Q: How often and where are practices?
A: Currently practices are being held Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7:00pm @ Lake Island Park. Our website www.winterparkwarriors.com will have a current schedule of practices and games.
Q: How often and where are games?
A: We don't currently have a home field. Games will most likely be played on Saturdays before or after men's league games so that we can share their fields, equipment and referees. We are the only under-19 team in the Orlando Area, so travel is expected. The closest under-19 teams are Brevard, and Lincoln Park Academy. (Port St. Lucie) In general if we play an away game, the other team is expected to make a trip to play us. Approximately 50% of our games will be home games and 50% away.
Q: What supplies are provided and what do we need to supply?
A: Dues will pay for a mouth-guard, shorts, and socks. Players are expected to supply cleats, practice clothing and water for practices.
Q: What sort of cleats should be worn?
A: Soccer, football or rugby cleats are acceptable. Soccer or football cleats usually work best for the dry, hard ground typically found in Florida. Both plastic and metal spikes are acceptable, as long as the shoe does not have a toe spike (a single spike at the toe end of the shoe) plastic toe spikes can be cut off.
Q: When and how long is the season?
A: The main season is in the spring and lasts from February through April. There is a summer season where a modified version of rugby called 7's is played and consists of various tournaments set up by hosing clubs. The fall is an off-season, though we plan to continue weekly practices and set up several games against other Florida teams.
Q: Is rugby dangerous?
A: Rugby is a contact sport and therefore minor injuries (cuts, scrapes, bruises) are not uncommon. As for more serious injuries, rugby is no more dangerous than American style football. We take safety very seriously. Teaching and enforcing proper techniques greatly reduces the chance of injury.
Q: Do you have to be big to play rugby?
A: No. Players with certain body types tend to play certain Positions on the field, but there are positions for every body type and if proper tackling technique is used, even the smallest player can tackle the biggest player. In our first summer season, one of our smallest players surprised everyone by being one of our best tacklers. Size has no part in how good a rugby player you are, or might be.
Q: Can I play other sports as well as rugby?
A: we are understanding of players who want to play other sports as well and encourage them to play both as long as the other coach doesn't mind and it doesn't interfere with school work.
Q: What is CIPP? And do I need it to play?
A: CIPP is the USA Rugby registration. This registration says that you accept the risk of playing rugby and release USA Rugby from liability. Coaches and referees will not allow players to play in games without this registration. Please do not use the USA Rugby online registration to register for the Warriors. As a U-19 club we need parental consent signatures on the forms.
Q: Is Orlando Warriors associated with Winter Park High School?
A: We are not currently associated with Winter Park High School, other than the fact that most of our players attend high school there. We are looking into avenues to become a school club. Players from other schools are welcome to play for the Warriors.
Q: What training do the coaches have?
A: Being a very physical sport, the training of the coaches is important to the safety of the players. USA Rugby offers several levels of training beginning with what they call Level 1 training. It is necessary that at least one coach be Level 1 trained, and registered with USA Rugby, for each U-19 rugby team. Assistant coaches do not need to be Level 1 trained, though USA Rugby offers free background checks for U-19 teams.
Q: Can women play rugby?
A: Yes and they do. UCF has a woman's team and there is an Orlando Woman's team. The Warriors team however, is a boy's team. USA rugby strongly discourages mixing men's and women's rugby from the high school level up, due to typical differences in size and aggression. Interested under 19 women players, we would ask to contact the Orlando women's team (www.orlandorugby.com) and we would be happy to assist with the creation of a U-19 women's team if possible.
Q: What age range can play for the Warriors?
A: The Warriors is a high school or under 19 team, meaning that we will take players between the ages of 13 and 19. Older players are encouraged to play with the local men's teams, either Ironhorse (www.ironhorserugby.com) or Orlando (www.orlandorugby.com)
Q: What are the goals and philosophy of Warriors? Rugby?
A: Orlando Warriors Rugby Club was started to facilitate rugby at the high school level. Our goal is to expand the participation in U-19 rugby in the Central Florida area. Most of our players attend Winter Park High school, but we have players from other high schools as well. We would like to branch out and form clubs associated with other schools within the next year or two.
