Math teacher Mark Richards had a vision one day to establish a rugby team at Bear Valley Middle School. In 2007, his vision became double vision, when he successfully launched two teams at the Escondido school.
In 2007, Mark was surprised when 70 boys from Escondido and nearby North San Diego County communities showed up to give the sport a try. His U-14 Bears played in Southern California Youth Rugby's South division, turning in a 4-3 record, not bad for a first-year team. The U-12 team tallied a record of 16-4-1 in what SCYR considers an instructional division.
For the 2008 season, after another knock on the head while playing old boys rugby in Catalina, Mark had triple vision. He
added an Under-14 full-contact (tackle) girls rugby team, to the U-12 and U-14 full-contact boys teams home-based at Bear Valley MS.
Southern California Youth Rugby determines eligibility by the player's age on Sept. 1. Thus, if you were age 10 or 11 on August 31, you are a U-12; if you were 12 or 13 on Sept. 1, you are a U-14.
The Bears will play a full Southern California Youth Rugby schedule of nine matches starting in January and concluding Mid April.
The U-14 league championship playoffs, pitting the top eight teams from the SCYR North, Central and South divisions, takes place Mid April - early May.
Here are some testimonials from the principal and two teachers as to how happy they
are to have rugby at their school.
The Bears will travel to away matches in Orange and Los Angeles Counties. Before
the league season starts, Bar-bear-ian teams will practice two days a week --
Mondays and Wednesday -- at Bear Valley Middle School. The school field has no
lights, so practices will be from after school till dusk.
The U-14 will play 40-minute matches (20 minute halves and a 5-minute halftime, 20-5-20) with 12-15 players on a side.
In rugby, when a player is substituted for he generally cannot return to the field. Therefore, players play offense and defense; all players can and do carry the ball; and all players can score.
The North County Rugby Club is committed to making youth rugby a fun experience. Anyone who registers and comes to practice is guaranteed playing time.
Often, SCYR teams will play two matches per age group. In rugby speak, that is an A and a B game. NCRC uses this practice to ensure that players get the most of their rugby experience.
