Fall 2008 Practice Schedule(s) and Location(s):
Off season Conditioning
Just because it's summer, there's no reason to let yourself get out-of-shape. For an athlete to excel in this sport at the collegiate level, you must maintain an appropriate base fitness level. It's the same general approach you take to studying...If you do a little bit every day, you stay on top of things. "Cramming" the day before the test doesn't work in academics. And it doesn't work in Athletics.
This is not an invitation to overtrain! This is your vacation time. Please enjoy it, but take care of your body as well. Take some time away from the intense training, but keep up your base fitness level. You can follow the multi-phase off season conditioning program designed to keep your base strength and fitness. The Full Phase 1 workout is available here:
Current Workout Packet(s):Always train with a partner. If you have any questions about the training program or specific exercises, please contact Coach Scot.
| Fall 2008 Preseason Practices - Boot Camp | [Top of Page] |
As last year, we anticipate starting pre-season training practices at least 2 weeks prior to the first day of Fall Classes. According to the UW-Milwaukee 2008-2009 Academic Calendar, the first day of classes will fall on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008.
Returning players and new players should anticipate preseason practices starting on Tuesday, August 19th, 2008. This should provide us with adequate training prior to our first official week of general fall practice. This will also prepare us for our pre-season tournament, the Wisconsin Scottish Highland Games. The collegiate women's Bracket of the Highland Games will be held on Saturday, September 6th, 2008. We hope to repeat as champions of the tournament this year.
Boot Camp Practice Schedule |
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| Date | Start | End | Location |
| 8/19 | 5:30 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. | McKinley / Veterans |
| 8/21 | 5:30 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. | McKinley / Veterans |
| 8/26 | 5:30 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. | McKinley / Veterans |
| 8/28 | 5:30 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. | McKinley / Veterans |
| 8/30 | 11:00 a.m. | 1:00 p.m. | Inter-Squad Scrimmage |
| Fall 2008 Regular Season Practice Schedule | [Top of Page] |
We will continue to prepare for the fall season's first preseason tournament with practices starting on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008. Our first Fall 2008 League Match will not be held until Saturday, September 20th, 2008 when we will host the Marquette University Women. For more information please visit the Fall 2008 Schedule and Results Page.
Fall 2008 Practice Schedule |
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| Day | Session | Start | End | Location |
| Mondays* | General Movement | 4:30 p.m. | 6:30 p.m. | McKinley / Veterans *** |
| Tuesdays | Principles of Play | 4:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | McKinley / Veterans *** |
| Team Training | 5:00 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. | McKinley / Veterans *** | |
| Advanced Concepts | 6:00 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. | McKinley / Veterans *** | |
| Wednesdays** | General Movement | 4:30 p.m. | 6:30 p.m. | McKinley / Veterans *** |
| Thursdays | Principles of Play | 4:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | McKinley / Veterans *** |
| Team Training | 5:00 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. | McKinley / Veterans *** | |
| Advanced Concepts | 6:00 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. | McKinley / Veterans *** | |
| * No Monday practices are held if we win our match on the Saturday prior. | ||||
| ** Wednesday Practices are currently tentative, pending overall fitness levels | ||||
| *** In case of inclement weather, our alternate practice location will be the Klotsche Center. | ||||
| About Practice Sessions | [Top of Page] |
Early in the spring of 2008 it became clear (yes, your coach finally figured it out after 10 years) that the athletes at UWM were all progressing at different rates ...whether it be fitness, knowledge or game intensity. For some - specifically players new to rugby - there was too much information being presented with too little attention being paid to principles of the game and the need for individualized instruction. For some who had played rugby at higher levels, they were not receiving enough of a challenge on the practice field nor were they receiving the individualized attention required to develop their skills at the next level.
The first apparent option was to divide practices on different days for different levels of play. However that meant losing at least one practice session a week for each developmental level. So after many spreadsheets and countless hours of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole (yes, your coach played in the front row too long as well), it seemed that the best way to approach the problem was to coach rugby as if it were part of a collegiate curriculum. So practices are now divided into the following sessions or modules:
General Movement:
The General Movement module focuses on things all players can improve upon...namely fitness, core conditioning and footwork. The General Movement module serves two purposes: increasing your cardio fitness level through aerobic and anaerobic conditioning and increasing your core strength through plyometric and pilates-type excercises. Ultimately each player's VO2 Max is calculated and tracked by the coaching staff to optimum fitness levels are achieved. Further, core conditioning decreases the risk of injury by increasing strength of major and minor core musculature.
Principles of Play:
The Principles of Play module focuses on the essential skills of rugby with individualized attention for each athlete. These essential skills include, but are not limited to: passing, catching, tackling and kicking. Additional focus is given to "proper rugby position" through the use of repetitive training to produce muscle memory.
Particular for athletes who are new to the sport, understanding the nomenclature of the game and overall game flow are important. This knowledged is developed throughout the course of the season to improve the athlete's overall understanding of the sport.
Although this module was originally developed to focus on skill-building for the new player, there are many veteran athletes who attend these sessions to refine and improve their techniques. This session is not mutually exclusive for the new player. It is open to all.
Team Training (required):
The Team Training Module is where all game-plan training occurs and is the one module required of all players. Team fundamentals such as general forward offensive progression, backline maneuvers, set-piece defense, open play defense and time-territory decision making are covered.
Advanced Concepts:
The Advanced Concepts Module focuses on upper level and emerging styles of play in the sport. The purpose of the module is to advance the skill set and on-field ability of the athlete. Individualized attention is given to the athlete in adopting proper body mechanics for new skills, identification of game situations where the skills are applicable, and field-read decision making. Advanced concepts covered include, but are not limited to: alternative forward offensive progression, advanced defensive and offensive breakdown skills, advanced tackling techniques, organized defense through partner work, understanding and adopting the ELVs.
| Practice Directions: McKinley Marina / Veteran's Park | [Top of Page] |
The practice area is located at approximately 1451 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive on Milwaukee’s Lakefront.
From the UW-Milwaukee Campus:
- Start out going East (towards the Lake) on Kenwood.
- At Lake Drive, continue forward through the intersection. Kenwood turns into Lincoln Memorial Drive.
- Continue Southbound on Lincoln Memorial Drive to the third stop light. This is Lagoon Drive.
- Turn left on Lagoon Drive.
- Take the first two left-hand turns you can to enter the parking lot for the practice area.
Note: The parking lot adjacent to the practice area is a UWM Park and Ride lot. If you do not have transportation to practice from campus, you may take the free McKinley / Veterans uPark Shuttle to get to practice. The free shuttles depart from the UWM Union approximately every 20 minutes. Please visit our Interactive Campus Map and uPark Shuttle Timetable to find free transportation to practice.
You can use this Google Maps Link to find directions to McKinley Marina / Veterans Park from your location.
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