IMPORTANT PAPER FROM FRANKLYN WILLIAMS VP MEN PLEASE READ AND CIRCULATE
To All Florida Rugby Union Members:
It is a very difficult task to enforce rules and regulations voted on by a membership and at the same time promote and foster the growth of a sport. As an FRU administrator I have written and talked at our AGM meetings about enforcing the rules and as a whole the membership agreed with these enforcements. Talking privately with many of you I am convinced that in principle we say we want to “clean things up”; but in practicality it becomes a very difficult task. Why?
For many years in the FRU membership we had a consistently present group of volunteers administering the schedules and problems. This was pretty effective because these people had already been involved with rugby and its age old “spirit of the game” and “brotherhood”. We always have had issues to deal with but in the end we forged forward and “got on with it”.
As with any new sport, rugby has and is experiencing wave after wave of brand new players, referees, coaches and administrators. The brand new people (those never exposed to rugby) can only learn the best part of rugby from those of us experienced people. USA Rugby has set up camps, tests, videos and teaching guides to help everyone learn what RUGBY is all about.
Like every large organization (USA Rugby) of volunteers, participation and implementation of standards and rules to the membership is pretty poor – somewhere in the neighborhood of 60%. Here in the United States we have 50 states to bring together which remains a tough job considering how fast the sport is growing.
What is the rugby culture? Why are you playing rugby? Why have you become a referee? What in the world ever possessed you to be an officer of a Union? Are you really qualified to be a coach?
What does “rugby culture mean?” What are YOU projecting to your own club membership?
I am going to try and address all of these issues in a positive way so that when the membership sits together again, we all will leave knowing how to “clean things up”.
Referee Abuse:
In recent months there has been “new” rules circulated regarding referee abuse. These are not new to our sport! As a former #9 and captain I learned many years ago that the ref has absolute omnipotence (power) on that playing field and he/she can either make the game easy or extremely tough. In world-class rugby NO ONE TALKS – they just play! If the ref wants to talk with the #9 or captain, they will know it! Coaches are not playing so why are they talking or yelling to the ref? Crowd yelling here in Florida is tough but with a little policing I think that too can be curtailed. Read the new language and if you need finite clarification, call Terry Day. Break these rules – you will be fined and/or suspended.
Violence:
During high school games there have been incidences of crowd participation in punching kicking and taunting. THIS MUST STOP.
There have always been rules to address crowd restraint ropes to keep spectators out of the way. I think the time has come to enforce this rule or no game will be played and a forfeit to the home club.
Forfeits:
The following language is copied from my previously written report submitted at the January 11, 2009 AGM. Please review and those clubs who had forfeits or rescheduled games without mutual consent will be fined and/or sanctioned going into the Florida Club 2010.
Cancellations, Re-scheduling, Withdrawals, Financial Commitment, Suspension of Benefits as a Member, Lost Expenses of Host Club
During this past half of the year we had many changes to the Florida Cup Schedule. I think everyone started out with all good intentions; but as it is with life in general – things happen.
We had rescheduling, we had teams withdraw, we had smooth cancellations, last minute cancellations and we had fines levied against offending clubs.
As current and former players, we as administrators do not really enjoy suspending play; so to my knowledge no teams were prevented from play for failing to pay fines.
The idea behind drafting rules regarding game-playing is avoid forfeitures. Forfeits occur several ways – playing a game but breaching a rule or simply not playing a game. Either way they forfeits never help grow our sport.
For those newer members who may be unfamiliar with game preparation and game cancellation, here is a brief situation for your consideration:
Game Preparation:
You’re the point guard of your club. You have arranged and paid for the field for Saturday, you called and confirmed the ref and touch judges, you have assigned players/volunteers to line the field early Saturday morning, you make sure someone brings the jerseys and game ball and you have called everyone who was not at the last practice so that a second game could be played.
Situation Occurs:
On Friday evening around 9:00PM you receive a call from the “other team” and you are told that they are not coming because they can not field a full side. You try and make a game by offering players but they will not travel.
Immediate Actions Needed:
Now you (or you have to get up Saturday at 8:00 and make phone calls) have to cancel the refs, stop the lining of the field if you can reach the players in time and now you have to make phone calls telling the 27 players that there is no game and you have to explain why!
Members Rights:
When a team changes a scheduled game there are provisions in our FRU Handbook as well as “voted on” minutes which have remedies in place to help stop teams from changing their Saturday obligations. While these rules help they do not prevent last minute changes as evidenced by the 10 or 11 broken obligations of this past season.
Is there any difference between a cancellation and a withdrawal? What happens when a team wants to re-schedule? What financial fallout occurs when there is a change to a scheduled game? If the FRU Treasurer levies a fine against a club and they can not or will not pay immediately, what happens? Can the FRU suspend games for non-payment?
How tight are we going to make the rules in our handbook and how are we going to enforce them?
If a club fails to meet any obligations found written in the FRU By-Laws or the FRU Handbook, they are considered “a club not in good standing”. It is that simple.
A club not in good standing can have all of its playing privileges suspended and in severe cases that club can be removed from the FRU membership.
FINANCIAL COMMITMENT BY MEMBER CLUBS
The Florida Rugby Union has as its membership, member clubs which have very diverse management styles and individual members who are strictly volunteers. This presents many issues for our Union when mistakes happen – namely problems with “money obligations”. At the present time there are no minimum standards for the management of member clubs. The only requirement asked of members is that they pay their dues when asked for and that members present a positive image of rugby and grow the sport. A very simple request but with this request member clubs need to commit to games, dues and remedies.
If a club enters the National Competition in January they must commit to not only “playing the games” but they must commit financially to the possibility of travel outside of Florida. Simply stating when the time comes that “we can not make the travel commitment” is unacceptable and if enforced, USARS can impose fines on the Florida Rugby Union for this schedule breach. Before you “enter the race” be sure you can finish!
Member Club Obligations
As with most businesses when there is a personnel change it takes time before the new employees have there emails and telephone contacts advised of their company. The Florida Membership is required to have up to date information provided to the FRU Administration at all times. Several times this past season there were “debates” initiated because club officers “didn’t know”. Again, if your club has a website please be sure it is kept up to date at all times. If your club does not have a website you are required to notify our FRU Secretary so that your club info appears on the FRU Website.
Game Scheduling
One of the members suggested that the FRU look into buying a scheduling software package that can be used year to year for the scheduling of games. The suggestion was made because there were some redundant back to back games which could have been spread out over the season a little better. Again, each season your volunteers do the best they can to accommodate all concerned so if someone has such a software package, let’s see it perform and I am sure it can be phased into our program with little difficulty.
The Administering of FRU Rules and Regulations
The success or not of these different programs depends on the unyielding commitment from our Membership to foster the growth of rugby, promote a positive image of rugby at all times and participate in Florida events, tournaments and competitions.
Member clubs are free to play rugby in Florida and hold certain membership statuses depending on their commitments. Being considered as a Full Member “in good standing” carries with it a plethora of Member Obligations found in the FRU Handbook.
Touring Sides coming into Florida and/or Florida Clubs touring outside of Florida
Again there are very specific rules to address these two actions. Any club coming into Florida MUST acquire a clearance and approvals from the FRU before the game(s) are played. No referee will be assigned to unapproved games. Any club touring outside of Florida whether in the USA or outside MUST acquire a clearance and approvals from the FRU before the game(s) are played. Any club who wishes to participate must be a club in good standing and have all dues paid in full – no payment plans!
The National Competition:
Every year for many years teams compete for the chance to become a nationally ranked team! This helps bring other competitive clubs to Florida! Its good for Florida it’s good for the host club and it’s really good for player experience!
Responsibility – Sportsmanship – Honor – Trust
Without defining how all of this blends into the rugby, each one of us must somehow incorporate all of these distinctive traits into our own behavior in and around rugby. Why not carry that forward into our jobs our families and friends?
Florida Cup August thru December 2010
Please, everyone ( Men Women Collegiate High School Youth) be ready to supply Ken Simmons your commitment to participate in this year’s Florida Cup. Referee appointments will be first given to Florida Cup Scheduled games. If your club elects not to participate, be forewarned that you will not be given a referee until all cup games are covered. Also all clubs must have proper crowd restraints or the game will be a forfeit to the home team.
Men’s Select-Side August thru December 2010
Now that the National Competition is almost over, it is time to organize this year’s Men’s Select-Side. At the previous AGM your membership voted to reinstate a men’s select-side with funds available to help pay for travel, hotel and equipment expenses.
As the VP of the Men’s Division, I could call around and ask for coaching volunteers; but instead I would like to hear from the member clubs. What certified coach would you like to see as the head coach? His responsibility will be to put together a representative side with players willing to train, travel and devote their time to the program.
If I do not have what I consider “a pool of candidates”, by July 15, 2010, I will begin my own search. I have 2 or 3 men who have expressed a desire to be considered.
There are several competition scenarios being considered – Caribbean games, Georgia games or Western games or a South American Tour. Any ideas?????
Please be sure to re-read all of this and if there are any issues or questions, call me directly. 305-793-4477
Franklyn Williams
VP, FRU
