When does practice start?
Practices will start in mid-May 2012, and will continue through the end of July.
What days will we practice?
We practice Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 6:00-8:00 pm. Early on, we may hold Saturday practices, but this will be ad hoc and we’ll announce it at practices, here on the site and via club email.
Where will we practice?
Our home and practice field is Dave Poulin Field (Collingwood Park) at 8200 W. Blvd Drive in the Fort Hunt area, just off the GW Parkway, between Collingwood and Wellington Roads.
Our practice field is the farthest from the parking lot, on the other side of the treeline (Field 4).
Parking note: you may not park on the shoulder along Chadwick Avenue; the neighbors have been known to call the police, who have ticketed cars parked there.
What do I need for practice?
See our equipment and gear pages for more info. The basics needed are:
Boots: Players need a pair of broken-in studded sports shoes (cleats).
Either molded soles or screw-in studs will work. Usually molded soles are the best all-around bet, as we will tend to play on dry, hard summer fields.
If the boots have a screw-in toe stud (a single stud at the front tip of the boot) you must remove it as the toe stud is prohibited in rugby. If your molded-sole boot has a toe stud, leave it in place, as cutting them off has sometimes left sharp plastic burrs, which are dangerous.
Shorts: Players should have a sturdy pair of shorts. For touch rugby practice, any shorts are fine, as long as a player can run in them.
For tackle, players should have a pair of traditional rugby shorts, which are designed for rugby contact, and are designed to take considerable wear and tear. Take a look at these rugby shorts for an idea of what we’re talking about. Lightweight nylon shorts are not advisable for tackle rugby, as the elastic waist gives too freely and cannot be cinched down; players may find themselves being tackled and de-pants’d at the same time.
Under the shorts, we recommend both male and female players wear a pair of compression shorts. A jock strap also will work for boys. A cup is not recommended, as the overall risk of a direct groin contact injury is low, and the high level of running involved makes wearing a cup highly uncomfortable.
Jersey or T-Shirt: Any kind of top is fine for touch rugby practice. For summer, something light and breathable is best. Players will keep their shirts on at all times.
For tackle practice, players should wear a sturdy jersey that can withstand tackling, pulling and binding. Check out these basic jerseys; the club has retired Fort Hunt Rugby jerseys for sale for just $25, available at every practice. A proper, genuine rugby jersey tends to be somewhat expensive, but they will last forever.
Additionally, the team will have rugby practice jerseys available for tackle practice, and lightweight pinnies available for touch training.
Mouthguard: A mouthguard is not required for touch rugby practice, but is highly recommended.
For all tackle rugby practice, a properly personally fitted mouthguard is mandatory. Players will not participate in any tackle drill if they do not have a mouthpiece. Players will not play in any match if they do not have their mouthpiece. Mouthguards must be worn for all contact training, and in matches. Coaches will inspect mouthguards for serviceability.
A mouthguard is a smart move for touch players, and is a good way to become accustomed to one before the move up to tackle rugby.
What should I not wear to practice?
Necklaces, watches, rings, earrings, bracelets. Take out any piercings.
No shorts or any other gear with belts or metal buckles or fittings. Nothing in pockets.
For tackle practice and play, no form of eyeglasses is permitted (not even sports goggles). This is non-negotiable. Glasses are permitted for touch training, and for touch play but sports goggles only.
Where can I get this super-cool rugby gear you’re telling me about?
Fort Hunt Rugby’s favorite place for rugby-specific gear is Matt Godek Rugby and Soccer Supply. Matt is a longtime friend and a local businessman, with a store in Merrifield. He is a former Army officer and a lifelong supporter of US armed forces rugby. Here is a link to other rugby gear suppliers.
Attendance at practice
Our summer program is a recreational one. Practices are not mandatory; we understand there are other summer sports, social activities, and vacations all vying for players’ and parents’ time. The more a player attends training, the more he will get out of the season, and the better he/she will become as a rugby player.
Coaches will not call roll at practice, but we notice who attends and who does not. Those players who consistently come to practice will be favored for starting play over those who do not, regardless of playing skill--dedicated players come first.
Attendance at practice also is a determining factor in end-of-season player awards.
What else should the player bring to practice?
Water, water, WATER!!! And water! Water at training is a player responsibility. Or any sports drink, at least one quart; a single-serving bottle of water is not enough. It will be hot, we will be taking breaks at least every 30 minutes, and players will need to hydrate.
Players should drink plenty of water before practice, especially on hotter days.
Weather
Heat/Code Days. We will practice every Tu/Wed/Th, even on code yellow, orange and red days; it is the responsibility of parents/guardians to make decisions regarding an individual player’s susceptibility to heat injuries. When practicing or playing in extreme summer heat, coaches will make adjustments to all drills and play, and increase break times. We may cancel practice for heat/code if we determine holding it would be dangerous to players.
Rain. We practice in the rain, just as we will play matches in the rain. This is rugby, after all. We are dependent, however, on field closures, so we may be rained out due to this. Call 703-324-5264 or click here to check on Fairfax County Parks Authority field closures; our field is Collingwood Park. We will make a call no later than 5:00 pm each day on whether practice will go or not--check the website and look for a team email. You can also check the Fort Hunt Eagles Rugby Football Club group on Facebook for an update.
Thunder/Lightning. All training and play stops immediately if thunder or lightning is detected, and all participants will take shelter in vehicles or under properly grounded physical structures, as directed by Fort Hunt Rugby coaches. The clock starts then, and if no thunder or lightning is detected for 20 minutes, practice/play will resume. Every time there is a visible/audible instance of lightning or thunder, the clock starts over. Coaches expect all parents to abide by their instructions in the event of thunder and lightning.
Cancellations. We’ll make a go/no-gocall no later than 5:00 pm each practice day when weather or field closures are a factor. We will send out an email to the club, and will post the cancellation on the Fort Hunt Rugby splash page. We will also post the notice to the Fort Hunt Eagles Rugby Football Club Facebook group.
Do parents need to stay at practice?
In general, no. Practice may be called early because of a change in the weather (see above), so parents need to be aware and return to the field.
The coaching staff will never leave a child alone, at practice or at a match. If we cannot reach you if practice is called early, we will remain at the field with your player until you can arrive to pick him/her up. We will do the same for late parent arrivals after practice (please be on time after practices). If it is okay with the parent for a coach to drive a player home, please let us know this (note that FHYAA conducts coach registration and background checks for all coaches). Coaches will not drive any player anywhere unless this is approved prior with a parent, or approved in a phone call with a parent.
We encourage parents to remain at practices, to get to know the coaches and other parents, to learn about rugby, and ideally take an active part in assisting, coaching, and even filling in to play (the kids love this).
