the 0s and over the past decade to clean up the image of rugby and present it as a serious sport. But many university administrators are still hostile to rugby, and parents are reluctant to send their children to clubs because they are imprinted in the memory of the image of loud drunk “crazy rugby players” who violate discipline at the university.
Another and more practical reason is gender politics in the US, or so-called “feminism”. Before I get called a chauvinist by women rugby players and pelted with boots, I will say that I am a big supporter of the development of women’s rugby on an equal footing with men’s. But it just so happens that in the US, the development of men’s rugby is hampered by the policy of gender equality. At the federal level, collegiate sports in the United States are governed by the highly influential NCAA organization, the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Most “varsity” sports at universities are administered under the NCAA.
But the NCAA requires universities to provide equal opportunities for female and male students to play sports. Those. Roughly speaking, for every men’s team there should be a women’s team. And since there are some sports that women do not play at universities – for example, the same American football, hockey or wrestling, then there are purely women’s teams at the university – for example, field hockey and softball. Administrators do not want to add another male sport to the list of official sections supported by the university, because. it is already difficult for them to maintain gender balance. They are more willing to add women’s rugby to the list to compensate for the purely masculine types. Men’s rugby isn’t the only sport that suffers in this situation – for example, it turns out that volleyball in America is mostly a women’s sport – universities don’t want to maintain an official volleyball section for men, but support for women – to balance the fact that there are more than 100 people on an American football team.
But despite these obstacles, rugby is developing in the university system even as a “club” sport, not a “varsity” sport. Several thousand fans attend the student championship final every year. Some fans are connected to rugby in some way, but many start going to watch rugby simply to support their university. The Rugby 7s and Rugby 15 finals were even shown on public sports channels. In this regard, student rugby has great potential, because. universities have a ready base of fans from among graduates who are happy to support any team of their university. It’s the same as if we organized a rugby match “Dynamo” – “Spartak” to associate rugby with already well-known sports societies and advertise through names familiar to fans.
The booming development of high school rugby is helping varsity rugby with a constant influx of new players, but the main problem at the moment is the lack of a professional home championship. Because of this, the best athletes choose other sports than rugby, where they have the opportunity to receive a scholarship to the university and a professional contract in the future.
So far, it turns out that in order to play rugby professionally, Americans have to go to Europe, and there, as you know, it is also not easy to get a contract and break into the squad. So rugby in the United States has to be content with the “remnants” of those who were not taken to the American football team.
Usually at school age, children play several sports at the same time in different seasons, for example, football in autumn, freestyle wrestling in winter, and rugby in spring. And when closer to graduation it becomes a question of choosing a university, and then a graduate is offered a full scholarship if he plays in a football team, then it is difficult for a graduate to refuse a scholarship worth 120 thousand dollars for 4 years for the love of rugby. And at the university, the amerofootball coach already forbids his players to play rugby even outside the main season, because. afraid that they are injured before the season. So, as always, it all comes down to money. Rugby scholarships are still very few.
