2011 Women’s Collegiate NASC Update from USA Rugby

from my Inbox:

Beginning in 2011, USAR’s U23 NASC event will transition to be the Women’s Collegiate National All-Star Championship. I wanted to update you on the reasons for the change and to invite you to attend and observe the Women’s High Performance Collegiate Academy Camp, to take place just prior to the NASC event.

• The U23 NASC was created when that age-grade was a viable level for International development
• Now the International community has dropped that level and the age cutoff of 23 has become somewhat meaningless, in terms of the development of top athletes
• Our goal is to transition to a devleopment level that has value in the USA
• Collegiate All-Star programs fit in with sports in the US
• We are much more likely to find sponsors and fan support for a Collegiate All-Star event, which resonates with Americans, than a U23 event, which does not
• In addition, this change will allow for a much more effective selection and development pathway for our Collegiate All-American squad (tentative 2011 matches vs. Canada)
• The primary change for TU coaches would be the need to follow the Collegiate NASC Eligibility Guidelines currently in place for the Men’s Collegiate NASC (relevant sections attached below; full USAR Eligibility Guidelines available at usarugby.org)
• A downside associated with this change is that there will be some athletes who don’t attend college who could formerly compete at this level and who will now be unable to do so. There are opportunities in the pathway for athletes in that situation to be seen and identified. The key to continued development is to ensure such athletes are encouraged to transition from their HS team to a good club team. These athletes are eligible to try out for their Senior TU team.

This change also supports the new Women’s High Performance structure, which early in 2011 will assess the top 100 – 120 athletes across the country age 20 and over and name 20 – 25 athletes each into the Collegiate Elite Academy and the Collegiate Development Academy, as well as naming additional athletes to the Senior Elite and Development Pools. The Collegiate Academy athletes will be attending a 2-day development camp at the NASC location and we are inviting the Collegiate TU Coaches to attend as well.

All Women’s National Team Head Coaches (WNT, 7s, U20) and a variety of Specialist Coaches will be working with the athletes, most of whom are likely to be representing their TU’s at the NASC event. The Camp will be an opportunity to develop the relationship between the WHP Head Coaches and the TU Coaches, via observation of training sessions, communication and discussion of the standards and requirements being used to identify prospective WHP athletes (body type, S&C standards, skills standards, attitude, etc), and observation of additional modules on Elite athlete training and lifestyle, including Strength & Conditioning, nutrition, body care, etc.).

The camp is likely to be held on the Tuesday (June 7, 2011) and Wednesday (June 8) of the NASC week, with the recognition that most TU teams will arrive on the Wednesday evening and conduct a training session on the Thursday in preparation for the matches on Friday (June 10) and Sunday (June 12). Following the conclusion of the development camp, the National Team Head Coaches will remain to scout TU athletes at training sessions and of course, the NASC matches.

It would be very helpful to know if Collegiate TU Coaches are interested in attending the WHP Collegiate Academy Camp and how likely you are to do so. I would appreciate it if you could send me an email with any comments you have about the camp, as well as any questions or concerns regarding the transition to the Collegiate NASC.

USA Rugby Eligibility Regulations (Effective May 2010)

Section 7. NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ALL STAR CHAMPIONSHIPS

7.1. Team Eligibility

Each team may carry an unlimited number of players on its roster.

7.2. Player Eligibility

a) Players are eligible if they meet all of the criteria outlined in the National Collegiate
Championships section. However, a player is eligible for the National Collegiate All Star
Championships if that player meets all other requirements of a collegiate eligible player, even
if that player does not play rugby for his college or university club.
b) Players must be declared eligible for collegiate play in the Spring Academic Term or Winter
Quarter prior to the National Collegiate All Star Championships.
c) All military collegiate team players must be enrolled in one of the Service academies or be a
ROTC cadet with a signed contract to enter the United States Military (i.e. an ROTC rugby
player committed to active duty service) and these players can play either for their TU team or
the military team.

USA Rugby Eligibility Regulations (Effective May 2010)

Section 4. COLLEGIATE CLUB

4.1. Collegiate Club Eligibility
a) Each club must be recognized by the college/university.
b) Each club must be in good standing with the college/university.
c) Each club must name their match roster, 1-23*, prior to kick off of each game. *All matches
shall be govern by IRB Law 3 with respect to substitutions and front row replacements. In
particular, Law 3.14 “Union Specific Variations” will apply to front row replacements.
d) Each club may carry an unlimited number of players on its Roster.

4.2. Player Eligibility
In order to participate in any Qualifying Match, and in the National Collegiate Club Championships,
the player must meet all of the following eligibility criteria at the time of competition:
a) Be within five (5) years of the moment the player first enrolled in a university, college or
junior college, regardless of when the player started playing rugby or had the ability to start
playing collegiate rugby. Any college courses that are taken during high school do not start the
eligibility clock.
b) The player must be enrolled full-time and in good standing, as defined by the university or
college registrar, and an undergraduate student seeking his/her first bachelor’s degree.

Exceptions:
1. A player in his/her final term may carry less than a full-time academic load and still
maintain eligibility. This is only permitted if the player is a graduating senior and a
letter from the Registrar confirming such status is obtained. This exception may only be
used once.
2. A player may maintain eligibility after completing and or receiving an undergraduate
degree if that player is enrolled full time in post-graduate studies (graduate school or
pursuance of an additional Bachelor’s Degree) provided the player is attending the
same institution they received their first undergraduate degree from and the player still
falls within his/her 5 years of collegiate eligibility.
3. A player competing for an institution utilizing the quarter system is eligible through the
National Championships of that year if he/she completed the requirements to graduate
during the winter quarter. That player must be a graduating senior and this exception
requires a letter from the registrar confirming such status. This exception may only be
used once in a player’s career and once used that player loses all future collegiate
eligibility.
c) The player must play on the team representing the school in which he/she is enrolled.
d) The player must not have played in a Qualifying Match for any other club during the Fifteens
Competitive Season.
e) Players must meet and remain in compliance with all applicable amateur standards.
f) See Section 13.5 for additional information about potential waivers.

NOTE: These Men’s Collegiate regulations have not yet been confirmed for the Women by the USAR Eligibility Committee but are expected to be discussed and confirmed within the next week.