Ft. Hunt coach Katherine Aversano noticed that her high school players were developing tunnel vision when it came to collegiate rugby opportunities. A Mary Washington alumna, she wanted to broaden her players’ understanding of the sport after high school, and so the coach reached out to two successful, stable university programs in Virginia with the idea of a clinic series.
“There are girls being recruited, and they’re the top players in the state, but some – and they haven’t expressed it to me, but I see it in the way they act – feel if they’re not recruited by a DI Elite school, then they’re not going to be successful,” Aversano said.
“This is simply untrue – there are different levels of success for players in college,” the Virginia coach added. “I believe players should have the opportunity to experience successful collegiate rugby, regardless of their high school experience and regardless of their monetary situation.”
Aversano knows that few collegiate rugby teams actually have the budget to recruit and offer scholarships, but a variety of club sport programs have histories of success. She turned to the University of Virginia (UVA) and her alma mater, Mary Washington. Both programs show a range of collegiate options: A large DI school and a small DII school with long-term coaching, stability and national recognition.
Aversano pitched two one-day, low-cost player clinics at each school, with the hosts having complete autonomy over the make-up of the camps. There, players will be immersed in each college’s atmosphere as well as exposed to instruction from former Eagles (Jamie Burke, Erica Cavanaugh, Beth Black, Nancy Fitz), club players and elite coaching staffs.
“There is a disconnect between the high schools, colleges and women’s teams,” Aversano said. “These girls are really excited to learn from Eagles and All-Americans, but we’ll have women’s club players there, too. It’ll be beneficial for them to see women who are still playing for themselves – not for a medal or the national team. My biggest goal is to have them see beyond their high school rugby, to see they can have success and have fun in college and beyond. Not everyone wants to be an Eagle, and there’s still a place for them in the sport.”
Aversano has seen good interest in the first set of clinics, and she’s looking to build on her good relationships in the Mid-Atlantic so the series can expand in the future. Virginia has more flexibility in its fall schedule, while other states, like Pennsylvania, host fall 7s series that provide some scheduling hurdles. North Carolina has been mobilizing forces and hopes to attend at least one of the clinics, and Aversano wants to include a school in the North and South next year.
The UVA clinic occurs Saturday, Sept. 17, and Mary Washington hosts Sunday, Oct. 2. For more information, click on the links to download the brochures or visit the Facebook event page here.
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