26th Annual Kick Off Tournament Presented By: The Sacramento Valley High School Rugby Conference Benefiting: The Sacramento Valley Rugby Foundation & Complex Where: Granite Regional Park, Sacramento When: Fri., Sat. & Sun., January 29, 30, & 31, 2010 Directions to Granite Regional Park * do NOT rely on mapquest, you'll get lost! * Hwy 50 to Howe Ave./ Power Inn Road exit (7 miles east of downtown Sacramento) Exit Power Inn, proceed south 1/2 mile Turn Left at light at Cucamonga proceed down the hill, road curves right, parking will be on the right TEAM INFO Register Your Team NOW Team Waiver and Release Form (Word doc) Check-in Process - Requirements (Word doc) List of Teams Official Accommodations provided by: Click for Special Rates

Varsity International: Christian Brothers vs. Edmonton Celtics

2010 Kick Off Tournament
January 29, 30, 31 2010


Schedule Now Posted
(Note: Minor updates added on 1/29 to Sunday as Schedule D)

The Sacramento Valley High School Rugby Conference is proud to announce the 26th annual Kick Off Tournament, or KOT, slated for Jan 30/31. Details are still emerging, but we can say with certainty, registration will be limited to 96 sides. For the 5th consecutive year, the winner of last year's KOT Varsity Gold division advanced to the USA Rugby HS National Championship Final. Varsity Gold Champions Jesuit beat Varsity International Champions Christian Brothers (both of Sacramento) in USA Rugby's Championship Final, held in Pittsburg, PA, 14 weeks after having won their competitions at the KOT.

With new clubs starting at Kennedy High (Sacramento), St. Mary's (Stockton), and Bullard High (Frenso), more Canadian sides expressing interest than in the past (at least 3 boys and 1 girls side at this date), and the continuing growth of the game at the younger levels of play, the KOT will run out of space. We expect, in the weeks before the event, to have to turn late forming teams away.

For 2010, we ask all clubs planning to compete in the KOT to pay the required entry fee, $250 per side. Register Your Team NOW

For now, please get back to Ray Schwartz (vanillagorillaray@sbcglobal.net) with a best guess as to how many sides you may enter, and at what levels, to confirm available space.

All clubs, coaches and players must be CIPP registered. Players must carry personal health insurance, be enrolled and in good standing at the High School level or lower. The coach (or manager) must present a binder at our Team Check In station (showing proof of CIPP, photo ID, health insurance info), 1 hour prior to the team's first scheduled kick off, be it Saturday or Sunday.

Clear instructions will be issued to the referees: All games will end on time. In order to maximize the playing time for your side, and your opponent's, we suggest each side report to the scheduled pitch, ready to play, no later than 20 minutes prior to your scheduled kick off.

Highlights to consider for 2010:

• We hope to see 8 sides step up to the challenge of the 2-day Varsity International, which would allow us to schedule (3) 30-minute games in pool play on Saturday, before placing each into a single 70-minute championship match Sunday. For the past two years we've had only 6 sides in this division.
• We hope to see 8 Girls sides enter, but need to draw from outside our area to do so. Scheduling a Friday friendly in advance of the Sunday competition is always possible.
• We have very limited space Saturday for B-sides and Frosh/Soph play.
• U10s and U12s could be scheduled to play on a half sized pitch

Thanks for your consideration. We hope to see your club actively participating in what is surely the biggest and best pre-season youth and high school rugby tournament across America, and perhaps around the world!

Our "Vendor Village" was well received this past KOT, and will grow for 2010. Food selections were good, and Extreme Soccer and Rugby nearly sold out by the end of Sunday.

The KOT also needs eager volunteers to help run a flawless event for the kids, their parents and coaches. See the Volunteer page for more details.

Each field would benefit from the presence of 2 Field Marshalls, to help keep things in order. Field Marshalls earn a free lunch, a sporty tournament t-shirt, and our eternal gratitude. If you have anyone who'll gladly put in a half day of work as a FM, please have him/her reach Ray Thompson at raythompson3@surewest.net. We promise 'no heavy lifting' for field marshalls!

KOT News and Updates: