February 22, 2012

About Us

Orca Youth Rugby U16 Boys Team, Spring 2010

Orca Youth Rugby's U16 Boys Team, Spring 2010

At Orca Youth Rugby everyone is welcome. We train boys and girls ages 10 to 19 to play one of the toughest and most enjoyable sports in the world: RUGBY!  Rugby has a place for all body types: small and fast, big and strong, tall or short.  We expect everyone will be a beginner.  Although rugby is wildly popular around the world, relatively few people in the U.S. are familiar with rugby, so we start from the beginning so everyone can learn.  Even though it looks like chaos to begin with, after a few weeks of practice and a game or two, even beginners “get it” and have a lot of fun!

Team Philosophy
Orca Rugby is designed for beginners and everyone plays. Orca Rugby does not “cut” or drop players from the team, except for bad behavior. All we require is your good attitude and effort.

Orca Rugby limits team sizes to ensure no one “rides the bench,” to ensure that everyone gets close attention from coaching staff, and to allow each player to develop fully.

Rugby keeps substitution to a minimum and does not stop, except briefly at half time. Therefore, some players inevitably will play more than others during any given game, but usually all players get significant playing time in every game.  The coaching staff strives to ensure every player is on the field every game, and attempts to even out total time on the field among players over the season.

While taking into consideration the individual’s preference for a particular position, the coaching staff will make the final decision on player positions, which may change game to game.

The following are examples (but not a complete list) of behavior that could lead to ejection from the team: speaking to or about the referee; fighting with anyone; insulting anyone (including opposing players); possession or use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco at any time; or repeated unexcused absences from practices or games.

Practice Fields (may change for the 2012 season)

Background
Orca Youth Rugby (also known as “Orca Rugby” and formerly known as the “Channel Islands Youth Rugby Football Club”) is a division of Santa Barbara Rugby Association.  SBRA was incorporated as a California non-profit corporation in 2002 and is recognized as a charitable organization by the IRS under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  All donations to Orca Rugby are tax deductible as charitable donations. For the IRS Charity Letter please see the web page Club History.

Orca Youth Rugby is part of Rugby California, USA Rugby, and the International Rugby Board (IRB).

Orca Youth Rugby exists to serve the youth of Ventura County.  Players come mostly from coastal Ventura County:  Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Somis, Port Hueneme, Newbury Park, and Thousand Oaks, but ALL youth are welcome.

Coaches
Orca Youth Rugby Coaches are all volunteers.  Each coach has passed background checks through USA Rugby and has significant experience in rugby.  Every one of our coaches volunteers hundreds of hours each season to pass on their love of rugby to a new generation.  The coaching staff is led by Head Coach Francis Mariner. Our experienced rugby coaches include Jon DiMauro (U19 Girls), Danny Benjamin (U12 Boys), Drew Reimers (U14 Boys), Jim Stevens (U14 Boys), Tim Hoffman (U16 Boys), Bo Nedbaillo (U16 Boys), Kurt Dulka (U19 Boys) and KO Davis (U19 Boys).  For more information about the coaches please see the web page Coaches.

Leadership
Orca Youth Rugby club is run by a dedicated group of volunteers who support the club with their professional resources as well as their years of experience with rugby.

  • President – Sylvia Soto
  • Vice-President – Drew Reimers
  • Secretary – Bo Nedbaillo
  • Treasurer – Becca DiMauro
  • Field Master – Tim Hoffman
  • Social Director – Acela Brooks
  • Head Coach – Francis Mariner
  • Recruiter – Drew Reimers, recruiter@orcayouthrugby.org
  • Fundraiser – Machelle Galvan
  • Web Advisor –  A.R. Kirwin