2019 Spring Season Launch - Update for Men's Clubs

From Men's Club Representative Erik Geib:

Hi all,

As the Spring season kicks back off over the next week, I wanted to wish everyone good luck and thank them for their efforts at the halfway point of the year.

Items to note:

1.) Everyone should have received an email from Charlie with friendly reminders about entering items into the CMS (usarugbystats.com) and the Frontier Conference's determination for playoffs (Columbia, MO on May 4). The Frontier Conference chair noted that USA Rugby will be locking matches on Monday but RMR will still be doing quality-control checks and emailing teams about match data before anything is locked. So, continue to expect reminders from me about entering your rosters, substitutions, cards, and individual scoring info.

2.) The AGM is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, June 9, to be held in the greater Denver area. The union has taken feedback about last year's date into consideration and will no longer hold an AGM in May (free weekends are Mother's Day and Memorial Day). The agenda for that event, including proposed bylaw changes and topics, should be set by the RMR executive group sometime around Easter. We'll also begin circulation of a nomination form and a competition survey form for 2019-2020 around that time. Teams must be in good standing (all fines paid, no active disciplinary rulings against the club specifically, etc.) to vote and make motions at the meeting, but all elected officers and coaches of clubs are welcome to attend.

3.) Queen City and Glendale have both expressed a desire to pick up additional friendlies for their second teams. If you have openings in your schedule, or want to pick up an extra match when you're nearby, please email Charlie Haupt (Queen City; qcrfccoach@gmail.com) or Luke Gross (Glendale; LGross@glendale.co.us). RMR is going to try and get a 'Clubs seeking games' board going, or a Facebook message group, to help facilitate more extra matches in the future.

4.) A friendly reminder that teams are expected to follow all procedures outlined in the Club Competition Manual (http://www.rockymountainrugby.org/club-competition-manual.html), including but not limited to:
-contacting your opponents and match official(s) at least 3 days prior to your match with the field location, time of match, and kit colors
-entering rosters at usarugbystats.com and printing them for your opponent and the ref(s); if you have matchday changes, you may make them in pen and correct usarugbystats.com before its locked
-scoreboards at each match for spectators and participants to see the score at all times
-use of USA Rugby technical zones during matches
-use of the Men's D4 additional roster form if you're using guest players in Men's D4 games; remember, guest players must be registered members of USA Rugby and you must email this form to me after your match if you use guest players

5.) Just like at the Eastern Rockies Cup finals, I will be doing periodic spot checks this Spring, including roster ID checks and adherence to required procedures (particularly technical zones). I always enjoy interacting with y'all when I'm at your matches, so please feel free to say hello and provide feedback if you see me.

6.) Per USA Rugby's eligibility regulations, college players whose XVs season has ended (completion of schedule and not in playoffs) may transfer to senior club teams for the Spring. For those of you near college teams who are done with their XVs season, I suggest you build a relationship with the local coach and take advantage of this regulation. Please read the USA Rugby Eligibility Regulations before using transferred college players, as there are restrictions in doing so (roster size cap, etc.). IF A TEAM IS STILL IN SEASON, YOU CANNOT USE THEIR PLAYERS. This includes NSCRO teams still in season. All players must transfer using proper rules/protocols and be eligible to compete under RMR and USA Rugby rules.

7.) If your club has made changes to its leadership, please notify me immediately so we can ensure the Senior Club Contacts page (http://www.rockymountainrugby.org/senior-club-contacts.html) is accurate and up to date.

8.) Don't forget to try and attend some Glendale Raptors matches this Spring. It's awesome to have professional rugby in Colorado, which isn't a luxury every market gets, and all of the matches aren't scheduled to interfere with any RMR matches. Glendale's home Major League Rugby schedule for the rest of the Spring goes:

-Saturday, March 16th @ 7:00 pm vs. San Diego Legion
-Saturday, March 30th @ 7:00 pm vs. NOLA Gold
-Saturday, April 6th @ 7:00 pm vs. Houston SaberCats
-Friday, April 26th @ 7:30 pm vs. Rugby United New York
-Saturday, May 4th @ 7:00 pm vs. Utah Warriors
-Saturday, May 18th @ 4:00 pm vs. Seattle Seawolves

Tickets here: https://www.glendaleraptors.com/schedule/

Cheers,

Erik