How to get girls to play rugby?

Switch the ball for an I Phone. I thought every one knew this

Can you put up a notice where they do other athletic things? Zumba, swimming, tennis?

Do you practice somewhere near campus? I’d make the practice as public as you can and have someone on the sidelines handing out flyers with information how to join. People stop to watch, some of those people are probably interested or know someone who is. The flyers should include how to get in touch if someone wants to know more and your basic schedule for practice and tournaments.

I’m not sure where you’re located, but rugby isn’t huge in the US. I played briefly and I’d say half the players were from the UK, Australia, or New Zealand. If there’s any groups related to those areas in the college, you might try to reach their members via a meeting or email list.

I know some guys who started a martial arts school, and they say it’s like forming a little church.

Ask everyone you know, to ask everyone they know, to come in for a free, no-commitment visit.

A lot of life is sales. A certain number will like rugby enough to come back again.

Put the word out?

@Dutchess_III Other than put the word out. The main concern girls have had joining were that they don’t want to get hurt, which is understandable, but I’ve been playing for 8 months now and the worst thing that’s happened to me was hitting my jaw on the ground, and that was because I tripped on my own shoelace.

@funkdaddy I know rugby isn’t particularly huge in the US, but I think it’s a good way to put our school on the map considering it’s so small, and in the middle of nowhere, and a good way to make it more popular. There are a couple of exchange students from Australia, but they weren’t interested in playing.

@JLeslie We’ve done that, and very little response resulted from it. People seem to just walk right by them without taking notice.

@Call_Me_Jay We have probably the most flexible schedules as far as practicing, so I don’t know what could be more enticing, considering a lot of students are busy.

Is it the full contact version or is it touch rubgy? I would never play full contact rugby because I’m built like a weak little sparrow, but I have played touch rugby. Maybe offer to teach them touch first just to get them involved. Your retention may drop, but you’ll attract more.

Host a meeting at a venue where you can show an All Black game. I suggest the last rugby world cup final. :) Or see if you can find footage of the Black Ferns.

Bag the ones who have boyfriends with odd shaped balls, used to handling them a big advantage.

^Classless, vulgar, offensive…. I love it….

I think some event would have to take place which makes it more appealing.
If the local news were scheduled to be at your next practice, to video some action during practice, and interview some players, perhaps advance word could create some excitement. Every school team/club has some stigma attached. Usually the sports teams are thought of as cool, the academic teams a nerdy. You need to get a schoolwide opinion of coolness established right away.
If you single out potential joiners, give them an ego reason when you ask. “I wish you would try out for our rugby team, you have the lightning feet we really need.”
Find some sort of team identifier which you can all agree to display, like matching rings, or team bracelets. Such things can capture the attention of students who feel a desire to belong somewhere.
Openly show support for each other. When you see each other between classes call out greetings to each other to create an atmosphere of belonging.
Good luck. I would have loved to play rugby when I was in school, but no way could that have happened back then.

“Classless”
Ooh get her & her fancy pants ways…

My first thought was that is a rough, rough game. I’m competitive and athletic, but I would not want to play American football, and especially not rugby, against much larger and stronger males. Co-ed volleyball was sometimes scary and it isn’t even a contact sport.

@Dutchess_III We don’t know if this is co-ed or not.

@Dutchess_III I think this is a ‘woman’s only’ league.

I thought Blueberry Kid is a male….?

I would think it’s improbable that it’s co-ed.

I would think this is a female, who loves the sport, but there aren’t enough players to field a team. So she is trying to recruit some more girls, so they can get a team together.

I remember when I played football, most of us had to play iron man (offense and defense, ) because we only had like 20 players. If our team got the flu,we had to forfeit a game because we couldn’t field a complete team.

She’s a girl.

In a related note – women’s Australian rules football is a big deal.

BBC – AFLW: How a women’s league has captivated Australia
Women are playing Australian rules football professionally for the first time in 2017, drawing sell-out crowds and stunning TV ratings. The league has been celebrated on several fronts despite some controversy over pay, writes Elissa Doherty in Melbourne.

Aussie Rules is a very different game from Rugby.

How are they different? I guess I don’t really know too much about either.

There are three types of Rugby. Aussie Rules, Rugby League and Rugby Union. You can look them up if you want to know more.

It seems to me that if a girl, or anyone, wanted to play, they’d find you. I played volleyball. I went and found my own leagues. If they don’t want to play then I don’t know how you’d convince them otherwise.