Old Glory DC U19 Academy Fall Schedule Announced
Washington, DC (September 25, 2021) – Old Glory DC’s Academy today announced its Fall 2021 schedule for the girls and boys under-19 teams, with all teams being fully funded by the club.
The Academy U19 girls and boys teams will host a doubleheader on Sunday, October 24th. The Old Glory U19 Girl’s Team will host a Girl’s U19 Select Side from North Carolina, and the U19 Boy’s Team will host the Southern California U19 Select Side.
Two combines/practices will be held at West Potomac High School on Saturday, October 2, and Saturday, October 9th to determine squad selection for match squads. Training sessions will be held on Saturday, October 16, and Wednesday, October 20.
“We are really excited to add U19 boys and girls academy games to the huge momentum created by the All Blacks vs the US Eagles,” said Tim Brown, Player Pathways Director. “I see many of these boys and girls players out in the community so it is nice to tie this together and show a clear pathway from youth to Old Glory DC to the national team. This will be the second progression of our academy led by area coaches Tito Miranda, Danny Breda, Alex Schaefer, and Old Glory player Danny Thomas. Our hope is that college coaches and adult clubs will jump on board to help pull these players through and support their progression in rugby.”
The exact times and locations will be finalized within the next week. If you or someone you know would like to try out for the Old Glory Academy, please fill out the Academy Interest Form.
The open combine schedule can be found below:
Date | Event | Location | Time |
Sat, 10/2 | Girls and Boys open tryout for U19 Academy team | West Potomac High School | 10 AM – Noon |
Sat, 10/9 | Girls and Boys open tryout for U19 Academy team | West Potomac High School | 1 PM – 3 PM |
The training schedule can be found below:
Date | Event | Time/Location |
Sat, 10/16 | U19 Girls and Boys training | West Potomac HS/4 PM – 6 PM |
Wed, 10/20 | U19 Girls and Boys training | TBA |
The match schedule can be found below:
Date | Event | Time/Location |
Sun, 10/24 | Old Glory U19 Girls vs North Carolina Select Side | TBA |
Sun, 10/24 | Old Glory U19 Boys vs Southern California Select Side | TBA |
Launched in the Fall of 2020, the Old Glory Rugby Academy’s role is to identify and develop talented young athletes from the Mid-Atlantic Region aged 16 to 18 and engage them in a performance development program led by Old Glory DC coaches and staff.
The Old Glory Academy is based on the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) 6 Pillars of Player Development and includes:
- Technical: Catch & Pass, Tackle, Running Lines, Positional Specific
- Tactical: Understanding your role, game plan, rugby laws
- Physical: Aerobic fitness, speed, power, strength
- Nutrition: General, pre & post-training/game, individual needs, hydration, supplements
- Mind Skills: Routines, mindfulness, visualization, dealing with pressure
- Leadership and Professional Development
A New Zealand native, Old Glory Head Coach Andrew Douglas emphasized NZRU’s culture-based approach to rugby development when designing the Old Glory Academy.
“The values of rugby will be highlighted constantly in the Academy program and those young people who are chosen to be part of this group will have high expectations placed on them on how they conduct themselves and treat others. This is one of the most exciting steps that Old Glory has taken, and I can’t wait to be part of it.”
Selected male and female athletes will have 2-6 hours of weekly training and interrelated activities, including educational lessons, coaching, individual skills exercises, development of mental strength, intelligence, and rugby abilities. Players will also gain a greater understanding of the importance of physical fitness, strength, and conditioning and what is appropriate for young players at any age or stage of the long-term player development continuum.
