2012/2013 Game Management Guidelines

Download here, USARR-GMG-2013.pdf Or click "Read More" to view on... Read more

2012-2013 Men's League Schedules

This is the UPDATED FULL Schedules as of August 10th, 2012 for the 2012-2013 ERRFU League Season. This schedule is subject to changes to match cl... Read more

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Quick Resources for Coaches

This section has been added as a quick reference for coaches in working with the union, and use of the website.

Communication is paramount to facilitating games and scheduling.
Failure on your part to communicate will likely result in lack of scheduling, fines, and penalties..

Game Day Procedures

Contact the referee three (3) days prior to match.

The home team is required to get in contact with the referee a minimum of three (3) days prior to the scheduled match.
Failure to do so will result in all of the following:

Forfieture of match by home team.
Cancellation of the match (playing the match is in violation of USA Rugby, ERRFU, and CIPP)
A fine of up to $200 (fine schedule pursuent Article 6, Section 5 of the ERRFU constitution)

Game Day

Match Rosters
Prepare your match roster, bring a printed copy for both the referee and the other team. Submit your final match roster on the Union website within 24 hours following the match.
Field Preparation
The home team is responsible for preparing the field following the proper safety and management guidelines outlined (link to come)
Team & Sideline Conduct
More information to come
Match Reports
Match reports are expected from both teams within 24 hours following the match. Failure to submit a report will result in forfeiture and fines as outlined in the ERRFU bylaws.

More information is available (link to come)

Match Scheduling Procedures

Pre-season Scheduling:

Pre-season scheduling is done 4-12 weeks before start of the competitive season, and facilitated by the union's league reps.

League reps will coordinate the competitive schedule, and add approved matches to the Union's website prior to the start of the season.

Schedule & match changes after Preseason Schedule is released

Schedule & Match Changes

All requests should be made through the match change request form located on the left menu under "Forms"/"Schedule Requests"/"Match Change Request".

If the match change request is 14 days or less, you will be expected to pay a fee of $50 to have the match considered. Fees will be exempted based on weather..

Please note, match change requests are sent to the League Commissioners, Referee Coordinator, and ERRFU's Treasurer & Board. The League Commissioners and Referee Coordinator will attempt to facilitate the new match as best as possible, with feedback from the Treasurer/Board as needed.

More information is available (link to come)

Landing Page for Referees

This section has been added as a quick reference for referees in working with the union, and use of the website.

Communication is paramount to facilitating games, scheduling and league management.
Failure on your part to communicate will likely result in lack of scheduling, fines, and penalties.

Scheduling Procedures

Match Reporting Procedures to come

Match Reporting Procedures

Match reports are used following all games, so that we can get statistics on all teams, referees, etc. They need to be filled out within 3 days of any match, regardless of level, type of match, and whether you want to recieve a per deim, as we need the information on them in order to properly run the union.

Become a referee

Apply to become a referee

TJ/AR Course May 18th 1pm to 5 pm at Glendale

Educator: Charlie Haupt ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Register here: http://www.usarugby.org/referee-courses/item/assistant-referee-2?category_id=368

Eligibility: AR1 is the entry or introductory level course to touch judging and AR2-4 provides instruction on the secondary and tertiary responsibilities and tasks of the touch judge, including the adjudication of foul play. Registrants must have current CIPP registration with USA Rugby
Cost: $25 (course fee, $50 if completing both Tough Judge AND Assistant Referee courses)

Glendale, CO // Saturday, May 18 2013, 1:00 PM

Note: Course will be held at Infinity Park (950 S. Birch St. Glendale)

Just send them to 950 S Birch Street, as that is where they will park. They then need to go in through the gate in the NE corner of the lot, veer around to the right and to the glass doors. That’s the easiest/best thing to do.

Approximate delivery time: 4 hours

Cost: $50

Prerequisites: Current USA Rugby membership
Requirements for Certification: Current USA Rugby membership, including registration as a referee, attend and participate in all course modules, touch Judge course certification and Level 1 Officiating course certification (achieved within one year of Assistant Referee course completion, if not certified at time of taking the Assistant Referee course).
Description: Provides instruction on the secondary and tertiary responsibilities and tasks of the touch judge, including the adjudication of foul play. Course certification is one requirement for promotion to the grade of L1.

The course focuses on the following aspects of the game:

Foul play adjudication
Principal accountabilities

Signaling & reporting
Time & replacement

Positioning for detection
Positioning at kicks

Other roles of the assistant referee
Positioning at lineouts, scrums, rucks, mauls & stoppages
Communication systems

Link to register for the course: http://www.usarugby.org/referee-courses/item/assistant-referee-2?category_id=368

Clothing Questions

It has been brought to my attention that with the weather being what it is that some players are reverting to wear tights. This is illegal for men. Only women may wear tights according to the IRB. Law 4 defines what may or may not be worn and is reinforced by Regulation 12 . The definition of Law 4 says: Players' clothing is anything a player wears. A jersey, shorts and underwear, socks and boots. Then section 4.1 details additional items that are allowed. Under a IRB clarification in 2006: "underwear" is an undergarment that covers the body from the waist, having short or no legs, but does end above the knees, and worn next to the skin or under clothing, and not attached to the jersey or shorts. This clarification makes compression shorts legal but tights illegal. The Law Amendments Trials in this year's Lawbook makes it legal for women to wear tights. We have consulted with the USA Rugby Law Guru and he states that "that no tights were allowed, period, even with a doc's note."

On another note: a question was raised about a shoulder harness. The harness was neoprene with no hard substance (plastic or metal). According to IRB Regulation 12 Schedule1, Section 5.3.2: Harness type retention systems can be used. I am declaring this to be legal as long as there is no additional padding included within the device and that it is only a "retention system".

Regards,

Charlie

Letter to Clubs - Referee Society 2013

Link to original document here

ERRFU REFEREES SOCIETY

CHARLIE HAUPT, CHAIRMAN

31 January 2013

To All ERRFU Members,

I hope this letter finds all members of ERRFU raring to go for another year of hard fought rugby. I hope to in this letter to inform you and your clubs of the expectations from the referee's standpoint as to what will be required in the upcoming season matches.

First of all, the Society will strive to see that all matches are covered with capable referees within the Society's assets. We in ERRFURS seem to be in better shape this year as we have a great stable of young referees. The Society should be able to fulfill all matches on the master schedule without any problems. I wish to be very proactive in regards to the needs of the clubs when it comes to refereeing. So if there is ever any problems in regards to referees please feel free to contact any member of the Society Executive Committee and we will work the problem. Also, there is always the need for more referees. The referees will meet every first Monday of the month at the Glendale Sports Complex starting at 7:00 pm. This meeting is open to any one who wishes to attend and learn more about refereeing in ERRFU. Again if there is a problem as far as interpretation of Law or method of refereeing, these meetings are an excellent platform for coming and discussing with the referees the particular situation.

The operating of the Society; providing referee services to you the customer; providing for referee's expenses; referee training; providing outside referee support within and outside the Union; cost money. The Society has not raised their rates in quite some time. This is to inform you the clubs that due to rising costs the Society is raising match fees to our constituents. With the influx of referees, the Society will be providing Assistant Referees (ARs) for all Division I matches (Men, Women, and College). The cost of this service will be $200.00 per match. All other matches within the Union will be $150.00. Tournament fees will be invoiced per event based upon the number of referees required, whether ARs are required, number of fields to be serviced, and number of days for the event. This invoicing will include Seven's Tournaments. The Society recommends contacting ERRFURS ahead of all tournaments to discuss specific pricing to assist with your budget requirements.

Collegiate Premier League, Varsity Cup and Men's Elite Cup games are assigned referees nationally. ERRFURS is required to provide assistant referees for these games; however, financial remuneration for these services is invoiced directly to the clubs. The cost for this service will be $75 per game invoiced to the home club.

Now let's touch briefly on the requirements the clubs must satisfy for the referee to officiate the match. These regulations are set down by USARFU and ERRFU and be enforced by the referees for safety reasons. The procedures are as follows:fo

The goal posts must have adequate padding (not thin foam rubber, sleeping bags, insulation, etc.),
The sideline restraining ropes or an adequate barrier for fields with a track must be in place from goal line to goal line,
The CIPP match reporting form (for all sanctioned ERRFU matches) must be filled out with players name and CIPP numbers and handed to the referee before every match. NO CIPP, NO REFEREE, NO MATCH and
In the event of snow, the referee as well as the Union must be informed as least four hours prior to the scheduled kick-off time.

Please, if at any time there is a problem with the refereeing of your rugby matches feel free to contact me so that we may resolve any differences immediately. Thanks for your attention.

Charlie Haupt, Chairman
ERRFU Referees Society
c): 303-725-7595
w) : 303-269-6030
h) : 303-798-7113
email) : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Treasurer:
Marc Nelson
303-519-2062
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Match Secretary:
Tim Luscombe
303-246-0580
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Rugby Colorado hires YDO

Rugby Colorado, in partnership with USA Rugby, is excited to announce the hiring of Jon Mooney, as our new Youth Development Officer.

After completing training this week with USA Rugby, Jon will be the point person responsible for developing opportunities to grow the number of U-14 players in recreation and intramural programs across the state, as well as growing the number of high school girls and boys playing 7?s and 15?s.

Jon has years of rugby experience, and just resigned from the position of head coach at Humboldt State University Women?s RFC, in order to facilitate his move to Colorado. Jon was chosen to be the YDO over 53 other candidates that applied for the position from around the globe as well as locally.

After an arduous selection and interview process, the hiring committee was privileged to choose Jon as the final candidate from amongst a group of highly qualified individuals.

The YDO will begin reaching out to the rugby community at the end of this month.

Re: Law Trials - Scrum engagement procedure

Following the introduction of the" Crouch, Touch, Set" instructions for scrum engagement as part of the current set of Law trials it has become evident that some referees are not leaving a pause between the "Touch" request and the "Set" request. The pause is required to ensure that the front row players are steady and are able to locate where they will engage.

The Scrum Steering Group and the Laws Representation Group have reconfirmed that the Trial Law 20.1(g) should read:

The referee will call "crouch" then "touch". The front rows crouch and using their outside arm each prop touches the point of the opposing prop's outside shoulder. The props then withdraw their arms. Following a pause the referee will then call "set" when the front rows are ready. The front rows may then engage. The "set" call is not a command but an indication that the front rows may come together when ready.

Please note the Referee must not say the word pause. A video resource is under production and will be available at irblaws.com, Law Application Guidelines from Monday January 14, 2013.

Download original file here

2012/2013 Game Management Guidelines

Download here, USARR-GMG-2013.pdf

Or click "Read More" to view online.

2012 IRB Law Changes

May 2012

This week the IRB issued a number of small changes in Law. Implementation dates vary – some go into effect now and others at the start of the next Fifteens season (September 1 or thereabouts). The exact wording of the new Laws is in the attached document.

These changes are on a Trial Basis. After some practical experience has been accumulated, the IRB will be soliciting Union opinions.