Once the all-star championships were deleted from the national calendar, so followed the teams that used to compete in them (with some notable exceptions). It’s taken some time to realize just how important those teams and competitions were, and some regions are actively trying to fill the void.

The Florida Rugby Union has revivified its Women’s High Performance Program (HPP) and is fielding a 15s team in the amateur tournament running alongside the Atlanta 7s, a stop on the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series. Jason Schiessl, who was the last coach to lead a USA South Women’s 7s team, was tabbed as HPP 15s coach, and with the help of assistants Mike Lane and Eyal Hakim, used two player camps to whittle 95 players down to 23. Ten of those players are in college, with Eckerd College contributing six.

The fact that Florida is fielding a team is a triumph in itself. The region is in the meat of its collegiate and club matrix seasons, and many talented athletes were eliminated from consideration due to those scheduling conflicts.

“I’d hope they’d start scheduling around it,” Schiessl said of future league seasons. “If this tournament is successful, and if some developmental scouts come out and take a look at the players, then this would be a good opportunity – especially for college players who don’t get much exposure – to show your abilities, especially since they've restructured the [player] nomination process.”

Schiessl is eager to put a few of the younger players on a larger stage, including Amber Cook, Zoe Sanchez and Florida International’s Rayehanna Salkey.

Cook is tiny, 115 lbs. by Schiessl’s estimate, but “plays 30 lbs. heavier than she is,” the coach said. “She’s a tough, tenacious girl who’s fast and thinks on her feet pretty well. She’s rough and has some things to work on, but she’s someone who will work. She’s one of those players who needs to be looked at.

“Zoe isn’t the strongest or fastest, but she is a beast,” Schiessl said of his former USA South 7s pupil, who was a utility player at nationals but will play flyhalf in Atlanta. “Her work effort is constant, which is exactly what I need out of players, especially when working off the ball. She is always there, always involved in the play, so she’s someone to watch.

“Raye is fast as hell,” Schiessl said of the FIU player who will likely play wing. “That girl can fly and has a pretty good step. We just have to get the ball out to her, and she can make things happen.”

The aforementioned players will likely be the team’s playmakers, and Schiessl has rounded out the side with smaller but fit and mobile athletes. The coaches understood that the opposition was going to more experienced and cohesive, so the staff will attempt to sidestep – literally – those advantages with youthful speed.

“It’s a developmental thing,” Schiessl summarized his expectations for the team and tournament. “The younger players will go against high-caliber opponents and have the opportunity to measure themselves. The victory won’t come from us winning, and I’m not going to feel bad if we lose. If we make some small individual or unit strides – that’s what I’m aiming for. It wouldn’t bother me if we won as well, but I’m not thinking about that.”

In particular, Schiessl wants the college players to develop their understanding of the game's layers.

“With collegiate rugby, even some lower-level club rugby, vision isn’t used as much,” the coach explained. “The offense is much more reactionary versus having a plan ingrained or relying on skill. That’s my obstacle: I have a bunch of girls who, if they get in trouble want to throw the ball away; or if they are avoiding the tackle, they run sideways instead of seeing beyond that immediate contact. There are games within games, and getting them to navigate through that will be difficult, but hopefully we can some to see those things.”

Even though this assembly is about the players, Schiessl is particularly excited to get back to all-star coaching. The last time he was at the helm, he was in Chula Vista discussing regional 7s circuits with fellow territorial coaches, and brainstorming how to enrich the national pipeline. He was standing beside now-Eagle Dana Meschisi as USA Women 7s coach Ric Suggitt asked if she wanted to be on the Olympic team.

“Then after that, they kind of shut it down,” Schiessl reminisced about the all-star championships. “That sucks. I understand the restructuring; I understand what Serevi’s trying to do; but I think they can be very successful.

“You’ve got to be on your game the entire time,” Schiessl continued. “You know the people who are watching you have plans for you if you do well. The pressure is high. You know you’re marking up against somebody that’s just as high caliber – if not higher – than you, and you have to mentally step up your game and physically be on top of things. Sometimes at local or regional tournaments, you have players who can coast through. We need players who constantly have to face high-level competition. On the [world 7s] circuit you’ve got to be on your game all the time – whether it’s at training or off season. You’re always looking over your shoulder. You’re trying to be the best you can be.”

Florida has made a positive step in reinstituting a layer of competition that is still needed in this country, and hopefully the idea of senior all-star teams catches on, again.

ROSTER
Alison Beattie – Univ. Miami
Vicky Becerra - Fort Miami
Danielle Becker- Eckerd College
Mary Blizzard - Jacksonville
Amanda Butler - Fort Miami
Andrea Cammarano - Florida State
Cory Champer - Eckerd College
Amanda Colton - Orlando
Amber Cook - Indian River
Michelle Durr - Eckerd College
Ally Gallagher - Eckerd College
Kristen Hanratty - Jacksonville
Lindsay Jordan - Jacksonville
Pam McCullough - Eckerd College
Stacey Nemeth - Jacksonville
Sam Norman – Univ. South Florida
Foulso Ogundepo - Jacksonville
Alex Pierce - Orlando
Rayehanna Salkey - Florida International Univ.
Zoe Sanchez - Orlando
Kristi Schnepp - Fort Miami
Shannon Steele - Orlando
Liz Yanuskeiwicz - Eckerd College

Head Coach: Jason Schiessl
Assistant Coach, Backs: Eyal Hakim
Assistant Coach, Forwards: Mike Lane
Conditioning: Alexander Chriest
Manager: Ross Devonport