CLUB DAY IS SEPTEMBER 9TH

Practice

What to Expect

Our practices are designed to balance competition, camaraderie, and learning. Sessions typically range from skill introductions to full gameplay, with time dedicated to:

Introducing new players to the fundamentals of rugby.
Running Columbia-specific plays and team structures.
Building fitness levels that the sport demands.

Practices are player-run, collaborative, and fun. They’re as much about rugby as they are about community and many end with teammates heading out together for lunch or drinks.

New players: You’ll be welcomed and pulled aside for one-on-one introductions to the game at any point during the season.
Equipment: Feel free to attend your first few practices with no gear, just sneakers or turf shoes. As the season goes on, we’ll ask players to pick up mouthguards, cleats, and rugby shorts sturdy enough to handle lifting during lineouts.

Schedule and Location

We have traditionally held practices on Fridays at 12:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m., with sessions running one to one-and-a-half hours. Practices begin in September, continue until the holiday break, and start up again after winter break.

Attendance is flexible: we understand recruiting, academics, and other commitments come first. Think of practices as a come-when-you-can opportunity to stay connected, train, and enjoy time with the team.

Riverside Park

We primarily practice at the soccer/turf fields along the Hudson River in Riverside Park. These fields give us flexibility for scheduling and space, and they’re convenient to Columbia. The fields we use are:

Neville Coleman Soccer Field (near 107th Street)
101st Street Soccer Field
104th Street Soccer Field

All are turf fields with river views, and they’re managed by NYC Parks. These fields are heavily used by the community, so availability can vary, but they’re our home base when scheduling allows.

Riverbank State Park (Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park)

We typically use the main turf field inside the running track at Riverbank State Park. This field is especially convenient during the week because of its proximity to Columbia’s campus — about a 10–15 minute walk. Many players meet at school and walk over together along the Hudson River, then shower back on campus afterwards.

Getting There:

Head west from Columbia toward the Hudson River.
The park is elevated above the West Side Highway, so you’ll need to use the pedestrian bridge to enter (cars are not allowed directly into the park).
The main entrance is at 145th Street & Riverside Drive — look for the footbridge that leads up and over into the park.
Once inside, follow the signs toward the track; our field is in the middle.

Note: Access can feel a little unintuitive the first time, so check the map to the left for exact orientation.

Central Park (Various Locations)

Location details will be sent out by coaches when we play in Central Park.
To preserve the park, players must follow the park rules:

No cleats allowed.
Wear non-cleat turf shoes or tennis sneakers only.

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