SEATTLE  – ATAVUS (atavus.com) has launched its two newest ATAVUS Academy locations in Minneapolis and San Diego to provide sustained, year-round player development. Initially both locations will focus on women’s (18+) programs, designed to parallel the USA Rugby Women’s development pathway and scheduled to complement rugby schedules in the Midwest and Southern California. During each eight-week Block, ATAVUS coaches including USA National Team coaches Pete Steinberg (San Diego) and Martha Daines (Minneapolis), and USA's Women's 7s Assistant Coach Richie Walker (San Diego) will provide weekly on-field technical and tactical development critical for athletes to succeed at elite levels of the game.

“Players that want to play at an elite level need to seek out the best support possible.  ATAVUS Academies are a great way for a current or aspiring eagle to maximize their potential,” said Pete Steinburg, USA Rugby Women's 15s Head Coach. 

Built to provide year-round, elite level training alongside an athlete’s team play, the Minneapolis and San Diego ATAVUS Academies are comprised of eight week Blocks. ATAVUS is currently placing athletes into Block 1 from October 26th through December 14th, and Block 2 from January 18th through March 7th, with training occurring once a week in the evenings. 

Block 1 is intended to prepare the athletes for National All Star Competitions (NASC), Premier League and Division 1 club rugby, and competitive collegiate rugby, while Block 2 coincides with preseason for collegiate and USA Rugby’s spring rugby. During each Block Academy athletes will also receive tiered strength and conditioning programming support and testing, as well as on-field speed sessions. 

“Our Academies deliver the rugby tools necessary to play elite-level rugby, enhancing the players’ understanding of the international game, and developing the skills and physical strength necessary to compete at the highest levels,” said Emilie Bydwell, Head of Rugby Programming at ATAVUS. “We enjoy working alongside Pete and his team of coaches to help grow and strengthen the USA player pool.”

Academy athletes receive ATAVUS apparel, a HUDL account for ongoing access to video analysis of training sessions and ATAVUS led webinars, and a subscription to Volt Athletics online strength and conditioning. In Minneapolis, ATAVUS has partnered with The Laurus Rehab and Performance Center, providing Academy athletes with guidance and exclusive discounts on high-performance strength and conditioning. 

ATAVUS’s first Academy has been operating in Seattle since 2013, with more than 25 women and men participating in ongoing player development and strength and conditioning. Current USA national team pool players Emilie Bydwell, Ryan Carlyle, Oli Kilifi, Jope Motokana, Emily Prentice, Lou Stanfill, Tim Stanfill, Kelsi Stockert, Shalom Suniula, and Matt Trouville train year-round at the ATAVUS Academy Seattle.

All participants in ATAVUS Academies also have the opportunity to be selected and play as part of the ATAVUS All-Stars to provide competitive opportunities in rugby athlete development. The 2016 ATAVUS All-Stars schedule includes:

·       Las Vegas Invitational (7s)           March 3-4        Men & Women

·       Las Vegas Invitational (7s) March 3-4                  Boys & Girls

·       British Military Tour (15s)               June                           Women

·       U20 Ontario Tour (15s)*                July                            Women

·       Serevi Rugbytown 7s                      August                       Men & Boys 

*event to be confirmed 

Athletes interested in participating in the ATAVUS Academy in Minneapolis, San Diego, or Seattle can find more information and pricing at the below links or by contacting the appropriate ATAVUS team member: 

·       Minneapolis: atavus.com/atavusacademyMN, Ben Landry, ben.landry@atavus.com.

·       San Diego: atavus.com/atavusacademysd - Hannah Lockwood, hannah.lockwood@atavus.com.

·       Seattle: atavus.com/atavusacademyseattle - Shawn Pittman, shawn.pittman@atavus.com.