New Season Around the Corner

We've all had a few months off, school has started, fall sports in are full swing which means that rugby is fast approaching!  We are working on getting a sign up meeting scheduled so be on the lookout for that info! In the mean time here are a few things for everyone to start working on:

RETURNING PLAYERS:

• Start recruiting!  Tell people about the upcoming season.  Remind them that anyone can play!  Tell them to follow our social media accounts so they can stay up to date on all info.
• If you need new equipment (cleats, shorts, mouth guard) start saving money, go buy the things you need.  Be prepared.
• If you are not playing a fall sport - starting working on your fitness, pick up a rugby ball again, the more ready you are the more you can help the new people learn!

NEW PLAYERS:

• Find a friend to come try rugby with you!  Even if you already have friends that play rugby, bring someone else who is new as well.  Anyone can play rugby regardless of experience so the more people the better!
• Follow our social media accounts: Instagram - vacaville_rugby_club and Facebook - Vacaville Rugby Club.  We keep these updated with all info regarding practices, meetings, anything you might need to know!
• Get the basic equipment, a mouth guard and cleats.  You won't be able to participate in contact without a mouth guard!
• If you aren't playing a fall sport, work on your fitness!  Rugby takes a lot of work and energy so it's important that everyone does their best to be fit!

If anyone has any questions our email address is vacavilleblackdogrugby@gmail.com

: : SEASON UPDATE : :

Since we are a few games into the season we figured we'd give everyone a little update as to how our club is doing!

Men's Club:  With a couple close games to start off the season, the Old Dogs went to San Jose this past weekend and pulled out a 2 point win over the Seahawks.  With some new guys added to the mix, the men are building their team chemistry and are looking to fit everything together when they take on Diablo this Saturday - probably at 1:00 at Al Patch park - if its too rainy the game will be at VCS!

H.S. Boys: With a couple losses and a good friendly match against De La Salle the boys team has been improving week to week, despite our really awesome practice facilities :) Their game last Friday night was in the pouring rain for the duration of the 70 minutes.  It was a tough loss, but the boys are looking to bounce back this Friday against Sierra up at Lincoln High School at 7:30pm! 

H.S. Girls: The girls started off with a round robin with Mother Lode and Sierra/River City.  It was a really great learning experience for our Rookies to get some playing time.  We opened up league play against the Amazons (who are nationally ranked) the girls took a beating but surprised themselves and the Amazons with some great hits and big offensive runs.  Last week they pulled away in the second half with a great win versus Chico.  The ladies look to build upon last weekends success this Saturday against Solo at VCS.

Every week each team is doing what they can to improve and prepare themselves for the upcoming weekend.  It hasn't been an easy season, but everyone is sticking together as a team and doing the best with what we have!  Any and all new players interested in rugby is encouraged to come out, it is never to late to join!! 

Thank you to everyone who has been helping us out, we appreciate it!

#DPWW

: What Do We (the Club) Do When We Aren't At Practice?? :

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." - Theodore Roosevelt

Over the last couple decades Vacaville Blackdog Rugby Club has taught the game of rugby to hundreds of high school athletes.  The club has had great success on the field and our times of growth, but our Club is ALWAYS working and growing behind the scenes.  

This is 100% what we do and some of the problems we face running this club.

We (the coaches) wish we could spend the majority of our time planning practices and working with the kids, but we have many more responsibilities than just coaching.  Some of the questions we ask ourselves on almost a daily basis are:

Where are we going to practice? 
What equipment do we need? 
How much money do we have? 
How do we raise more money? 
Is everyone registered?  
Did everyone pay their dues? 
How do we help those who can't afford their dues?
How do we get more people to play? 
How do we get more PARENTS involved?
... that covers the major ones.

Especially this season fields have been a major issue.  We started the search for fields in October, and we are still searching for a place to call home.  Yin Ranch works, but we can't use the grass when it's been raining as much as it has.  The City has a moratorium on all of their fields... can't use those.  The school district is a whole other issue in itself to say the least, but we are currently allowed to use the blacktop only at Jepson Middle School.  Vacaville Christian School has the only all-weather, lit, field in town available to rent.  So that means EVERYBODY wants to use it.  We have been lucky enough to get our home games there.  It is a cycle of endless emails, phone calls, sending schedules, waiting, being told no, being told yes and then no and then maybe, there was even a petition to be allowed to use city fields.

Needless to say, we all spend a lot of our time on fields and still try to tackle all those other questions as well. We are also working to make sure the athletes are as prepared as they can be for their games.  It is no easy task running this club, but we continue to do it because we love rugby, we love teaching to those who want to learn, and because we are probably a little crazy.

So maybe this motivates you to help out, maybe it doesn't, but here's how you can help.  You can volunteer to organize food and drinks for socials. You can volunteer to help do fundraisers or get donations.  You can volunteer to help coach during our youth program this summer.  You or someone you know can donate money (and write if off) to something other than jerseys.  The way to be the MOST helpful, donate to paying for fields/lights.  It can be upwards of $60/hour to rent a field, that's almost $1,000 a month just on fields!  The possibilities are pretty endless.  Please feel free to shoot us an email, vacavilleblackdogrugby@gmail.com or message us on instagram or facebook if you want to help, have ideas, or want to come to the next board meeting, we would love to hear from you!

Saturday Jan. 14th Girl's Kick Off Tournament Schedule

Address: 2239 Chase Dr. Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

** No parking on the basketball courts **

9:45am - Arrive at field, shorts, socks, cleats on, hair braided, get tapped if need be, etc.

10:00am - Warm Up starts

11:00 - Game 1 vs. BOD Field 2

1:00 - Warm Up starts

1:40 - Game 2 vs. Chico Field 1

3:00 - Warm Up starts

3:30 - Game 3 vs. Cougars Field 2

* Bring plenty of water, SIGN UP TO BRING SNACKS OR DRINKS (Be a good teammate), extra clothes and layers.  BE PREPARED!!

* There will be vendors there as well so bring some money if you think you might want something!

Men's Club Schedule

2017 Men's Club Schedule

1/28 - @ Sac. Capitols 

2/4 - Home vs. Blackhawks

2/11 - Home vs. Baracus

2/18 - @ San Jose

2/25 - Home vs. Diablo

3/4 - BYE (Vegas)

3/11 - BYE

3/18 - Home vs. Berkeley

3/25 - @ Blackhawks vs. Fresno (Super Site)

4/1 - BYE

4/8 - @ Silicon Valley

4/15 - Semifinals 

4/22 - Finals at Golden Gate

2016-2017 Blackdog Game Schedule

1/20 - @ Elise Allen

1/28 - BYE

2/3 - @ Lancers

2/10 - @ Kennedy

2/17 - Home vs. Harlequins

2/24 - @ Sierra

3/4 - BYE (Vegas 7’s)

3/10 - Home vs. Sac PAL

3/17 - @ Cougars

3/24 - Home vs. Elk Grove

4/1 - BYE

4/8 - BYE/Rain Make-ups

4/15 - BYE (Easter)

* I’m assuming playoffs will be the same as the girls, so the last weekends in April, but we will let you know as that becomes available.

Get to know the Coaches

With the season just under way we wanted to give a little spotlight to all of our coaches so you can know a little bit about them!  

We also get a lot of help throughout the season from many of men's players, which is really awesome because it gives the kids plenty of people to learn from, watch and ask questions to.  We are one big club and family and everyone helps out in some way during the season!

Girl's Head Coach: Samantha Miller

Coaching Experience: 2011-present Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach 
                         2014 Head Coach Davis High School Girl's Rugby

                         2015-present Head Coach Vacaville Blackdog Girl's

                         2015 Master's degree in Coaching and Athletic Admin.

Playing Experience: 2009-11 Colorado Mesa University, ranked top 10

                              2010-11 West U23 Regional All-Star Team

                              2011 Division 2 All-American

                              2014-present Berkeley All Blues

Fun Fact: Originally from Colorado... but hates the snow, although does enjoy urban sledding (sleds pulled by a car).

Girl's Assistant Coach: Jordan Vermette
Coaching Experience: 2014-present Assistant Coach Vacaville Blackdog Girl's

Playing Experience: 2012-15 high school rugby at Davis High School
                             Will be playing at UCD next fall

Fun Fact: She has swam from Alcatraz 3 times! And she loves making cupcakes, especially during finals week.

Girl's Assistant Coach: Zach Post
Coaching Experience: 2014-present Assistant Coach Vacaville Blackdog Girl's

Playing Experience: 2003-07 Vacaville Blackdog Rugby (started in 8th grade)
10 years and counting for Vacaville Rugby Men's Club

Fun Fact: Used to get his hair in cornrows before games, and people would tend to pick on him a lot in games. He cut his hair, and he doesn't get picked on so much anymore.

Boy's Head Coach: Brett Fortney

Coaching Experience: 2012-14 Assistant Coach Vacaville Blackdog Rugby

2015-present Head Coach Vacaville Blackdog Rugby

Playing Experience: 2007 Vacaville Blackdog Rugby 

                             2007-11 at Chico State, nationally ranked top 25

                   6 years and counting for Vacaville Rugby Men's Club

Fun Fact: At the time, only known Chico State player to actually get the Chico rugby logo (CSR) tattooed on him during the Rookie Scavenger Hunt.

Boy's Assistant Coach: Matt Hensley

Coaching Experience: 2012-present Assistant Coach Vacaville Blackdog Rugby

Playing Experience: 2002-06 Vacaville Blackdog Rugby

                          2006-10 St. Mary's College, nationally ranked top 10

                          2010 Brother's Rugby Club, Australia

                11 years and counting for Vacaville Rugby Men's Club

Fun Fact: He wears the same t-shirt before every game while warming up.  And he LOVES Baldo's burritos.

Boy's Assistant Coach: Zane Miller

Coaching Experience: 2016 Assistant Coach Vacaville Blackdog Rugby

Playing Experience: 1 year at Univ. of Alabama
                             1 year at Diablo
                             2 years at Univ. of San Francisco 
                             First year with Vacaville Men's Club 
Fun Fact: Once jumped onto a moving Taco Truck in Humboldt.