admin@texasrugbyunion.com

All –

The new Operating Procedures have been posted to the website and are in immediate effect. I have rec’d a few phone calls and emails about best practices Please note the following bullet points and comments.

* Clubs have been required to have Eligibility Binders for several years. The historical enforcement on game day has been poor at best and has largely been a “gentlemens agreement” not to do a proper cross check.

* The “gentlemen’s agreement” can no longer be waived by TRU policy. Binder exchanges are expected at all League and Social matches that a TRRA referee has been assigned.

* TRRA Referee’s are not involved in the Binder checking process. If a club has a pre-match protest, they can notify the referee. This does NOT mean the match is cancelled. Games will be played under “protest”. The only acceptable reason not to play a match would be for player safety reasons. This is the only “ruling” that the referee will make outside their normal match day procedures.

* Typically both teams arrive an hour prior to KO. It is best that the two designated Manager/Bookkeepers will meet of to the side and go through each others binder. In it should be a current USA CIPP roster or CMS printout for leagues using the CMS (Mens D1, D2, D3 and Collegiate D1 Men). Additionally, there will be photo ID’s and proper proof of citizenship. It is recommended that the order of the book match the CIPP roster for ease of matching or in number order to match CMS roster.

* The two managers will either note that the Binders are in order or there is missing information that would cause the came to be played under protest with Union follow up to be done via Divisional Secretary’s and Union as is applicable.

* At this time the match day 23 for Team A can be inspected by Manager B. If all the paperwork is properly in the binders, the players need not bring anything with them and only need to be visually verified by what is in the Binder (photo id / proof citizenship). This should take less than two minutes to look at 23 faces. Team B will then be inspected by Manager A with the same process and should also take less than two minutes.

* This process should probably be done 20-30 mins prior to KO. If done as noted below there will be minimal disruption to either’s team pregame routine.

* The key to this process is (a) preperation and (b) cooperation. If both teams do the required diligence during the week, there will be little to no game day disruption.

* If you do not know what a proper binder would look like and be comprised of please contact either Myself or your Division Manager.

Regards,
David McPhail
tru.president@gmail.com

All –

Unfortunately the year has not started off well as it relates to Match Protocols.

The proceedures, responsibility and timing requirements for confirming all matches (friendly and league) are posted on the website under “Referee Corner” and must be adheared to by all parties. Confirming matches is vital and is a shared responsibility for all parties (Club & Referee)

We understand that there is always turnover in club officers and various related roles (match secretary) but this is the lifeline of doing business within the Union and these policies need to be communicated down the line.

We have had almost a dozen games go uncovered for various reasons. Games are being cancelled, rescheduled to new times, moved to alternate locations, etc. When these changes are done they must be correctly posted on the TRU master calendar and must be done with the knowledge and consent of the respective clubs, referee scheduler and assigned referee.

Teams showing up with no referee and referee’s showing up with no teams is a waste of time, effort and money for all.

Alan Sharpley has gone in and cleaned up the existing fixtures and is using an formating of “X @ Y”. Thus we are listing “Visting Team @ Home Team”. Please besure to adapt this same formatting to ensure that we are all using the same standard across the Union.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and diligence in this matter.

TRU Board

TRRA Major Sponsor: Ruck Science

Please note that there have been several important documents added to the TRU webpage.

1. TRU Participation Agreement
2. TRU Operating Procedures
3. TRU 2010 Field Policy

All of the above documents are linked on the site under “Administration” tab. All clubs are required to read, understand and abide by these updates until further notice. Any questions of the items contained within shall be brought to the Club’s respective Union Director (Babineaux, Schmidtke, Wagner, Marshall or Wolfinger)

The TRU Participation Agreement is a REQUIRED document for each Club. The deadline for a signed acknowledgement form will be extended to Sunday, October 31st. These forms can be emailed to: tru.president@gmail.com or mailed to P.O. Box 980405, Houston, TX 77098.

The TRU Operating Procedures have been cleaned up and updated since their last official publication in 2000. Most of the document is largely the same as we have been operating under in recent years. A key point to note is that ALL clubs are REQUIRED to exchange proper forms and perfom ID checks in all League and/or Playoff matches. This is non-negotiable and can not be waived by the Coaches/Captains. The document still has some minor revision to be made but are more cosmetic in nature and any material changes will be posted via the web per normal.

The 2010 Field Policy is an extension of the prior policy that was tested over the last 18 months. The requirements are clearly laid out and are required for ALL MATCHES. Repeated safety issues and Referee abuses have mandated that we take a more proactive approach to the way play the game and due our due diligence in protecting the participants. Exceptions to the policy must be pre-approved by the Union. Please be sure that your field preperation teams and Coaches understand the requirements contained within.

Thank you for your prompt attention in getting the Participation Agreement signed, completed and returned and please be sure to communicate these requirements to your Club Officers, Coaches, Management and Players accordingly.

Regards,

Texas Rugby Union Board of Directors

Texas Rugby Union Field Policy

FOR ALL TRU MATCHES/TOURNAMENTS (LEAGUE & FRIENDLIES)-MANDATORY
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 15, 2010

It is MANDATORY, that Sideline Barriers or Ropes are to be required a minimum 5m off touchline, Try line to Try line; preferred dead ball line to dead ball line; Sideline Barriers or Ropes are to be when there will be Coaches, Players or Fans on that sideline. If only one side is utilized by all parties, only one barrier or rope is required;

ONLY ONE (1) Coach/Representative (Rep) inside barriers or ropes;
Coach/Rep is responsible party to enforce rules and ensure their Players & Club Members honor barrier/rope and will be held accountable;

Coach/Rep must remain within close proximity (arm’s length) to barrier/rope and remain between the 22m lines;

Being allowed inside the rope is a privilege and ALWAYS subject to Match Official’s discretion (ANY dissent in opposition to a Match Official on this issue will be subject to Disciplinary Committee review and sanction, if deemed appropriate);

Assistant Referee (Touch Judge) should be approached and addressed ONLY to advise of intended substitution. Any interference in the performance of the Assistant Referee’s duties will be subject to sanction and disciplinary review.

1. OPTION ONE – TEAMS ON ONE SIDELINE
• Players & Club Members of BOTH teams on opposite side of spectators;
• Teams are separated at 50m;
• Teams to remain on their respective sides of the 50m;
• No one inside 22m lines.

2. OPTION TWO – TEAMS ON OPPOSITE SIDELINES
• Players & Club Members on opposite sidelines;
• One Coach/Rep inside ropes between 22m lines;
• No one inside 22m lines.

Should a Club have a specific question as it relates to their home pitch and their ability to comply with the TRU’s policies; the Club can discuss and determine proper field protocols with the TRU Director of Competitions.

The pilot field-barrier program policy was tested in the 08-09 & 09-10 competitive cycles at various venues, divisions and tournaments with positive results. These Options have been refined based upon Club & Referee inputs to give Clubs options that can accommodate their respective field facilities. The host club is responsible for determining which Option they employ and must advise the visiting club of the Option employed.

It has been found that close proximity of the spectators to the reserves & coaches fosters problems beyond safety. Separating the spectators from the coach(es) and reserves allows the spectators to enjoy the match without the input from the participants. Additionally, it allows the Match Official (Referee) to keep better control of the sidelines.

Remember, there are fairly strict rules regarding who can and cannot be on the field of play. Coaches are NOT permitted to enter the playing area during a match except by invitation of the referee at half time, or other extraordinary occasions. [Ref: law 6C.2, 3}. This policy applies to ALL matches, including youth matches. Water carriers and medical personnel may enter the playing area by prior arrangement, or at the specific invitation of the referee. Referees are urged to be vigilant in applying this law to coaches masquerading as water carriers or trainers or to coaches entering the playing area uninvited at stoppages for injury, conversion kicks, and the like, and to enlist the aid of the relevant captain in curbing such infringements. Penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct may be applied.

This requirement is mandatory effective October 15, 2010 and Match Officials (Referee) will have authority, at his/her sole discretion, to post-pone the match if the field is not properly roped, marked or prepared for play in compliance with TRU requirements. Referee match reports will be the primary method utilized to monitor compliance. Visiting clubs are encouraged to report non-compliance, post match for TRU to address with Host club.

The existing requirements to have Goal Post Pads, Field Flags and properly marked fields shall continue to be in effect and failure to meet these will also have the same penalties imposed. The primary monitoring of these existing requirements shall be done by the TRRA assigned Referee and will be documented in the Referee’s post match report to the TRU.

Failure to meet the minimum required policies will be tracked on a rolling twelve (12) month basis and are set forth below, with the following sanctions:

1. First Offense: $50 fine (possibly probated, if compliance thereafter is verified
2. Second Offense $100 fine and loss of One (1) League Point as applicable
3. Third Offense: $150 fine, loss of One (1) League Point and loss of next home match as applicable
4. Fourth Offense: To be reviewed by TRU Discipline Director

The following procedures should be followed on game day and/or in the case of a citing:
• Both coaches should review the assigned team areas at least 30 minutes prior to kickoff.
• If both coaches cannot agree to a suitable resolution, the respective coaches, must notify the referee before kickoff.
• Coaches can NOT agree to waive the stated policy requirements by mutual consent.
• Primary reporting of the Field Barrier Policy shall continue to be made via Referee Match Reports which should be submitted with 48 hours of the match or as is reasonable.
• The TRU will review all match reports and notify the respective clubs within 48 hours or as is reasonable.
• Appeals shall be submitted to the TRU Discipline Director within 48 hours of notification or as is reasonable.
• Fines shall be due and payable within 10 business days of notification by the TRU.