HOME >> COLLEGIATE RUGBY >> COLLEGE RUGBY STRATEGY DRAFT >> UNITED STATES COLLEGIATE RUGBY ASSOCIATION - PRESS RELEASE

Posted November 2nd, 2009

The mission of the United States Collegiate Rugby Association (USCRA) is to provide independent, unified, professional, and responsive leadership to our membership inspiring participation, promoting the sport as an integral part of the collegiate educational experience and presenting Collegiate Rugby as a viable NCAA Varsity sport. 

Vision

We envision a future in which collegiate athletes, coaches, institutions, and surrounding communities embrace the sport of Rugby in a lifelong relationship that is founded on the values inherent in the game itself;  values shared, promoted and celebrated throughout the International Rugby Community.

Values

We are committed to the following values as fundamental to our mission and vision:

•

We are custodians of the game and the principles laid out in  the IRB Playing Charter

•

We support the Collegiate Model of athletics in which students participate as an avocation, balancing their academic, social, and athletics experiences.

•

We demand the  highest levels of integrity and sportsmanship from our athletes and participants at all levels

•

We promote the pursuit of excellence in both academics and athletics.

•

We support the role that intercollegiate athletics plays in the mission of higher education, the enrichment of individuals and communities.

•

We provide an inclusive culture that fosters non discriminatory and equitable participation opportunities for student-athletes and career opportunities for coaches and administrators from diverse backgrounds.

•

We respect institutional autonomy and philosophical differences.

Immediate Goals

Year 1 - Organize the Association

United States Collegiate Rugby Association Board

  •  Chair     •  Vice Chair     •  Secretary     •  3 open seats     •  Men’s Representative     •  Women’s Representative

USCRA Professional Staff - See chart below . . .

College Rugby Committee - 7 Territories

  •  1 Men’s Rugby Representative from each Territory     •  1 Women’s Rugby Representative from each Territory

Collegiate Coaches Association

•

President

•

Committee Chairs

  •  Competitions     •  Eligibility/Compliance     •  Safety    

  •  Varsity - Regional Committees in each of these areas

•

Associate Members

  •  Players     •  Parents     •  Administrators

Year 1 - USCRA Organizational Chart:

Communications

•

Communicate regularly with every college coach in the country through a USCRA Territorial Director

•

Communicate regularly with college rugby players through the “Collegiate Rugby Magazine”, online resources and development programs.

о

Skills, safety, conditioning, tactics, club news, and institutional/administrative advice.

•

Press releases via all Rugby specific and other media organizations.

•

Promote the game, athletes, Referees, and Coaches in their local communities, conferences, and college campuses

Barriers to participation

  •  Review all competitive structures     •  Review and ratify eligibility rules     •  Establish Recruitment Guidelines

  •  Establish safety standards     •  Establish match day standards

Dues structure:  TBD

•

NCRA dues structure

  о  Players:  $75.00     о  Coaches:  $100.00     о  Referees:  $0/zero     ο  Teams:  $150.00

Membership

•

Offer a value proposition to retain existing and attract new members.  Our benefits include:

о

Subscription to the USCRA “Collegiate Rugby Magazine”

о

National and regional “Go Forward” Coach and Player Development programs using all available Domestic and International resources as a supplement to those offered by USA Rugby.

о

Online resources for coaches and players

▪

о

'Varsity First' program guidelines for Men’s and Women’s Rugby teams

▪

о

'Collegiate Conference on the Game' annually

•

Collegiate Rugby Players Conference.

•

3rd party insurance for Coaches, Players, and Institutions that require it

Rugby as an Avocation:

•

Emphasizing the “student’ and ‘athlete’ in  all our participants ensuring that both academic and athletic excellence are recognized:

о

All American Program separate from USA Rugby

▪

Men’s and Women’s Programs in Division I and II

  •  Academic All American recognition     •  All American Team selection (by USAR HP Dept)     

  •  All American Academy     •  All American Banquet     •  Player of the Year    

  •  Institutional recognition/promotion

•

Participation is a choice - Our member programs must inspire student athletes to choose Rugby.

Create lifelong partner in the growth of the game.

•

Partnership is our goal when interacting with Players, Coaches, College Administrations, and surrounding communities.  Through these partnerships College Rugby will secure its future. 

Formative Steps:

1.

Establish USCRA Founding Membership - November 1st, 2009 deadline

2.

Enroll Coaching population - Recruitment begins November 1st, 2009

3.

USCRA Founders Meeting

•

February 14th, 2010 in Las Vegas

4.

Finalize organizational structure

•

June 1st, 2010

Organizational Time Line:

•

November 1st, 2009:

о

Enroll founding membership for February 14th, 2010, inaugural meeting in Las Vegas

•

November 1st, 2009 - February 14th, 2010

  о  Solicit and Vet interim and potential Board Members

  о  Enroll Collegiate Coaches     о  Enroll Collegiate Teams

•

February 14th, 2010, in Las Vegas

о

Confirm interim Board Members

о

Initiate Strategic Plan Development for USCRA

о

Establish/Finalize Time line for assumption of governance

▪

August 1st, 2010, start date TBD

•

May 1st and 2nd, 2010, at National Collegiate Championships in Stanford, CA

о

'USCRA:  Assuming governance of College Rugby':

▪

An open meeting for Coaches, Players, Parents, Administrators, Sponsors

  •  Transition discussion     •  Present Organizational Plan     •  Present Strategic Plan    

  •  Present Bylaws     •  Present Budget     •  Present Governance Plan    

  •  Present Referee Agreement

•

June 30th, 2010

о

NCRA Office established

▪

NCRA General Manager hired and in place

▪

Fulltime development of NCRA Strategic Plan

▪

Market the viability of NCRA in place of USA Rugby

•

August 1st, 2010

  о  Competition oversight in place     о  Compliance oversight in place

  о  Dues payment structure in place     о  NCRA 501c3 status/partnership finalized

•

August 15th, 2010

о

1st USCRA Annual General Meeting

  ▪

Elect Board Members

▪

Designate committee members and work areas

▪

Ratify Bylaws, Constitution, and Agreements

•

September 1st, 2010

о

The United States Collegiate Rugby Association assumes complete responsibility for Collegiate Rugby in the US.

For questions, and/or to become a part of the United State Collegiate Rugby Association in any way please send a message to:

John McNamara