ARPTC in Florida
American Rugby Pro Training Center (ARPTC) is one of two National Development Programs (NDPs) that will feature at the Tropical 7s in Orlando, Fla. The tournament is part of a year-long curriculum that involves in-person camps – two of which have already occurred in 2021 – online modules, tournaments and summer residency. The Little Rock, Ark., entity has also diversified its development initiatives, mentoring two active players into coaching roles.
RELATED: Tropical 7s Girls’ U18 Rosters
“2020 was pretty might a write-off in terms of the high school program,” ARPTC Program Director Ryszard Chadwick referenced Covid-19. “So for 2021 we put a big focus on figuring out how we can actually get these players developed in a year-long program instead of through one-off camps here and there, which you see a lot of the programs doing.”
ARPTC created a year-long calendar that weds development and performance camps, online-learning modules, summer residency and playing opportunities like Tropical 7s, Falcon 7s and NAI 7s in Salt Lake City. Players can opt in and out of any programming, but the NDP promotes full commitment because it’s meant to be experienced as a 12-month program.
“Being an NDP – the key word being ‘development’ – we have to develop new coaches as well as players, because it can’t just be the same coaches’ voices over and over,” Chadwick said. “One, it gets boring. And, two, the growth of the game doesn’t really expand the way we want it to without new voices and new people and fresh blood.”
Active ARPTC senior players Lauren Ebeling and Alli Hale were hand-picked as the the high school coaches, and they’ll be mentored by Chadwick and ARPTC founder Jules McCoy. Ebeling, of the WPL’s Chicago North Shore, started her ARPTC career in 2019 and has never coached before, and fellow ARPTC alumna Hale of the now-named Colorado Gray Wolves (FKA Glendale Merlins) has her L200 coaching certification through Glendale Youth Rugby.
“ARPTC is special because of its culture and these two are two rocks of that senior side,” Chadwick said. “They drive the culture and live the culture daily when they’re in residency, and everyone they play with follows their lead. Straight away, their personalities and their humanistic qualities jumped out to me: These two should be the next level of coaches coming through.”
It was important to Chadwick to support the new coaches in a way that allowed them to only focus on the rugby and the development that followed – much like the players. Otherwise, these active senior-level players would risk burnout.
“We’re so fortunate to have Rys and Jules, two of the top coaches in this country, mentoring us into this program because I feel like so many people are just thrown into [coaching] and they don’t have the right resources to begin with,” Ebeling said. “From our first camp in January and the resources we had leading up to it, then the feedback in between, and then the guidance at the March camp and transitioning into our first tournament, I feel super prepared and supported to be successful in this. And like Rys said, we have managers and staff who help facilitate the other things that allow us to solely focus on development as coaches.”
Hale reiterated Eberling’s viewpoint and added that this apprenticeship is a gateway to the higher-level coaching arena as well. And when they transition back to ARPTC residency as players, Josie Ziluca will step in as the head girls’ high school coach.
“Something that makes ARPTC unique compared to any other environment in the country, is that they encourage you to make mistakes,” Ebeling said of the cultural aspects she wants to impart on the high schoolers. “They want to see your growth and it’s O.K. to try something new there. Coming from a traditional club environment, if you make a mistake, you’re on the line, you’re going to run. You don’t get that there. They want you to grow; it’s a development program. As a player, that did so much for me and my growth, and that is the number-one thing that I will do as a coach for them, because they are so young and you want them to feel comfortable growing and not resent it.”
“Just to connect with people over the love of the game,” Hale said of the ARPTC cultural characteristics that warrant sharing. “It’s so important to rugby and a pivotal pillar in the culture. The connection and respect you have for your teammates and the people across the field, it’s something I want to have these girls take away with them, that love and connection.”
The duo first interacted with the ARPTC high schoolers during the January 2021 camp, which was followed by an online learning block. Then the group reassembled in March, and the Tropical 7s squad emerged from that camp.
“Everyone is an insane athlete,” Hale said of the squad. “There is a mix of players, from those who’ve played a very long time to those who are a little more fresh to the game. The vibe between all the girls is really fluid and they have great chemistry on and off the field.”
“Having those four weeks of Zoom calls between the January and March camps was vital because it helped develop understanding, but the girls really started to build connection,” Ebeling said of all the social media and group-chat interaction that followed. “So when they came here in March that connection was already there. When we transitioned to open play it was pretty seamless. You could see the bond had already formed. So they really did a service for us by building those connections off the field.”
Ebeling and Hale noted the players’ gains between January and March, and were encouraged to learn that everyone was putting in the work outside of the two camps.
On game day, watch for co-captains Hattie Greenwood and Kayla Van Rite, as well as Shannon Mahan. All three are a nice mix of leadership, rugby skill and natural athleticism. Chadwick described Greenwood as a very talented rugby player; Van Rite has a level head and mature mindset; and Mahan has a great skill set. Take note of Maya Hilger as well, who brings an X factor to the game, making her someone to watch.
“Fun, development, getting out on the field and doing that again, since it’s been a year-and-a-half,” Chadwick said of Tropical 7s goals. “Make sure they come away with some learning tools and putting us back into a good development pathway for our online courses before we hit residency in the summer.”
“I just want to see the girls have fun and play and transition what we learned at the camps onto the field and go from there,” Ebeling added. “Personally it’ll be my first time coaching a tournament and I’m very excited and eager to learn. I’ll soak it all in and reflect and make changes as I go, and just learn a lot from Alli and Rhys.”
ARPTC will compete in Pool B against Badger Selects (Midwest), Celtic Barbarians (nationwide invitational), Riverdale (Middle Tenn.), Panther Academy Blue (NDP), Utah Cannibals (state all-star).
RELATED: Pool A Preview
After the online modules, summer residency will hopefully see the majority of the Tropical 7s group and well as another 20-40 high schoolers attend the two-week summer residency. That camp is bookended by the Falcon 7s, a tournament open to all high school teams and held in Little Rock, Ark. After a short break, players return for another two-week performance camp and then fly directly to Salt Lake City for the NAI 7s.
ARPTC
National Development Academy
Eniyia Cathey
Kaitlyn Cooper
Yasmine Elabdellaoui
Hattie Greenwood (Co-Cpt)
Akayla Harris
Maya Hilger
Halle Hunt
Reaghan King
Kamia Kruse
Shannon Mahan
Julia Murray
Michaela Opdyke
Kayla Van Rite (Co-Cpt)
Annabella Vogel