Referees

2011 Game Management Guidelines – Please Read

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All Clubs, Coaches, Players should review the attached email and links as distributed by the USA National Offices (Referee Panel). It has all ready been sent to the TRRA and its members.

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All

Attached please find the 2011 Game Management Guidelines for USA Rugby. There are multiple edits so please do review them and apply across all competitions with immediate effect.

They can also be downloaded here: https://usarnp.com/USARR-2011/ USARR-GMG-2011.pdf

The Assistant Referee Guidelines are not included and will be available at a later date in a separate document.

In addition, please review the Video Guidelines here:

https://usarnp.com/USARR-2011/ that include videos presented at the iRB High Performance Referee Meeting in London in November 2010.

This Weekend’s Weather – Confirm/Cancel Matches and Referees

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Due to the upcoming weather apocalypse, please make extra sure that the referee match notification protocol has been followed. Many referees and teams may be unable to travel. We really need to think hard about Friday AND Saturday’s schedule. The roads will potentially still be a mess on Saturday morning. Friday night in Houston looks dismal at best. Looks like we all have to adjust to the new ice age.

For referee information including phone numbers etc, go here.

All the best,

James F. Wolfinger
Head Coach
STHS Varsity Rugby
TRRA Chairman
President
HYRA
713-823-1901

IRB Memo: Dangerous Tackles (High Tackles)

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This is a further memorandum in relation to Dangerous Tackles.

The specific provisions of Law 10.4(e) in relation to High Tackles are as follows:

A player must not tackle (or try to tackle) an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders. A tackle around the opponent’s neck or head is dangerous play.

A stiff-arm tackle is dangerous play. A player makes a stiff-arm tackle when using a stiff-arm to strike an opponent.

At an IRB Medical Conference held in November 2010 at Lensbury the results of studies related to injuries sustained as a result of tackles were outlined. A study in England concluded that “stricter implementation of the Laws of Rugby relating to collisions and tackles above the line of the shoulder may reduce the number of head/neck injuries”. A separate study in New Zealand concluded that “ball carriers were at highest risk from tackles to the head and neck region”.

The participants at the Medical Conference generally recognized that tackles above the line of the shoulders have the potential to cause serious injury and noted that a trend had emerged whereby players responsible for such tackles were not being suitably sanctioned.

The purpose of this Memorandum is to emphasise that as with tip tackles, they must be dealt with severely by Referees and all those involved in the off-field disciplinary process.

It is recognized of course, as with other types of illegal and/or foul play, depending on the circumstances of the high tackle, the range of sanctions extends from a penalty kick to the player receiving a red card. An illegal high tackle involving a stiff arm or swinging arm to the head of the opponent, with no regard to the player’s safety, bears all the hallmarks of an action which should result in a Red Card or a Yellow Card being seriously considered.

Referees and Citing Commissioners should not make their decisions based on what they consider was the intention of the offending player. Their decision should be based on an objective assessment (as per Law 10.4(e)) of the overall circumstances of the tackle.

110121_IRB_Memorandum_re_Dangerous_Tackles_(High_Tackles) [DOWNLOAD]

CMS Compliance – Chris Chefchis

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All clubs that are participating in West Leagues have been advised of their requirement to follow match reporting via the USA Competitions Management System.

As the depth & width of the CMS grows so does the need to ensure timely reporting and compliance of required posting of scores, rosters, substutions, etc.

Mr. Chris Chefchis has been appointed by the TRU to assist Alan Sharpley (USA/West) and Ron Watson (TRU) in the ongoing complaince and administrative support needed to ensure compliance.

Chris has repeatedly served the TRU in many roles and his acceptance of yet another task is greatly appreciated.

Divisional Secretaries and individual Match Secretaries should work closely with Chris during the League season and through the Playoffs.

Chris can be reached at: chris.chefchis@forneycorp.com

Regards and Thanks.

Texas Rugby Union

Director of Competitions – Ron Watson

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The TRU is pleased to announce that Mr. Ron Watson has accepted the role of TRU Director of Competitions for the remainder of the season/term.

The position was formerly held by Mr. Alan Sharpley who resigned to focus on other West and USA duties.

Mr. Watson has an extensive rugby resume and has worked with the TRU Board on several occassions and via special projects and ad hoc committee appointments.

The position will be once again be open for nomination and vote at the 2011 Summer General Meeting per policy.

Mr. Watson can be reached via Email at: transcohi@aol.com

Regards and Thanks.

Texas Rugby Union

Compliance Reminder to all TRU Clubs and all Levels

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Now that the Spring season is officially upon us and most every division is gearing up for their respective Leagues, I would like to remind all teams to be mindful of the various TRU Policies & Procedures posted on the TRU Website. For most clubs that also means that they must be aware of any additional requirement that the West and/or USA may have on your Clubs respective competition. I bring special attention to the requirement for all teams to play ONLY properly registered CIPP individuals.

Furthermore, all teams have been advised via their Divisional Secretaties and postings to the Union website of the TRU’s requirements, Operating Policies, Field Preperation Requirements, Disciplinary Policies, Participation Agreement & Referee Confirmation procedures, etc.

One important part of these agreements requires all teams to have properly completed and organized Eligibilit Binders. This is critical in establishing player eligibility, front rows and eligible substitutions as well as rosters for teams playing in multiple league matches. These requirements can NOT be waived by either team or by mutual consent.

The best way to check your opponenets Eligibity Binders, in my opinion, is to have two (one from each) team reps meet with their binders first. Let them review the others book and ask questions of paperwork. Once
that is done, call the listed players (up to 23) over and have them walk up based on book order (via number or alphabetic). Photo ID’s should be matched with the persons face. This should take less than 5 minutes in total.

Again, it is the Club, its Coaches and Administrators responsibility to know and adhere to all of the requirements detailed on the website.

Regards and best of luck this Season!

Texas Rugby Union

Player Movement / Multiple Divisional Play / UPDATED

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*** Update ***

Per my discussions with Alan Sharpley (USA Competitions) we are placing the policy on hold pending a ruling from the USA Eligibility Committee. Alan believes that an official ruling on player movement will be forthcoming from the National Office in the next 10 (or so days). Therefore, we will continue the policy of playing for ONE and ONLY ONE side in a League match in a given weekend.

Thanks.
DRM

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As follow up to the TRU Summer Meeting, an Ad Hoc Committee was formed to review all policies (TRU, West and USA) governing player movement.

The Ad Hoc Committee was comprised of the following:

Ted Hill – Chair and former TRU Mens Rep.
Bret Babineaux – current TRU Mens Rep.
Alan Sharpley – former TRU Director of Competitions
Anna Kunkle – U23 Womens Rep.
Ron Watson – Appointee
Doug Corrigan – Appointee

Scot Courtney – Ex Officio & Non Voting / Discipline Director
David McPhail – Ex Officio & Non Voting / President

The group weighed the needs of both Upper and Lower Division Clubs level versus the ability to report, track and comply with game day proceedures on a weekly basis during the course of a season.

A proposal and vote was made by the members of the Committe, with results accepted and endorsed by the Union.

Two Main Principles shall prevail for this upcoming season:

1. Teams, especially those who are of higher divisions and fielding multiple sides in multiple league competitions; shall strive to maintain the integrity of the competition and the spirit of the game. Thus, at all times the team of priority shall be the higher divisional squad shall be the focus of each Club.

Player movement downward shall primarily be for developmental purposes and the building of team depth, skill and retention. At no times shall a team “willfully or purposefully” stack a lower division side at the expense of the higher division side.

2. The Roster Changes: Players can play up at any time. Players on a higher league roster can play down; only if they did not take the pitch in the earlier match. If a player in D1 or D2 is on a roster and even plays just 5 minutes, then he or she is not eligible for the D3 match but could play up in the D1 or D3 match. Thus it is imperitive that the teams be mindful of the order matches are played, especially when team competing in multiple divisions is playing in two divisional competitions on the same day and same venue.

Further changes will be addressed at Winter Meeting for next years competition.

Any questions can be directed to your Divisional Representative or Mens Electoral Representative for further clarificaiton.

Regards,

David McPhail
Texas Rugby Union

General Memo to All Clubs regarding Eligibility Procedures

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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

IRB / USA Law Updates for all to review

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HI All,

I have uploaded 5 clips that the IRB sent to the USA office last week.

The clips deal with:
• Law 15. 7(c) Sealing
• Law 15.6 (d) Ruck Entry
• Law 19.8 (i) Lineout Receiver
• Law 17.4(c) Maul Entry
• Law 16.5(d) Offside-Rucks

You can find them on the Officiating MultiMedia page.

Go to:
• www.usarugby.org
• Officiate the Game
• Referee Resources—scroll down to the bottom of the page then select
• MultiMedia resources

Please keep an eye on this page as I will be updating it with new clips as they are made available.
Please feel free to forward this link on to anyone who might find it useful!

Regards,
Jen

Dana Teagarden’s IRB Referee Appointment

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For Immediate Release
October 21, 2010

Teagarden makes ref history

BOULDER, Colo. – USA Rugby is proud to announce that National Panel Referee Dana Teagarden has been appointed by the International Rugby Board (iRB) to referee the upcoming international test match between The Netherlands and Hong Kong on December 18, 2010 in Amsterdam. This makes Teagarden the first woman ever to referee a senior men’s international match.

This appointment comes after several successful performances at the recent Women’s Rugby World Cup (WRWC). Teagarden refereed the Australia v. France Bronze medal match in front of 13,200 rugby fans at the Twickenham Stoop. She also refereed critical pool matches at the tournament including New Zealand v. Australia and France v. Canada.

As one of USA Rugby’s most internationally experienced referees, Dana is no stranger to the historic occasion. In 2007 she was the first, and so far only, female to referee at an iRB Sevens World Series Tournament. To date, Dana has refereed fifteen international level 15’s matches, including age-grade boys and girls, senior women, and ‘A’ level senior men.

“We are constantly working to establish and implement new and innovative systems and processes to develop all aspects of refereeing,” said National Panel Referee Manager Richard Every. “Dana has been an integral part of these initiatives over the past three years. Her innate talent and her commitment to our approach have enabled her to perform and be successful at the highest levels. This appointment is indeed a huge honor and achievement for both Dana and USA Rugby Referees.”

“USA Rugby is both happy and proud to publicly acknowledge Dana’s achievement,” said Referee Development Director Ed Todd. “I am confident there will be many more opportunities for me to congratulate Dana on a job well done.”

For more information on USA Rugby’s National Panel or to find out how you can become involved with officiating, check out the ‘Officiate the Game’ section at https://www.usarugby.org.

For further information contact:
Jarrod Beckstrom | Communications Manager | jbeckstrom@usarugby.org | 303.539.0300 ext. 124