Youth rugby is divided into age groups, like any other youth sport. The Rugby Virginia league has designated 9-and-Under, 11-and-under, 13-and-under, 15-and-under, and 17-and-under as the age groups. The age rule is simple: the age that player turns during the current calendar year is the age they are considered for summer play.

Example: A boy who is 11 on 15 January turns 12 on 15 May, right before the season starts.  Officially, for the rugby year he is considered a 12-year-old.  That means his official position is with the touch 13-and-under tackle team.

Touch rugby is for the 9-and-under and 11-and-under age groups. These groups play coed. Fort Hunt Rugby in the past has combined our younger touch players into a single 11-and-under team because of low numbers.  For 2010, we have enough players to separate the touch teams into 9-and-under and 11-and-under.  Nine-and-under touch players may play up to 11-and-under, if they choose to do so.

Tackle begins in the 13-and-under age group, for players 12 and 13 years old. Players who are 11 may play up to 13-and-under tackle rugby, with explicit permission of a parent/guardian, and with the approval of the coaches as to the player’s physical ability and emotional maturity, and having demonstrated the requisite rugby skills first to play up one age group, and more importantly to play tackle rugby.

For tackle, players may play one age group up (13s to 15, 15s to 17), but only with explicit parent/guardian permission.  Players within one year may play up: an 11-year-old may play up to 13-and-under; a 13-year-old may play up to 15-and under; a 15-year-old may play up to 17-and-under.  When this is done, both teams’ coaches will be made aware, and the referee also will be informed, to better control play and monitor all players’ behavior and play.  No player ever will be "forced" or otherwise pressured to play up.

Older players generally may not play down to a younger age group.  In some instances, such as for a player who is a complete novice, they may play down.  This is done by requesting permission of the opposing coach; the opposing coach always has the option of declining the participation of an older player, at any time during a match.  Playing-down is very rare.

This method of grouping by age is different than most youth full-contact sports programs, where weight classes are the determining factor. This may be a cause for some parents’ concern, with regards to differently sized kids of the same age engaging in fast-paced full contact. This is completely understandable.

     --  What is critical to understand is that the nature of contact in rugby is fundamentally different than in other sports.

     --  In rugby, there is no blocking; no contact like blocking is allowed under any circumstances, and the only player who may be contacted is the ball carrier. So, unexpected or unseen contact is very rare.  Because there is no padding or other protective equipment, the nature of contact is very different, and the kids are smart enough to realize this, AND it is instructed, practiced, repeated and coached continually through the season.

     --  The differences in size tend to even out with corresponding differences in quickness and the ability to mitigate contact. Additionally, coaches will ensure that all players are fully versed on all aspects of tackle rugby contact, and that players are prepared physically and mentally to play tackle, before they are permitted to play in a match; tackle play is an earned privilege, not an automatic right, regardless of age level or experience.  Players who have not shown the requisite tackle skills and/or who have not demonstrated the maturity and control to play tackle will not do so until they are ready.

Players who do not demonstrate the restraint, maturity and correct aspects of safe rugby contact will not be permitted to play in tackle matches; this is for their own safety, their teammates’ safety, and that of opponents.

The PRUYL has some clubs that are not very big (in numbers), particularly some of the newer clubs, and dividing their players into these five age groups is difficult if not impossible. In that case, the PRUYL traditionally encourages its coaches and managers to work together to create a fun and educational environment for the players. If necessary, combining touch players into one team, and sometimes 13-and-under and 15-and-under players into one team, is encouraged. Doing this is easy for touch rugby, and somewhat more difficult for tackle.

     --  When teams are combined, the coaches and the referees will make requisite changes to the Laws of the Game and the nature of the match itself so that all players can be involved and enjoy the sport, rather than just a handful literally running away with it all. 

     --  This guideline applies only to the summer season league games. Age groups are more strictly enforced for the end-of-season tournament.

At all times, coaches will find ways to balance the ability of the less capable (or younger) players to have fun and contribute athletically to the team with that of older players. Helping players succeed is a sure way to have fun, and to encourage returning players year after year.

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