2010-05-06
Hi all,
Congratulations to the teams that won this weekend and good luck going forward to next week into the Semifinals this coming Saturday. I was impressed by many of the teams and individuals, regardless of the game result, and anticipate an excellent select side this summer.
Our success as a team is driven by your willingness to commit to the training sessions, to your personal training and fitness outside of the formal sessions, and your desire to play a team oriented game. If you are genuinely accountable to yourself, your teammates and your friends, you will be successful.
For those who have the opportunity to start select side training earlier than others,
our first training session is Thursday at 6pm on the turf (south) field at Infinity Park in Glendale. We will be focusing on assessing fundamentals, fitness and disciplined aggression in contact. Try outs are a 3 week process, with selections announced at the end of May. The coaching staff wants to see consistent levels of high performance, and this format allows you an opportunity show your potential over time. Standards for success at the highest level are posted at the USARugby skills website at
http://public.me.com/usarugby. I highly recommend reviewing these standards and techniques if you want to play at the next level.
The teams that are advancing to the semi-finals are excused from the first training session. For all others, if you are not able to make Thursday's training session, please let me know ASAP.
I currently have 67 players who have expressed an interest in the U19 squad, and 27 interested in the U17s. We need to see that U17 number increased by at least 10, so talk to your teammates, especially the freshmen and sophomores, and get them to try out as well -- by having the best and most competitive players trying out, you will have the best and most competitive teammates and team. JR - please share this information with the CYR and All-Star coaches as well.
There is a $20 fee for tryouts - this offsets the cost of two numbered training tops (one blue, one white) used for player identification. Those are yours to keep.
Parking for the south pitch is one block north of the stadium complex on Cherry street -- the Infinity Park North parking lot is a massive lot just west of Cherry, north of Kentucky.
Our training schedule is as follows:
May 6 5:00 - 7:00 Thursday (State semi-final teams excused)
May 15 10:00 - 12:00 Saturday (first Sat after State - all players are expected to attend)
May 20 5:00 - 7:00 Thursday
May 27 5:00 - 7:00 Thursday
June 3 6:00 - 8:00 but may vary due to USA Churchill Cup practice Thursday [note the change to time. This may change again based on CC.]
June 7 5:00 - 7:00 but may vary due to USA Churchill Cup practice Monday
June 14 5:00 - 7:00 Monday
June 16 11:00-3:00 Round Robin scrimmage v Wisconsin & Minnesota Wednesday
June 19-20th Rocky Mountain U19 tournament in Aurora. (all day Sat, half day Sun).
Thank you for your interest in trying out for the ERRFU Select Sides this summer.
Please share these dates with your parents so that summer plans & vacations can be scheduled accordingly.
All training sessions will be held at the south pitch (turf field) at Infinity Park / Glendale.
If you were born in 91 or 92, you'll be trying out for U19s, if you were born in 93 or later, you'll be trying out for the U17 squad.
If you're wondering what you can work on in the meantime:
Forwards: focus on your "breakdown" skills -- tackling, rucking, mauling. Proficiency at the set piece is expected.
Backs: focus on your passing, especially off of your weak hand. While individual efforts can win club games, the ability to move the ball quickly and effectively wins international games.
Both: focus on your fitness. Select side and international games are played at a much higher pace than what you may be used to... support play is essential.
If you know you will have a conflict with any of the practice times, please let me know ASAP. Email is preferred - dan.hattrup@gmail.com. Cell is 720 937 8429. 
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