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We believe Gridiron Rugby should be the "poor kids' game,"
unlike American soccer.
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Gridiron Rugby believes the long-term
success of the sport depends on getting the game in high
schools.
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This requires us to design rugby league in a manner to fit
American football fields. Thus "Gridiron Rugby" is
11-a-side rugby league on "gridiron," or American football
fields.
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We believe that academies privately-run and not affiliated with
high schools (or a professional team) have hurt soccer in that
they draw low attendance in high schools, even after decades.
They also price a lot of children out of the sport.
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High school football programs are successful partly because the
head coach is directly or tacitly in charge of youth development
at lower level schools in his district (middle schools,
elementary schools), even allowing teams to use the high
school's nickname and play at their stadium. It also is
less expensive to join than soccer academies or camps.
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This explains in part why high school football attendance is
strongly supported, it's due to networking and inspiring young
players to want to play for the high school team one day.
It is understood those that support the youth programs help the
high school team on Friday nights.
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As such, all future Gridiron Rugby high school coaches are
hereby notified that they are directly in charge of youth
development at lower levels, like in football.
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Not only will it develop a good network of
future fans, it will keep costs down, making the game affordable
to everyone.
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We will NOT support any academy or camp not directly tied to a
high school or a professional team.
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High school programs must play at their
stadium or share a stadium with nearby high school teams.
We will not sanction any team that plays in parks or elsewhere.
This is a stadium sport, and should be treated as such.
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Gridiron Rugby is "Title IX-friendly" as is a perfect and
inexpensive college and high school sport for women.
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We also believe the long-term goal of Gridiron Rugby is to make
a true "People's League," where a system of promotion and
relegation can occur.
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We also understand that one group that is long overlooked from
players, owners, and fans, are the taxpayers. They are the
ones whose investments have supported sports by investing in
facilities and programs because they felt the social and
economic impact was worth it.
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The whole point of Gridiron Rugby is to minimize public
investment but giving maximum value for that investment.
Our simplified rules, low-cost entry, and minimal needs for
infrastructure should make it more palatable to sports
commissions and the taxpayers in general to want to assist our
efforts.
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We will always be humble and emphasize our appreciation
to taxpayers whenever they are involved, directly or indirectly,
and hope they follow through with their investment and support
Gridiron Rugby.
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We will utilize football facilities in the Spring, offseason to
American football. We will complement football and use
facilities otherwise not in use during that time.
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While acknowledging we cannot compete with football, as the
sport grows, we'll compete against everyone else.
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The sport of Gridiron Rugby is a great and inexpensive game to
start up due to not having to change the linings of an American
football field.
This website shall be updated as needed to provide information and
contacts to those who wish to assist in our efforts.
