Coaches receive training and certification to World Rugby’s standards. USA Youth & High School and Rugby Indiana also provide some additional opportunities for coaches to receive additional training. The coaches in Indiana love coaching youth and high school aged players. It gives them an opportunity to share their love for the game by teaching others the skills, techniques, laws, rugby IQ, and love of the game.
Becoming a coach is no difficult. It just requires interest, dedication, desire to do a good job, and be coachable. Anyone age 18 years or older is eligible. Previous experience as a player is helpful but not required. Several of the top coaches in the world were not players.
Indiana’s rugby clubs and coaches would love for you to consider joining them.
Coach Registration
To become a certified coach individual must create an account inside Rugby Xplorer, and then register as a coach with their Rugby Indiana club. Once their account is created and they pay for their annual USA Rugby Membership, they will need to access the Learning Center to register for and complete the required courses.
Required to complete the L1 Certification:
The coaches of the 10U Grades 2,3&4 Flag make up the panel of commissioners. Once this league level has 10 or more clubs, the commissioners will become a panel of representatives elected by the clubs with teams at this level.
The Commissioners decide the law variations for this age/grade level in accordance with the requirements and laws of World Rugby and USA Rugby.
Current Age/Grade Variation –
Flag Game Management Guidelines
Meeting Reports –
The coaches of the Grades 5&6 Tackle make up the panel of commissioners. Once this league level has 10 or more clubs, the commissioners will become a panel of representatives elected by the clubs with teams at this level.
The Commissioners decide the law variations for this age/grade level in accordance with the requirements and laws of World Rugby and USA Rugby.
Current Age/Grade Variation – Age/Grade Law Variations
Meeting Reports –
The coaches of the Grades 7&8 make up the panel of commissioners. Currently, there is a panel for Girls and a panel for boys. Once this league level has 10 or more clubs, the commissioners will become a panel of representatives elected by the clubs with teams at this level. Additionally, once the Girls 7/8 has grown to a level able to support the same number of players as the boys, the alignment of the two games will take place (boys are playing 15s and girls are playing 7s).
The Commissioners decide the law variations for this age/grade level in accordance with the requirements and laws of World Rugby and USA Rugby.
Current Age/Grade Variation – Age/Grade Law Variations
Meeting Reports –
The High School Commissioners are representatives elected by the clubs comprising the high school leagues of Rugby Indiana. The group of five represent regions and boys and girls programs.
The Commissioners decide the law variations for this age/grade level in accordance with the requirements and laws of World Rugby and USA Rugby.
Member of the High School Commissioners:
North Boys HS Rep: Taylor Serres, Bishop Dwenger Boys HS (ends 2025)
North Girls HS Rep: Chris Ballard, Ft Wayne Girls HS (ends 2026)
Central Boys HS Rep: Austin Robbins, Pendleton Boys HS (ends 2026)
Central Girls HS Rep: Karlencia Johnson, North Central Girls HS (ends 2025)
At-Large HS Rep: Trevor Cracknell, Warsaw Girls HS (Ends 2025)
Contact the Commissioners: HS_Commissioners@RugbyIndiana.com
Current Age/Grade Variation – RI Law Variations Youth & High School
Meeting Reports –
People enjoy playing sports for many reasons. This includes the social, emotional, and physical benefits. Abuse at any level must not be a part of sports. This is a paramount principle of USA Rugby’s player welfare programs, in accordance with the US Federal SafeSport Act, where any and all forms of physical and sexual abuse or misconduct are strictly prohibited.
USA Rugby’s policies are the foundation for the rules and responsibilities for athlete safety and well-being, and the prevention of abuse.
Working together we can do our part.
Clubs/Teams traveling out of state must complete the USA Youth & High School Rugby “Inbound / Outbound Travel Application” form and submit it at least 4 weeks in advance of the travel dates.
Clubs/Teams must also be aware of all Rugby Indiana Policies related to travel.
Clubs/Teams requesting matches to be added to their schedule must complete the Rugby Indiana Match Request Form at least 2 weeks in advance of the requested match. Requesting further in advance does facilitate a greater chance of approval – as approvals require the securing of referees, trainers, etc. Submission of the request is not a guarantee of request approval.
Requesting Matches with teams from out of state also requires the submission of the USA Youth & High School “Inbound / Outbound Tour Application.”
Players must play for their school or community team. If no school or community team exists, players are permitted to join another nearby (closest) team. Any player wishing to register to play with a club other than their home club MUST submit a petition request in writing, stating their reason for that request to the Executive Director. The Petition should be submitted before the player has registered. Submission after season
registration may negatively impact the petition. The Executive Director may approve such requests only under exceptional circumstances. Careful consideration will be given to both the player and the effect his/her leaving would have on the home club. The Executive Director may share the petition with the Administrator of the affiliated team and receive their input before the Executive Director makes a determination.
Players wanting to play for another team for higher competition or performance is NOT an exceptional reason.
Certificates of Liability Insurance are provided by USA Rugby. Clubs must have 8 registered players and at least one Level 1 Certified (and current/good standing) coach to receive the insurance.
Insurance applications take USA Rugby approximately 10-15 business days to process.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR THE USA RUGBY CERTIFICATE OF LIABILITY INSURANCE
All players have a supplemental injury insurance policy for rugby injuries as part of their player fees. Insurance claims must be filed within 30 days of the injury. The injury also needs to have been reported the time of the injury in the Rugby Xplorer system.
Contact the Rugby Indiana Executive Director if you have an accident/injury you wish to file a claim on.
