from http://collegiaterugbyinitiative.wordpress.com/:
This initiative has been set up to make sure that the coaches of college teams, and others vested in the college game, decide what is best for their players and programs.
The goal is that all decisions ensure that we improve, strengthen, and grow men’s and women’s college rugby at all levels and in all parts of the USA.
The major issue with which we are concerned is the creation of a structure for both 15-a-side rugby and 7-a-side rugby that is compatible with our stated goal and is in the best interests of student-athletes.
We need to address when we can play both 15s and 7s in single continuous seasons
We want to better support the development of 7s so that our men and women have the best chance of qualifying for the Olympics.
We want to be fully supportive of Women’s Rugby becoming a varsity sport.
Currently, USA Rugby stages the Collegiate National Championships for 15s for Division I & II Men & Women in the Spring (April & May) and has a National 7s Championship in the Fall (November/December). However, the majority of college teams play their conference 15s season games in the Fall.
It is of major significance that 56% of the college teams in the country have to stop playing through the winter, due to weather and in most instances snow and frozen ground, and resume in late March or early April, just 3 weeks or less before the playoffs. Five (5) of eight (8) Division I Conferences play the bulk of their 15s season in the Fall and have a maximum of one (1) Fall weekend to play 7s. A further 21% of college teams play a split season with some Fall and some Spring games. This means that a total of 77% of college teams play 15s in the Fall.
Because of what Mother Nature gives them they concentrate on 15s in the fall and are left with minimal if any preparation for the National 7s.
The problem is that the majority of teams can’t play a full 15s spring season given the number of weekends available once the weather has improved. They would love to do so, as using a fall season to recruit and develop a team would be a blessing. To then be able to go straight from conference games to national playoffs, as a small percentage of teams do now, without losing players to study abroad or varsity spring sports, would be a joy. It’s simply not even an option in the Northeast or Midwest parts of the country.
In order to strengthen, improve, and grow college rugby the American Collegiate Rugby Initiative proposes that the teams that play a Fall 15s schedule playoff amongst themselves to establish their regional champions.
The American Collegiate Rugby Initiative has heard from countless coaches, players, and college administrators and believes this will be in the best interests of the student-athletes and the game.
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What a terrible idea. Many schools don’t even start their fall semesters until late September while others end theirs in the middle of November. There’d be no time for preparation and minor advantages would just shift from one set of schools to major advantages for another set of schools (the ones supporting this idea). At least with a spring championship, everyone has a year to be ready.
Everyone should just play fall *and* spring. If teams in Europe can play in January and February, teams up north can surely find ways to play in February and early March. Hell, teams in Colorado and Utah play in February. ‘Short spring season’ is just an excuse for teams from weaker regions to pick up their balls and run away from western competition.
Evan, come to the Northeast in January, and February, and come show us Northeasters exactly how to go about playing when it is -10 degrees outside and we have several feet of snow on the ground.
Funny how I said “teams up north can surely find ways to play in February and early March.” January was a reference to European clubs.
Also… -10? Really? That’s your claim for the average temperature on a Saturday afternoon?
Let’s compare average highs and precipitation (Average high on 2/20; 3/1) (days of wet weather in February; March):
Chicago (37; 41) (9; 11)
Cleveland (39; 41) (14; 14)
Boston (40; 42) (10; 12)
New York (41; 44) (9; 11)
Pittsburgh (41; 45) (14; 14)
Philadelphia (44; 48) (9; 11)
Washington (48; 52) (9; 11)
Omaha (40; 43) (unknown; probably similar to KC)
Salt Lake City (45; 49) (9; 10)
Denver (46; 49) (6; 7)
Boise (46; 50) (unknown; probably similar to SLC)
Kansas City (47; 51) (5; 8)
Seattle (51: 52) (15; 17)
Portland (51; 53) (16; 19)
B-b-but there’s outliers, you say!
Norwich, VT: (34; 36) (wet days unknown)
Buffalo, NY (34; 37) (16; 15)
There sure are…
Laramie, WY: (36; 39) (wet days unknown)
Bozeman, MT (37; 39) (wet days unknown)
Ohmygosh! It’s like a whole 5 degrees colder and maybe slightly wetter in the northeast! How terrible!
It’s basically just crappy to live in Buffalo, Cleveland, or Pittsburgh, but that’s a problem far larger than rugby. There’s still no reason the northeast and midwest couldn’t play 60% of their games in the fall and 40% in the spring, while other parts of the country play 40-50% in the fall and 50-60% in the spring.
The numbers don’t lie Evan. West teams can play during the fall too and they’ll still be just as good. At least everyone will be on the same season no matter the competitive balance.
The numbers don’t lie (and I don’t even think they’re accurate, but that’s a separate point). If some schools don’t start until the end of September, and others end the weekend before Thanksgiving, you’re basically saying that an entire season can be played in about 6 or 7 weeks, including playoffs. That’s insane. What’s your excuse for not playing in February at AIC?
All stop. What schools end the weekend before Thanksgiving?