Rugby coaching

Question
Hi Deane,
I am a final year university student in Oxford, England. I want to spend my summer coaching or helping out in any way possible in America. I have no qualifications other than that I have played to a reasonably high standard and have played since I was 7. How do I go about getting work in America for the summer? Any ideas? Thank you very much for your time.

Answer
Mr Robertson,

Summer rugby in the US tends to be Summer 7s.

Unfortunately I am currently in Germany and tend not to do the rugby thing in the summer.

In June will be the Churchill Cup.  There appear to be many volunteer positions open.  Information follows:

BOULDER, Colo. -- USA Rugby is seeking energetic individuals to fill several volunteer positions for the United States pool of the 2006 Barclays Churchill Cup, June 3, 7, 10 in Santa Clara, Calif.

Interested parties need to complete the volunteer information form and return it to the attention of Susan Jones at the national office.

2006 BARCLAYS CHURCHILL CUP VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
For all Game Day Positions the times will be approximately as follows:
S
aturday, June 3, 9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.
Wednesday, June 7, 2:00p.m. - 10:30p.m.
Saturday, June 10, 9:00a.m. -5:00p.m.

HEAD TEAM LIAISON
Positions: 3
Location: All team locations
Date: Approximate dates: Sunday, May 28 ?Sunday, June 11 (Exact
dates to be confirmed with teams).
Times: all day
Reports to: Susan Jones
Notes: Team liaisons are responsible for the support of all participating
teams during their entire stay for the tournament. Duties include, but are not limited to: greeting team on arrival & departure; transportation of teams to and from practice, games, sightseeing, etc; scheduling of practice fields & meeting rooms; ensuring laundry service; assisting team manager with documentation for tournament; assisting team physiotherapist with necessary
supplies; and to serve as the main contact with USA Rugby staff
Requirements: MUST be able to commit for length of team stay (Duration will be
determined once team schedules are confirmed)
To stay in team hotel (accommodations & three meals/ day
provided)
Prepared to be on call 24 hours each day for team needs
Valid drivers' license and willing and able to drive a 15 passenger
van
Knowledge of the Bay area in California and surrounding areas
Experience, knowledge and a love for rugby

ASSISTANT LIAISON OFFICER
Positions: 6
Location: All team locations (Hotel/ Practice/ Trips)
Dates: Approximate dates: Sunday, May 28 ?Sunday, June 11 (Exact
dates to be confirmed with teams).
Times: Daytime with teams to be shared with another Assistant Liaison; ensuring that at least one assistant and one head liaison are with the teams at all times during the day
Reports to: Susan Jones
Notes: Assist in the process of welcoming teams, checking in teams,
baggage handling, handing out team packets, room keys and other
important information.
Title: Team Arrival Meet-n-Greet / Hotel Check In
Positions: 4
Location: Various Hotels/ in San Jose, Santa Clara, and Palo Alto
Dates: TBD
Times: TBD
Reports to: Susan Jones
Notes: Assist in the process of welcoming teams, checking in teams,
baggage handling

PRACTICE FIELD MANAGERS
Positions: 6
Locations: Santa Clara University, San Jose State University, Stanford
University
Date: Approximate dates: Sunday May 28 ?June 9
Times: Specific times, approximately 4-hour blocks, to be announced when
teams arrive
Reports to: Susan Jones
Notes: Managers are responsible for ensuring each practice field is prepared with all necessary equipment for each practice. Managers are also responsible to ensure all equipment is accounted for and returned at the end of the day. They will also be responsible for making sure that the teams have water and ice while liaising with the facility.

OPERATIONS CREW
Positions: 10
Location: Buck Shaw Stadium
Dates: May 28- June 11 for various tasks, but specifically on Saturday June
3, Wednesday June 7, Saturday June 10
Times: Volunteer times depending on game start time
Reports to: Susan Jones
Notes: Operations staff will assist in setting up & breaking down the venue
(stadium, plaza, field, locker rooms, etc.) for each day of competition. Placements of banners, signage, tables, etc. are some of the duties. Some lifting is required.
Title: Competition Team Assistants
(Locker Room Attendants & Warm up Field Managers)
Positions: 6
Location: Buck Shaw Stadium
Date: Saturday June 3, Wednesday June 7, & Saturday June 10
Times: Volunteer times depending on game start time
Reports to: Susan Jones
Notes: Competition assistants will assist the Competition Director to ensure teams are lined up in the tunnel prior to game time, assist will ball kids, assist Team Liaisons, maintain locker rooms, assist referees, etc.

MEDIA MARSHALS AND ASSISTANTS
5 (Press Box, Photo Marshals, three assistants)
Location: Buck Shaw Stadium
Date: Saturday June 3, Wednesday June 7, Saturday June 10
Times: Volunteer times depending on game start time
Reports to: Colleen Reilly Krueger
Notes: To help ensure that all media issues and personnel needs are addressed for the event. This includes preparing the media room, distributing match reports, and communication with game officials.

MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS OFFICERS
Positions: 5
Location: San Francisco Area (2), San Jose (2), Oakland, & Sacramento
Date: April 1- May 30
Times: Various times depending on needs and projects
Reports to: Court Jeske
Notes: The Marketing and Promotions Officers will be responsible for helping to promote the event in their local community. We will provide posters, handouts, and other collateral for this job. Your responsibility will to make sure that the entire rugby and expatriate communities in your town are aware of the event. This can be done through emails, posting collateral, face-to-face interactions, and by any other means that you create.

PROTOCOL / VIP HOSTS
Positions: 5
Location: Buck Shaw Stadium (Santa Clara University)
Date: Saturday June 3, Wednesday June 7, Saturday June 10
Times: Volunteer times depending on game start time
Reports to: Court Jeske
Notes: Protocol/ VIP Volunteers will be responsible for hosting special guests of USA Rugby and the tournament. This includes preparing the VIP area for a small number of guests, coordinating their hospitality arrangements, and ensuring that their game experience is fantastic.

Generally you should check the area in which you are planning on traveling to find information about specific rugby opportunities.  As an example the Washington DC rugby team has both summer training and a sevens program.  See below:

SUMMER RUGBY TRAINING:
From May until August, practice will be held in downtown DC, on the Mall at 15th and Independence (the PAC game field), on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30pm.
During late May, June, July, and early August, PAC remains active with sevens, touch rugby and conditioning. The atmosphere is informal. STUDENTS, TOURISTS AND TEMPORARY VISITORS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN US AND PLAY.  Practice generally starts the week after the final Rugby Super League match.
The summer season offers an excellent opportunity to keep fit and maintain rugby skills. The informal nature of the practice also makes it a perfect time to get acquainted with the club and the players.  Training is open to everyone, from players wishing to compete for the national sevens championship, to those that want an informal run of touch rugby, or even an introduction to 揟he Global Game?
Click here for summer practice directions or call the PAC 24-hour information hotline at 202-659-9414 for information on times and locations of practices, games and tournaments.

THE PAC SEVENS PROGRAM:
During the summer months, PAC will field as many sides as player interest dictates.    In the USA Sevens competition, PAC has a strong presence in the local and national circuit.  PAC routinely qualifies for the MARFU Sevens Championship and has made multiple appearances at the USA National 7s Championship.  PAC is the defending MARFU Sevens Champion, and has won the MidAtlantic Championship three of the past four years.  
Not only can players compete on the MARFU Qualifier circuit, but PAC also enters squads into open, social, and even Tight Five ("Clydesdale") brackets.  Of course, PAC fields a number of sides in its own PAC SEVENS TOURNAMENT, held the last weekend of June in Washington, D.C.  
PAC also counts several of it past and present players on territorial and national select teams.  Player / Coach Danzel van Zyl, a former Western Province (SA) sevens selection, was selected as a trialist for the USA Eagles Sevens squad has appeared for the invitational side Atlantis (USA).  PAC players have represented MARFU, other US territories, played on overseas provincial Sevens squads, suited up for Atlantis and other invitational teams, and even competed for spots on the US National Sevens Team ("Eagles").
Players of all levels are welcome to come and join us for the summer version of The Global Game.

The website for the USA Rugby is www.usarugby.org.  You can check out the regional and local union web pages.

I am sorry I could provide better information.

Deane Shephard
Stuttgart RFC