LAFAYETTE, Colo.(USA rugby/Atavus Release) –  USA Rugby announced a long-term extension with partner Atavus to facilitate the USA Rugby Academy (USARA) – a critical part of USA Rugby player development – at locations across the country to identify and develop the nation’s top young players.

USARA “Powered by Atavus” events are grouped into three categories to meet specific needs in USA Rugby's player development, serving both elite age-grade players and aspiring players. USARA events include two-day Regional Training camps, four-day Resident Camps and one-day Assessment camps hosted in conjunction with local partners and existing National Development Academies (NDAs). Alongside these player-focused trainings, community coach development will be provided through Coach Education seminars run at every USARA camp.

“Atavus brings a wealth of organizational knowledge, a positive and proven coaching philosophy and world-class coaching talent to ensure as a country we continue to build our next generation of players,” said Dan Payne, CEO of USA Rugby. “Our national team coaches are excited to work alongside Atavus to uncover the next National Level players and Olympians, as well as raise the level of rugby being played across America.”

To meet athletes at their skill and aspirational levels, USARA camps include the high performance Eagle Track for elite age-grade players seeking future national team consideration and the Academy Track for emerging rugby players. Building more frequent interaction, engagement and support for current “pool players” across all age grades, the Eagle Track provides identified and invited athletes with regional development and tracking opportunities, as well as access to USA Rugby age-grade coaches to help accelerate their development and talent breakthrough to national representation. The Academy Track provides athletes with access to consistent, high-quality coaching relevant to their developmental levels, on- and off-field support and a unique rugby experience. USAR Academy events will supplement and prepare athletes for USA Rugby’s competitive pathway.

“We’re proud to continue our partnership with USA Rugby to find and develop the country’s top young players and their coaches,” said Ross Young, Executive Chairman of Atavus. “Working with USA Rugby, this new format allows our coaches to meet the developmental needs of players no matter if they are aiming to play in the World Cup or Olympics some day, or improve their game for their collegiate or community team. We’re also very excited to roll out a new set of resources for coaches to attend and shadow our team of experts.”

USARA camps are open to all girls and boys ages 14-18 and women and men 18 and older. Eagle Track players will be invited by USA Rugby Coaches. The partnership also has a renewed focus on coach education by offering Coach Education Seminars in conjunction with USARA events. Community coaches will be invited to attend USARA events to observe and shadow USA Rugby and Atavus coaches.

The 2017 USA Rugby Academy Powered by Atavus schedule is comprised of 16 Regional Training Camps and six Resident Camps including:

 

Two-Day Regional Training Camps

May 13-14 Birmingham, AL and Houston, TX

 

May 27-28 Washington D.C. Metro

 

June 3-4 Grand Rapids, MI

 

Sept. 9-10 Montana and Pennsylvania

 

Sept. 23-24 Los Angeles, CA and Utah

 

Sept. 30-Oct. 1 Chicago, IL

 

Nov. 4-5 Tennessee

 

Nov. 11-12 Connecticut, Florida, and Denver, CO

 

Dec. 2-3 Texas

Dec. 16-17 California

 

Four-Day Resident Camps

June 27-30

Girls & Boys High School | West Army & Navy Academy, Carlsbad, CA

Girls & Boys High School | Midwest Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest, IL

 

July 11-14

Girls & Boys High School | East Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT

Athletes wishing to attend Resident Camps can register at atavus.co/USARAPR17.

 

In order to make programs accessible to all interested athletes, Atavus continues its USARA scholarship program with partners QBE and World Rugby Shop. For more specific information on camps, including registration, scholarship and pricing information, please visit atavus.co/USARAPR17.