2023-2024 Capilano Mini/Youth Registration

Welcome to the Capilano Rugby club

All players of any experience are welcome at any time.

Here is a list of answers to frequently asked questions for the youth and Minis programs.

THE MINIS PROGRAM ages 4 to 12

Minis is co ed and runs in two year age bands for U6, U8, U10, and U12.

Regular practices run Sunday mornings at 10 am at the Capilano Rugby Club from September to May with a long winter break starting usually after the first week of December and running until late February. There are also occasional jambourees (see below).

It is a very civilized affair. There is a covered grand stand to watch, and coffee for the parents. We also have the ever popular pancakes in the clubhouse afterwards on home days, and it’s a lot of fun.

Jambourees

These are minis tournaments where each team plays about 3 20 minute games. We travel to other clubs in Metro Vancouver the farthest being Whiterock and Squamish, about eight to ten times per year. We also host the other clubs for a Jamboures twice per year. These jambouree days run a bit longer than the regular one hour practice (U12 is 75 minutes). And there are usually hot dogs or treats afterwards provided by the hosting club.

U12 will continue to run touch during the summer on Friday evenings at 600 if you are interested in joining the touch crew over summer please contact Julia at scientiaestpotentia@yahoo.com to make sure they are not on vacation.

THE YOUTH PROGRAM ages 12 to 18

The Youth Programs (or age grade) are run as U14 boys, U16 boys and U18 boys, and U14 girls, U16 girls and U18 girls – also in 2 year age bands.

If we are short players for a certain age band, which sometimes happens with the girls, these players can either play up an age group, if experienced, or with the lower age bracket, they are new. U14 players also have the option of playing co ed.

The youth league games run in the fall starting with a sevens series for 3 weeks in September. The 15’s league follows starts the week after Thanksgiving and runs to December.

In the spring, we organize exhibition games, if there is interest, and practice leading up to the Provincial Regional Tournament (PRC’s) which takes place at the beginning of July. This tournament provides a scouting ground for Provincial rugby pathways, the BC Bears. PRC’s are a whole other thing where players coming out of high school rugby often join the club players to form a regional team.

Registration for all age groups

The fall 2023/2024 season will open soon. It is accessed through Sportlomo https://rugbycanada.sportlomo...., or there is a link on the Capilano rugby club website (black button top right). Be sure to select Capilano YOUTH when you are on the Rugby Canada page, or you will not be shown the correct options. You also have to scroll down to get to the red selection screen.

Kit/Uniform

All players need cleats and a mouthguard. Macy’s sports (across from the Save on Foods on Brooksbank) is a great place for rugby stuff. Younger players only need the plastic molded soccer cleats which are cheaper and come in cool colors too.

The club sells Capilano Branded uniforms for the players.

For minis U6-u12, Kit is shorts, socks and jersey $125.

For youth U14-U18, it is shorts ($35) and Socks ($20). Numbered game Jerseys are distributed and collected each game. Many players already have what they need or outgrow stuff continuously, so we try to have sizes on hand at all times (supply chain issues can make this a challenge recently).

Skills progression: For what the players can expect at each age, Rugby Canada has a PDF of the youth and minis progression such as when tackling is introduced, how long the games are etc. https://rugby.ca/uploads/Commu...

Hosting

In addition to minis pancakes, we like to host after all youth games, which fall mostly on Sunday late morning following minis, with pizza or a meal. So volunteers are sometimes asked to help out with food prep or clean up.

We try to schedule games on the same day as Snow Caps (old boys rugby) games so the bar will be open and there is a fun crowd in the grandstand. Our club is one of the best viewing facilities in town.

It is a lot of fun for all and all are welcome.

See ya there!

Julia

(For the Capilano Youth and Minis crew)