Miami Sharks’ Post

In my latest post I explore the shortcomings of relying solely on bursaries to develop young rugby talent. https://lnkd.in/dBg43xiS

Below I have my latest published story for the University Star! It explores the impact of alumni involvement within club sports, more specifically, Rugby. https://lnkd.in/grDNU6AR

I just picked up this ad for tomorrow's University of Oxford v University of Cambridge #Varsity Rugby match on my socials this morning. It took me back to when this was a must-see fixture on the #Rugby calendar. Those were halcyon days when half of the City of London would take a mid-week afternoon off and waddle down to #Twickenham to watch a couple of old mates and a good spattering of genuine international quality players running around the Cabbage Patch. It felt like the pinnacle of university rugby in the UK and therefore by default the world. However, in the post-professional egalitarian rugby world we live in today, most quality young rugby players are nurtured through the club academy system or if they do go on to a University it is one affiliated with, or near, a top club. Therefore, the relevance of this game today must be questioned. I'd much rather these two great institutions challenge themselves with meaningful regular fixtures with other top teams such as Durham University, University of Exeter and the best Welsh Unis in British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Super Rugby or follow Hartpury University and Hartpury College, Loughborough University and #Exeter by competing in senior men's leagues to understand how good they are. I am not sure why they don't. Maybe it's clinging to traditions in the face of change or they don't want to face the potential truth that they are not the best University teams in the UK anymore. I have a feeling it may related to why Eton College and Harrow School still play their annual school cricket match at #Lords or why the BBC allows #Oxbridge to be represented by their individual colleges on University Challenge (when all other Unis put teams in representing their total cohort). Is that fair, or it is just a figment of my state-school, Poly-educated 'chip-on-my-shoulder' imagination? 😉 #universities #BUCS #Oxford #Cambridge England Rugby Premiership Rugby World Rugby Cardiff Metropolitan University Swansea University University of Nottingham Leeds Beckett University University of Bath Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd

The introduction of non-contact rugby in schools is a progressive move by the RFU to address declining youth participation due to injury concerns. This initiative ensures that schools with strong rugby traditions can safely maintain the sport while encouraging new schools to join. The launch of T1 rugby, a non-contact format, is particularly exciting as it retains the essence of the game while reducing injury risks, opening the door for broader participation. This approach, backed by equipment and resources from the RFU, is a positive step towards growing the sport inclusively and safely. https://lnkd.in/eSEmYzQP #Rugby #T1Rugby #RFU #SportsInjury

Excellence grows from competition- so how do we better encourage competition? I read this article https://lnkd.in/eQ_rfKdz and I was left thinking - if we truly want to foster excellence then we need to embrace competition. Except having a giant hurdle like $70,000 being required in days could be an insurmountable challenge for some. I think about how much we spend to fly only some of the best rugby athletes to Langford. Only for them not to get pro contracts and once done the program to go home and settle at a lesser level of rugby and competition in many cases. Why not take that budget and encourage more competition? Support the university level best (meaning rugby Canada pays this) and short list a national hopeful squad. Support the best premier division teams to face off from around the country. Again short list hopefuls. Rinse and repeat for the representative levels and semi pro groups. At the end have a couple hundred of the best, in one camp competing. The result are multiple (academy- like) grass root programs fostering growth to excellence through competition. Yes, some of the same faces will go through each round - is that a bad thing? What’s the downside of that athlete rising to the top at multiple levels? What’s the downside of promoting community pathways to excellence? If you can achieve elite levels in any of these programs you get noticed! Or keep flying a handful of athletes to Langford, to spend time and have no contracts after to be a professional athlete, no university degree, no trade experience, no ability to continue at that level when they go home, and still no progress at improving at the international level?! Competition breeds excellence. It always has in sports. The University of British Columbia good luck! The Okanagan has been a hotbed of excellence through competition and passion. I’ll be cheering for you! Great work on your accomplishment.

𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔.𝐒.❓ A vibrant collegiate handball league is essential for developing future talent. By 2028, USA Team Handball’s vision includes a network of 𝟴𝟬 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 across regional leagues, culminating in an annual “Final Four” event. This initiative aims to: 1. Increase visibility and attract young athletes 2. Build a sustainable pipeline for national teams 3. Create regional excitement through competitive play 𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒔 ↳ 19 active colleges ↳ 5 college teams dedicated to women’s handball ↳ 32 universities with inactive programs As of today, we have 19 colleges actively participating in collegiate #handball, with 5 teams dedicated to women’s handball. Additionally, we recognize the legacy of 32 other universities that have had handball programs in the past 50 years, though they are not currently active. This historical presence provides a valuable foundation to rekindle interest and expand our reach in the collegiate sports community. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑮𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 One of these sleeping college programs is at Arizona State University in Phoenix. There are hopes that through the efforts of Tia Foxx and Odette Wilhelmina Bakker, LL.M. with the support of a current student and national team player Viva Kreis this program might restart in the near future. The response from the active programs has been encouraging, and we’re focused on supporting these teams while working to reactivate former programs to strengthen this foundation. What factors attract college students to emerging sports? Tag someone who’s contributed to sports development on their campus! ➡️ Next Post: 2028 in Sight – Ready for the Olympics?: https://lnkd.in/eWFuQvXK ⬅️ Previous Post: The Financial Foundation – Funding the Dream: https://lnkd.in/eyGwcsQk

👉🏼 During my time at IU Internationale Hochschule I wrote my thesis about „The influence of the World Cup 2026 on the US College System“ If you want to read, discuss or connect feel free to reach out. Why it may be interesting for you? - Examining how the World Cup will elevate soccer's popularity in the US - Analyzing financial opportunities for colleges through sponsorships and tourism - Exploring enhancements in college soccer programs and recruitment strategies - Investigating new educational programs in sports management and related fields #WorldCup2026 #FIFA #college #studentathlete

U.S. Soccer Federation needs to make an immediate USMNT head coaching change and retool for World Cup 2026. No more excuses. I believe there needs to be a complete overhaul of soccer in the US starting at the grassroots level. No more going through the motions season after season, year after year, only to discover *spoiler alert* that we’ve reached the pinnacle of mediocrity. Collectively, our expectations should far exceed “participation trophy” mentality given the $$$ spent on soccer in the US compared to other countries. To be truly competitive on the world stage, we need a comphrehensive player development curriculum where the best players are identified, trained and move up, regardless of household income. #ussoccer #soccercoaching #usmnt

Couldn't agree more with this approach to accentuating rugby... The sheer potential! I feel up-and-coming athletes need to be appreciated more, if that means helping them build and grow a more formidable personal brand for themselves, then so be it. After all, that's just a fraction of what needs to happen anyway. Don't even get me started on the possibilities of integrating the phygital side of things into the current NIL structure. Endorsements and promotions, etc are one thing... Crafting phygital assets that have infinite potential for all parties involved... Athlete + brand + fan, now that's a different ball game.

The next step in the Six Degree Sports journey - Individualized development programming with over 20 years of Case Studies ratifying efficacy at every level. Six Degree Sports USA Rugby USA Youth and High School Rugby https://lnkd.in/gr-GAupC