Practice was canceled 4/20 due to weather. Next scheduled practice is scheduled for May 4. Location TBD.

Allen has canceled the game Saturday 2/26 at noon. We will hold a mandatory practice starting at 11:00AM in preparation for our match against Alliance, the following weekend.

Allen canceled due to their lack of numbers to make up a JV team, but also will not play teams who are not fully CIPP'ed (members paid and registered with USA Rugby).

Remember that we need at least 15 healthy players Saturday to continue the season. Because the game is canceled does not mean a day off. We need everyone in attendance at Saturday's practice during this crucial period. We will work on positions and plays. If you want to have a position, show up. If you want to have a team to play on, show up.

There is also a chance to recruit and learn from a U.S Eagle at the camp Friday night. See below for details.

This Friday, February 25, U.S Eagle Loren Broussard will be running a clinic at Gateway Park in Fort Worth. The Mavericks have been invited to attend free of charge.

Panther City does not have enough young men to fill out a full side and their coach has requested that we invite Panther City to join forces with the Mavericks. He would like us to learn at the camp and talk with the guys.

This is a great opportunity to increase the number of players for our teams, learn some new skills and drills from a U.S. Eagle, and improve ourselves. All those, who are not working, or do not have family obligations are expected to attend. Skip the party or all night PlayStation games and do something to become a better rugby player.

Details on the camp:
6:00 - 8:00PM Friday, Feb 25
Gateway Park, Ft. Worth

The North Texas Rattlers is the All-Star U17 and U19 team for North Texas. If you are interested in pursuing the path to represent Texas, you should try and make the North Texas team. These are dates for upcoming camps and practices.

Sunday March 6th – Rattlers practice
or
Sunday April 3rd – Rattlers practice
Sunday April 10th – Open tryout Texas Youth Rugby Select team – College Station
April 31st - Rattlers practice ( Westerns weekend Austin ) most likely only one team from Texas will be there.
Sat. May 7th – Rattlers vs. Stormers & Cyclones U17 & U19
Sat. & Sun. May 14th – Texas Trials
Sat. & Sun. June 4th – Texas Camp

The winter weather has blown in and blown practice right off the schedule. No practice Thursday night 2/10.

But there IS practice Saturday February 12, 11:00AM at our Game Pitch (not practice field!). Saturday practice is ON, no matter the weather. It is imperative that everyone show up. We have a lot to go over before our first scrimmage against Plano next week.

The whole week of practice has been shot down due to the fabulous winter weather. No practice Saturday 2/5! Stay home and make a snow man! Hit the weights. Go to work so you can take off for next weeks practice. Get off of the couch!

The men's game versus the Texas Islanders has been postponed for the same reason - great weather!

Tuesday and Thursday night practices have resumed at Mike Lewis Park at 7:00PM, subject to wet weather. For the latest on wet weather field status, stay tuned here, look for texts or emails from Mr. Kurylas.

This Saturday Jan 15 at 11:00 AM we will have a practice at our home field, Prairie Park . Rain or shine, our home pitch is open and not subject to the normal Park's Department dictatum. (look it up). This is to be followed by a pizza party down the street. Bring $5 and the men's team will pick up the rest of the cost. Two weeks later we will have another home field practice with a cookout afterwards. Read below for details.

January 22 is a camp in Farmers Branch from 1 - 5:00PM run by famous New Zealand All Black and professional rugby player, Scott Robertson. The cost is only $20. We will most likely run some of the drills learned from this camp at our own practices. See the calendar for details. You'll need these documents. The waiver is to be filled out and signed by your parent.
Details about Camp
Waiver

Gentlemen,

With the new year upon us it's time to get our season started in earnest. With the addition of the Midlothian kids as well as the former Canterbury kids who now go to Bishop Dunne getting everyone together to practice will be a bit of a challenge at times but me and Mr. Kelly have a few ideas to help with that.

Practice

As in the past the youth will share the field for no cost at Mike Lewis Park in Grand Prairie to practice on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7:00PM to 9:00PM. There will also be practices on Wednesday's after school from 4:30PM to Dark on the open field on the West side Don Floyd Stadium across the street from Midlothian HS.

The Men resume practice in Grand Prairie on January 4th and the Midlothian practices will start up again on January 5th. We understand with the logistics getting everyone together on a regular basis can be tough so we have scheduled a few Saturday's to get everyone together to practice and get to know each other.

Currently have two scheduled for January 15th and January 29th at 11:00AM at our match pitch, Prairie Park in Grand Prairie. After the Jan 15th practice we'll head a few miles west down Main Street to New York Joe's Pizza and following the 29th practice we'll cook out at the field and the boys can stick around if they want to watch the Men's match against Denton at 2:00PM.

As far as combined practices we'll look to have a few other Saturday's or get to match's a bit early to have mini practices like we did when we combined with Allen who was thin on numbers as well.

Camps
There are two available the month of January. One is a two day camp at OU in Norman, OK and the other is in Farmers Branch and will be run be former New Zealand All Black, Scott "Razor" Robertson. Flyers for both are attached.
OU Rugby Camp Press Release
USA Rugby Minor Waiver

Dues
Cost is $75 which covers required registration with USA Rugby (a.k.a. CIPP) and Rugby Texas which is $55. Most youth programs in the DFW area charge between $200 and $300 a season but we are fortunate to have the Men cover the field cost which enables us to keep our cost low. Everyone will need to be CIPP'd prior to the first match. More details to follow.

Schedule
Mr. Kelly has gotten the schedule finalized and which is included below along with the combined practice dates and camps. If you have any questions please let me know and feel free to pass this along to anyone else you know that wants to play as well as your parents.

Look forward to seeing you all next week.

John Kurylas
Grand Prairie Mavericks High School RFC

Date Time Event Location
1/8/2011 9:00AM OU Youth Rugby Camp Norman, OK
1/15/2011 11:00AM Practice Praire Park
1/22/2011 1:00PM Rugby Texas Youth Camp Farmers Branch
1/29/2011 11:00AM Practice Praire Park
2/5/2011 11:30AM Match - Jesuit Praire Park
2/12/2011 12:00PM Match - Plano Plano
2/19/2011 12:00PM Match - Plano Praire Park
2/26/2011 12:00PM Match - Allen Praire Park
3/26/2011 12:00PM Match - Plano Plano
4/2/2011 11:00AM Match - Alliance Keller or Fort Worth
4/9/2011 All Day Gareth Jones Tournament Texas A&M
4/10/2011 All Day Texas All Star Tryouts Texas A&M
4/16/2011 1:00PM Match - Coppell Praire Park
4/23/2011 1:00PM Match - Coppell Praire Park

Field Links
Mike Lewis Park
Prairie Park
Don Floyd Stadium

The 2011 Spring Schedule is posted. We'll be starting practice Tuesday, January 4 at 7:00 with the men at Mike Lewis Park.

We have an extremely full schedule. Therefore it is imperative that each of us bring out people who are interested in playing rugby. Friend or not it is of no matter. We need a greater number of players with 15 on the field at a time and a long season ahead. In order to win, you will have to bring out every interested athlete you know.

Most of our games are held in the early part of the year, so you'll have to start bringing the new guys out to the first practice.

Each of you should start on your injury prevention right now. The biggest factor in injury is fitness. Start running now. Begin your weight lifting program now. Focus on core strength exercises - sit ups, squats and dead lifts - and shoulders. We had only shoulder injuries last year. Injury can be preventable with preparation. Start preparing now. Fitness and strength also win games. Be fitter, faster and stronger than your opponent. Our coaching will teach you the winning techniques and plays, why attendance at practice is mandatory.

We are looking forward to a strong season. Make arrangements with work and family to have off on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and most importantly, Saturdays - game day!

It's "Bring a Friend Day"! Looking ahead to our Spring 15-a-side season we will have to double the size of our current team. This weekend provides a great opportunity to bring friends and potential teammates out to learn the game of Rugby and the skills needed to succeed. If we are to continue the great success we've experienced this fall we will have to recruit equally enthusiastic and talented athletes as ourselves.

Fort Worth is hosting the last Rugby Skills practice for the year at Fort Worth's Gateway Park from 8AM to 1PM. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and snacks will be provided afterward.

After this, the Maverick Men's side takes on the ferocious Ft. Sill Gunners in a tough "must win" battle(a league Cup Match which determines ranking and championship qualifications). This game starts at 2PM at our home field, Prairie Park in Grand Prairie. It's highly recommended that we watch this game for insight into our own 15s season. Bring lawn chairs and drinks and relax (if you can) to watch a great game. It'll be speed versus size!

The men's game is optional, though highly recommended. Bringing a friend to Fort Worth's Gateway Park is mandatory. Please be at the pitch as close to 8AM as you can. Rides can be arranged back to Prairie Park for player pickup, if needed.