By Joseph Ritter
Faculty mentor: Dr. José Saínz
Abstract: I will demonstrate a system in which NCAA Universities in the United States can better support and grow emerging sports. I will take a close look at the rapidly growing sport of Rugby in the United States, and use the Men’s Rugby team at the University of Mary Washington for my primary example as a team of an emerging sport. Emerging sports teams, like Men’s Rugby at the University of Mary Washington, lack administrative and management structure. Using the existing Athletic Department to distribute management administrative responsibility and mentor students who emerge as leaders would provide sufficient system to allow the team to operate efficiently and give the student athletes enough support to succeed. Universities, like Mary Washington, do not have a set staff to manage an additional team like Men’s and Women’s Rugby.
