The National Development Summit Jan 22-24 in San Francisco will feature, once again, a series of one-hour sessions by experts and luminaries of the game.

Some presenters will be returning, but all will be providing different content compared to last year. Referee Director Richard Every will provide a presentation about shaping the game. Richard Reynolds from the Pleasanton Cavaliers, one of the largest, if not the largest, youth program in the USA, will be providing some admin tips.

Karen Fong of The Rugger’s Edge will discuss college preparation, while Bradley Ryan, who worked for USA Rugby and now works for Uber, will discuss using technology and social media.

Nick Leah of the Brumbies HP program, Jack Clark from Cal, and Australia Head Coach Michael Cheika, Utah Program Director Mark Drown, and coaches Kerri Heffernan and Emilie Bydwell will all be presenting. 

See the full agenda here http://usarugby.org/national-development-summit#2016=actabs

“We have new faces and returners,” said USA Rugby Youth & HS Director Kurt Weaver, who heads up the Summit and will also be a presenter, along with Leah Berard, on refereeing at the international level. “All the returners will be bringing new materials. We will have four rooms working at any time, so there will be something new for everyone at all times.”

The NDS will also have other satellite events. Throughout the weekend the Referee Panel will meet. On Sunday, the USA Rugby Congress will meet, and other committees will also take the opportunity to meet.

The year coaching awards will be presented at the Saturday Awards Dinner. Dinner is part of the registration, but you can attend the dinner only, as well. Tickets sold to the dinner - where Cheika is slated to speak - will help support youth rugby in Northern California, with the proceeds going to support a Regional Development Officer in that region.

For more on the NDS or to register, go here: 

http://usarugby.org/national-development-summit#2016=nds