Player Development:

Upright Rugby uses a player-centred model of learning that best provides for developmental needs of young aspiring rugby players.  Our programs are designed for players ages, 8 to 18, with the understanding that the players need to develop not only the skills but knowledge to best prepare them to accomplish their personal long-term goals in the sport of rugby.  Our programs adhere to the LTRD model of Rugby Ontario and LTAD of Sport Canada and addresses the specific stages within their models.

Long-Term Rugby Development (LTRD) is the Ontario Rugby Union's adaptation of the Long-Term Athlete Development model (LTAD) developed by Sport Canada and is a scientific model that has been readily adopted by many major sports organizations across the globe.  It is a series of stages established to facilitate the needs of the individual athlete through their natural stages of growth and maturity.

Upright Rugby's Program Development Model is designed to:

Provide a safe environment that seeks to best address the player's health and welfare within the sport of rugby;

Provide on a enjoyable environment that focuses on player-centred learning and development;

Provide a calculated player development pathway that best suits their personal needs;

Promote lifelong enjoyment of rugby and the pursuit of physical activity;

Facilitate best practices for player growth and development.

LTRD is on based the principle idea that the better the preparation, the greater the likelihood that players of all abilities will remain involved in rugby and/or fitness throughout their lifetimes.  Our program is designed to address the personal needs and ambitions of each player; recognizing not everyone is a national team player but each player does have their own personal goals.  Those committed to Upright Rugby's model will definitely find success and ultimately be much more likely to achieve their player-goals than those who are not involved in a program of this nature.

The "10, 000 hours" concept of mastery of skill and knowledge is facilitated through the learning continuum of our summer camps (for kids 8 to 14yrs old), and refined in our Elite Athlete Development Program for players 14 to 18 years of age.  It is a fact that our athletes are playing, training and enjoying the game of rugby for 100 hours more than the average player in Ontario.  Our facilities and program design ensure that Upright athletes are closer to achieving the optimal amount of hours required in the mastery of skills.

Rugby development at Upright is not about making superstars, it's about making skilled, informed, and knowledgeable, who enjoy their sport and are willing to work hard to achieve their goals.