ERRFU Executive Committee Meeting Minutes

February 22, 2010

Bobo’s Office, Keller Williams

Attendees: Charlie Haupt, Dan O’Leary, Rich Cortez, Bob Lesnansky, Bill Haffner, Chris Ratay, Marc Ward, Margaret Grondorf.

New Business:

• It was decided to avoid confusion, the old ERRFU website would be killed and redirected to new website:  www.rockymountainrugby.org

1. Scheduling was loaded on new site, not old
2. Chris Ratay This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it is taking over web master duties from Keith
3. Calendar questions, no e-vites yet, website is still a work in progress
4. Control -F is the “find” function on any page of the web site

• Team reps need to contact Keith Mills or Chris Ratay in order to get a user name and password to be able to update team info on web site.
• Team reps need to call and e-mail refs at least 72 hours before games to confirm
• Scheduling:  Team contacts/club reps need to coordinate with Bill Haffner-he writes up schedule

1. Send in schedules by Jan 15
2. Teams need to improve on that
3. Teams manage own schedules, Bill “summarizes” in master schedule on website
4. Schedule should be set for whole year (spring and fall seasons)
5. Send any changes or questions to Bill

• Referee stuff:  A proposal was made by the West Referee Chairman that any team that wanted to advance to nationals must provide a referee to the local referee society.  This proposal was rejected by the West Board.

1. Fee distribution  is questioned
2. ERRFU ref society not getting paid for use of ERRFU refs for West games in ERRFU territory
3. Proposal on ref requirements for each club:

• Club needs to come up with a referee in order to be assigned refs for games
• Club will pay more for refs if team doesn’t have one
• Pay refs more than $40 a game
• Sideline code of conduct

1. Need acknowledgement from all teams
2. Ref reports and match reports
3. Implement and enforce

• Reviewed proposals for hosting ERRFU kick off tournament in Fall

1. Suggested criteria for selection (point system?)

• Parking
• Vendors
• Medical facilities
• Marketing plan/advertising
• Video services/photography
• Proximity
• Accommodations
• Quality of fields
• Quality of organization
• Support system (volunteers, bodies)
• Food and beverage
• Party?
• Restrooms
• Marc proposed a switch in game days for the fall 2010 men’s season:  College teams play on Saturday and Men’s league games on Sundays.  And switch in spring season.

Action Items:

• Charlie and Rich are going to research what other sports (at various levels) pay their referees
• Advertise USA rugby events on website a month out (Churchill cup, national championships, all star games, etc) to increase spectator participation
• Redesign logo (Deb talked to her sister)
• Look into hosting Golden Oldies in 2012
• Player and coaching clinics in Western Colorado
• Narrow down selection criteria for kick off tournament to need, want, can live without

The maximum number of players on a Match Roster is 23. Clubs are free to provide a Match Roster with less than 23 players. There is no requirement for both clubs to have the same number of players on their Match Rosters for any match.  Technically there is a minimum number of players for a match to begin. The iRB laws say five in the scrum and at least one person to put the ball into play. It is the sole decision of the referee to begin a match when one or both teams have less than fifteen players available. As per the chart above, if a club has only fifteen players available, at least three of them must be capable of playing in the front row.