Rugby 2018 La Cueva Bears Rugby - Parent Information Pack
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La Cueva Bears Rugby
Parent Information Pack
Rugby 2018
“We do nothing on or off the pitch to dishonor ourselves, our family, or our team.”
www.usarugby.org
www.newmexicoyouthrugby.org
LA CUEVA BEARS RUGBY
CONTENTS
1. WELCOME TO LA CUEVA RUGBY! ............................................................................................................................. 3
Did You Know? ............................................................................................................................................................. 4
About USA Rugby ......................................................................................................................................................... 4
About New Mexico Youth Rugby .................................................................................................................................. 5
2. BEARS COACHING STAFF AND PARENT COMMITTEE ........................................................................................... 5
Coaches ........................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Club Committee ............................................................................................................................................................ 6
3. PLAYER INFORMATION & REQUIREMENTS.............................................................................................................. 7
Information .................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Requirements ............................................................................................................................................................... 7
Player Eligibility ............................................................................................................................................................. 7
School Grades .............................................................................................................................................................. 8
USA Rugby Registration ............................................................................................................................................... 8
Team Dues ................................................................................................................................................................... 9
4. TRAINING ....................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Routine.......................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Schedule & Location ................................................................................................................................................... 10
Attendance .................................................................................................................................................................. 10
Team Kit...................................................................................................................................................................... 11
5. SEASON SCHEDULE .................................................................................................................................................. 12
Competing Teams ...................................................................................................................................................... 12
Schedule ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12
6. INJURY MANAGEMENT .............................................................................................................................................. 14
Concussion ................................................................................................................................................................. 14
7. GENERAL ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Communications ......................................................................................................................................................... 19
Sponsorships .............................................................................................................................................................. 19
Uniforms & T-Shirts .................................................................................................................................................... 19
8. GOOD PARENT / SPECTATOR CODE OF CONDUCT ............................................................................................. 20
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LA CUEVA BEARS RUGBY
1. WELCOME TO LA CUEVA RUGBY!
Dear Parent,
We are very pleased that your son/s has/have expressed an interest in playing rugby at the La Cueva Bears
High School Rugby Club. We have a proud tradition of winning state championships and have won 4 state
champion titles (2013 / 14 / 15 & 17) during our 6 years of existence. We are however much prouder of our
more important goal – instilling life lessons and building young men of character through rugby’s teamwork,
camaraderie, respect for all (self, opponents, parents, coaches etc), unique culture and commitment to hard
work – RESPECT, HONOR, INTEGRITY
Rugby draws players who dare to try something different. It is a legendary game that mixes strength, speed
and agility through a combination of skill and strategy. It is sport that welcomes all athletes of any and every
size and shape. Successful rugby does require fitness, but first and foremost it requires that special person
whose ready, willing and able to give it their all and compete to the last minute for his teammates around him.
Rugby is a global game and has a rich tradition around the world. It is the contact game of choice for countries
such as England, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Scotland, Wales and Italy. Throughout the world
people play rugby from grade school through adulthood. In fact, rugby is truly a “Life Sport” because players
continue to participate in rugby long after they leave school. Players, your La Cueva coaches included,
continue playing competitive rugby for years and years by joining local clubs and competing at the senior and
“Old Boys” levels.
Rugby is a contact sport, but it is far from brutal. In fact, it is much less violent and safer than American
football, even though there are no pads and helmets. There are several very good and logical reasons for this,
including the fact that contact in rugby, while vigorous, does not promote or allow either blocking or rigid
protective equipment. This means players are not getting blind-sided by an unexpected blocker nor striking
each other with helmets. Dirty or dangerous play and unsportsmanlike behavior is not tolerated, and the
offending player may be ordered off the field or even suspended by his club or the local league. Rugby
additionally places as much importance on sportsmanship (the root of its culture) as on winning.
You may not know it but Rugby and American football share a common root – they were derived from the
same game over 100-years ago. As such there is a common skill set to both games. Here are some
commonalities rugby and football shares:
Possession: Rugby is a game of possession. Coaching technique emphasizes controlling the ball, and
where need passing before being tackled and other skills aimed at retaining possession for the team.
Evasion: Rugby encourages the use of evasion and misdirection which creates opportunities to run plays
and score points. Nearly all collisions can be anticipated, allowing athletes to better prepare for contact
situations.
Tackling: Tacklers must wrap their arms around an opponent. Absolutely no tackling is allowed above the
chest. If it occurs, it is strictly penalized. This not only makes for safer play, but for higher success rates in
completing tackles. Coaches instruct players on how to tackle as well as how to receive a tackle.
The rapid growth of rugby in the USA is having a big and positive impact on the lives of many young men and
women. The rugby tackling technique is also being implemented in more and more football teams, of which
the Seattle Seahawks were the first professional team to fully adopt the rugby tackling technique.
We are excited to have your son become part of our team, and look forward to introducing him to the great
game of rugby and making him part of our team and championship tradition. Please do not hesitate to contact
us at any time if you have any questions or in need any additional information.
Your coaches,
Sean Mermer (Head Coach) Johan Botha (Assistant Coach) Eric Barber (Assistant Coach)
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LA CUEVA BEARS RUGBY
Did You Know?
Rugby is the fastest growing sport in North America, fueled by rugby 7’s now being an Olympic
sport – Fiji is the current Olympic Champions
The Rugby World Cup for Sevens is hosted in San Francisco in 2018, with 16 of the world’s best
sevens rugby teams (including the USA) competing for the ultimate honor of being crowned as
Rugby Sevens World Champions
Youth Rugby has increased 25% over the last three years, making it the fastest growing youth
sport after number one, Lacrosse.
Rugby is the fastest growing collegiate sport for both men and women. Over a quarter of the 974
college programs offer financial aid to rugby players.
Rugby is the 3rd largest sporting event in the world behind only soccer and the Olympics:
o Soccer World Cup (viewership of 30 billion)
o Summer Olympics (4 billion)
o Rugby World Cup (3 billion) The NFL Super Bowl only draws around 100 million viewers
worldwide (93 million in the US)
The Rugby Sevens World Series reaches a record 223 million homes with a global cumulative
reach of 556 million.
In the US:
o Rugby participation has grown by 350% since 2004.
o A 2010 survey by the National Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association ranked rugby as
the fastest growing sport in the U.S.
o USA Rugby has more than 115,000 registered members, including over 67,000 high school
students, and approximately 2,588 clubs, which places the U.S. ahead of traditional rugby
powers such as Wales and Scotland in terms of number of players.
o The numbers of registered rugby members in the U.S. are highest in California, New York
and Pennsylvania. On a per-capita basis, rugby membership is highest in New England and
in the Rocky Mountain states of Colorado and Utah.
About USA Rugby
Founded in 1975, USA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby in America, and a Full
Sport Member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Rugby Board (IRB).
Currently headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, USA Rugby is charged with developing the game on all levels
and has over 115,000 active members. USA Rugby oversees four national teams, multiple collegiate and high
school All-American sides, and an emerging Olympic development pathway for elite athletes.
As the only sanctioned governing body for rugby in the country USA Rugby believes in putting all players’
safety above everything else. USA Rugby requires that all rugby coaches re-register annually which includes a
background check. Coaches must also complete required coaching certification courses and take “Continuing
Education Units” every year, which includes a Player Protection Package. Additionally USA Rugby provides
with every player registration Third Party Liability Insurance and Rugby Accident Insurance. USA Rugby feels
that providing these levels of protections keeps our athletes safe and enjoying the game.
For more information about the USA Rugby go to website: www.usarugby.org
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About New Mexico Youth Rugby
New Mexico Youth Rugby, the "NMYR," is a registered 501c(3) non-profit and all volunteer sports organization
dedicated to the development of youth and high school rugby for both boys and girls in New Mexico. Our
programs offer contact and non-contact rugby and are available to elementary, middle and high school
athletes in communities throughout New Mexico. We are celebrating our 12th year in New Mexico, and last
year had nearly 1,000 players participate in our youth and high school leagues, and introduced rugby to
hundreds of elementary and middle school students.
The NMYR, in conjunction with USA Rugby, administers all aspects of the state’s high school league
play, state championship, and other competitions.
For more information about the NMYR go to website: www.newmexicoyouthrugby.org
2. BEARS COACHING STAFF AND PARENT COMMITTEE
Coaches
My first years of rugby came while being a scholarship athlete (football-
linebacker) at UNM from 84-89. After graduating and knowing my football
career was over with, rugby was the perfect fit. I have played rugby for
about 20 years; and have coached for the last 8 years. Three as an
assistant at St Pius winning two State championships, and as Head Coach
at La Cueva heading into our 5th season as three-peat Champs.
My coaching philosophy, along with my staff, is not only do we want to
teach these young men this great sport, but more importantly, teach them
life lessons on how to become a better all around person. Your son's safety
Sean Mermer and wellbeing is utmost important to us, we are all certified Nationally,
Head Coach endorsed by World Rugby, so rest assured your son is in good hands.
Mobile Tel: 505-804-2355 Welcome to the rugby family at La Cueva!
Email: smermer8@gmail.com
In 1982, I graduated from Los Alamos High School with high hopes of
receiving a football scholarship. It did not go as planned. Fall of ‘82 I
attended the University of California: Santa Barbara where and through a
whirlwind of fate I was introduced to the world of rugby. In 1986 I captained
the UCSB team. That year we beat the national champs (UC Berkeley) at
the All Cal tournament. I also represented Southern California Griffons
U/18, Southern California U/23, California Grizzlies U/23 and Southern
California Seniors.
Rugby led me on a traversed journey across the globe… New Zealand,
Australia and eventually South Africa. I joined the Randburg Rugby Club in
Johannesburg. In South Africa (like in New Zealand) rugby is not simply a
Eric Barber sport, but rather a religion (very similar to what football is in the USA).
Rugby led me on a strange life journey that I am very grateful for. Through
Asst.Coach
rugby I met my beloved wife. We have two beautiful children. I also made
Mobile Tel: 505-715-1858 life-long friends and even though they are spread throughout globe (South
Email: Africa, Canada, New Zealand, Argentina and England) we still keep in
jericotrading@hotmail.com touch. Rugby really introduced a whole new and unknown world to me.
In 2016, I was given the opportunity to help coach other players and
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understand this international game. I am excited to help other players enjoy
the journey that rugby has to offer. The game of rugby is not merely a
sport. It's a game that links a world of people together.
I come from the rugby crazy and sunny South Africa. I've actively played
rugby since the age of 5 until 32. Since then I've been involved in
refereeing and coaching. I was fortunate to be coached by some
extraordinary coaches, who not only inspired me to give back to rugby the
day I stopped playing, but also taught me valuable life lessons.
When I relocated to the USA in Nov 2012, I thought my involvement in
rugby is over and I’d be restricted to watching it on television. I accidentally
discovered La Cueva Rugby and the rest is history! Rugby is about playing
the game and respect (for yourself, and opponents), character building,
brotherhood, pushing beyond your boundaries, supporting team
mates when the odds are down and being critical about yourself and your
abilities. Winning and losing happens as a team. I wish to teach your sons
to be champions through triumph and defeat. I want to help develop stand-
Johan Botha out young men, teaching them life skills through rugby as the medium.
Asst.Coach I wish to make every young player's stay at this club as memorable as
Mobile Tel: 505-559-0333 possible. Winning is important, rising above the disappointment of a loss is
Email: johanfb@gmail.com even more important, that's why we compete as a team, achieving our
goals through hard work, dedication, persistence and with good
sportsmanship.
Club Committee
The club committee consists of volunteer parents, willing to assist with the following activities:
Fundraising
Food preparation / arrangements for team dinners
Food preparation / arrangements for home games (home team is responsible to feed visiting team)
Tour / travel planning and arrangements
Team kit design and sales
End of season banquet planning
We are therefore asking for volunteers to assist coach Johan with the above activities. Please contact
coach Johan should you be interested to help out.
2018 Parent & Player Information Pack 6LA CUEVA BEARS RUGBY
3. PLAYER INFORMATION & REQUIREMENTS
Information
Player information is captured in the La Cueva Bears Rugby Player Contact sheet (see Player Information
Pack), which is in turn captured in an electronic database, for tracking and player management purposes.
Maintaining player personal and statistical information is not only required for effective and efficient player
management, but may also be used for future analysis, especially if a player decides to apply for scholarships
and intent to play rugby in college and / or after school.
It is important to note that all collected player information is confidential and will not be disclosed to
any other person or entity, except on request and then only by approval from both player and parent/s.
Requirements
All players will be required to submit or complete the following documentation to participate on the team as
well as to comply with USA Rugby regulations:
1. Must be eligible for team based on “Player Eligibility” requirements (see below)
2. Contact Information – either complete and return the Player Information pack or go to
www.lacuevarugby.org and follow the link from the home page to register electronically
3. La Cueva Rugby Code of Conduct (signed)
4. Character References (from two teachers)
5. ROOTS – Sportsmanship and Honoring the Game (signed)
6. Concussion Policy (signed)
7. Registering with USA Rugby – “CIPP” (completed and paid online)
8. Medical Questionnaire (filled out)
9. Team Dues paid
Player Eligibility
The La Cueva Bears Rugby Club is a boys high school “club” by definition and affiliated to USA Rugby and
New Mexico Youth Rugby. Players are eligible to participate on the team so long as they meet the following
eligibility requirements as set forth by USA Rugby, New Mexico Youth Rugby and the team:
1. Players must reside in the La Cueva High School district as established by the Albuquerque Public
Schools, or be enrolled at La Cueva High School if they do not reside in the district. Any exception to
this rule must be addressed by petition to the board of directors of New Mexico Youth Rugby.
2. Players are eligible if they have not reached their 19th birthday by the September 1st that occurs at the
start of the school year containing the competitive season, including the summer following that school
year.
3. Players, except those who have graduated, must be attending high school classes full time at an
accredited institution or facility, as defined by the High School registrar.
4. Players must have certified US High School transcripts either for two consecutive semesters including
the semester that falls during the Competition Season, or, for players that have graduated, the final
semester prior to graduation during the current academic year, excluding freshmen entering high
school for their first semester.
2018 Parent & Player Information Pack 7LA CUEVA BEARS RUGBY
5. If the competition season extends beyond the end of the school year, the players may
continue to participate in the competition provided that the players were otherwise eligible
at the end of the school year.
6. Players must be within four (4) years of the moment the player first enrolled in ninth grade, regardless
of when that player started playing rugby or had the ability to start playing rugby.
7. Players must not play in a Qualifying Match for any other club in a rugby match, including the High
School team or club, College Club, or Senior Club competitions, while those players’ High School
Qualifying Match season is in progress.
8. Players must be at least 15 years old to participate in High School Rugby. Players that are 14 and
enrolled in high school must complete the ‘Under 15 Waiver’ (parental consent) to participate in High
School Rugby. 14 Year old players may not participate in the front row of fifteens or 10s contact high
school rugby matches.
9. Players must meet and remain in compliance with all applicable amateur standards.
More information on player eligibility can be downloaded from the USA Rugby website at
https://assets.usarugby.org/docs/membership/hs-eligibility.pdf.
School Grades
In order to ensure continuity and alignment with school and APS requirements, we require every rugby player
to have a 2.0 grade point average with no more than one (1) F, based on the school’s 4.0 grading scale, or its
equivalent, for the semester prior to the start of the rugby season. In addition to this it is also required from
the player to maintain at least a 2.0 GPA throughout the rugby season in order to make the starting lineup for
league matches. We do engage with the school in order to obtain grades for each player. Corrective action
will be taken in conjunction and on consultation with the affected player/s’ parents to ensure that our rugby
players do not neglect school work and fall behind.
USA Rugby Registration
All rugby players in the state (and in the USA) must complete registration with USA Rugby, our national
governing body, before they can participate in NMYR sponsored events, be eligible for contact activity at
practices and play in matches. This registration, also referred to as "CIPP" (Club and Individual Participation
Program) provides valuable and mandatory accident and medical insurance for all players in USA Rugby and
the NMYR. A player's CIPP registration is valid for 1 year, from September 1st until August 31st i.e. 1
September 2016 until 31 Aug 2017. It is transferable to any club or match a player plays in the USA during
this time period.
The fee for high school players is $71 (split into $30 to USA Rugby, $40 towards New Mexico Youth Rugby
and $1.50 processing fee). To register with USA Rugby, follow these steps:
1. Go to USA Rugby member registration page: https://webpoint.usarugby.org/.
2. New players (registering for the first time) click on “Join USA Rugby” (light arrow in picture below)
3. Returning players, click “Login” (dark arrow in picture below) and use your previous username and
password to log on and register (if you have forgotten your username and / or password, coach
Johan can help you recovering it)
2018 Parent & Player Information Pack 8LA CUEVA BEARS RUGBY
4. Complete the easy to follow registration steps including checkout and payment.
5. When prompted to choose a club affiliation you should choose “La Cueva High School Club” from the
list of options.
If you have any questions or problems with this registration please contact your coaches. We are
ready to help! Returning players… if you have forgotten you username and password,
please contact coach Johan, who will be able to help you getting logged in
Team Dues
Like any other sport, we need funding to run our club. Club dues are $165 per player per season. This is used
applied towards team uniforms, game shorts, socks and other equipment such as balls and training equipment
like tackling bags, cones, balls etc.
Our motto is to not prevent any player from playing rugby because he cannot afford the team or USA Rugby
dues, even if we have to cover those dues personally!! Please do not hesitate to contact the coaches if you
have any concerns or limitations on dues payment. No player will be denied to play rugby, due to not
being able to pay team dues!!
4. TRAINING
Routine
Training for rugby is physically and mentally strenuous, with constant motion and exertion. A high school rugby
match is played for two continuous 35-minute halves with few breaks and no time-outs during the halves and a
5 minute halftime break. Substitutions can be tactical or to replace an injured player. To help you understand
the physicality and required fitness of a rugby match imagine, sprinting from one wrestling match to another.
We will administer a fitness challenge to the players three times during the season so we can monitor their
progress. This is also part of our effort to develop mentally and physically fit players, which in turn supports a
healthy lifestyle.
If you have any concerns about physical health or medical conditions that may prohibit or limit your son’s
training and playing ability, please do not hesitate to contact any of the coaches.
2018 Parent & Player Information Pack 9LA CUEVA BEARS RUGBY
Schedule & Location
Training takes place every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the northeast corner
field of North Domingo Baca Park (access from Corona). From time to time we may practice until 6:30 and will
try to advise all players in advance. Players should arrive before 4:00pm, in order to kit and get ready for
official practice to start at 4:00pm.
Our alternate training location is Desert Ridge Middle School. You will be notified in advance if training needs
to be moved to this location.
We train in ALL weather conditions (because rugby is played in all weather conditions). Practices will only be
cancelled if the field is too wet, or lightning strikes too close to the field (we follow the 30-minute delay rule for
all lightning strikes within 6 miles of the field).
Attendance
Being successful as a rugby team heavily depends on individual as well as team discipline. Success cannot
be achieved if one or more individuals aren’t committed to the cause. An ill-disciplined team is sure to fail.
For this very reason, we require discipline and commitment from each and every Bear player. The expectation
is that all team events and practices will be attended by all players. Trends of absences will be closely
monitored and dealt with on individual basis, if necessary.
Practice & Games
All players are expected to attend every practice session. If a player cannot attend a practice session, he
is required to inform one of the coaches ahead of practice that he will not be attending. Informing the
coaches during or after practice will count as unjustified absence. We do acknowledge that there are
sometimes unusual circumstances which is not in the players’ control. This will be taken into account in the
sanctioning, but should be an exception and not become a habit.
The following table outlines missed practices and the appropriate sanctioning:
Scenario Sanction
Miss 1 x practice in the week before Player will not be considered for the starting line-up on game
game day, without informing a coach day following the week in which practice was missed – player
before practice starts can be utilized as a replacement during the game
Miss 1 x practice in the week before Player will be considered for the starting line-up on game day
game day and informing a coach following the week in which practice was missed
before practice starts
Miss 2 x practices in the week before Player will not be considered to play for any team on game day
game day, without informing a coach following the week in which the practices were missed
before practice starts
Miss 2 x practices and informing a Player will not be considered for the starting line-up on game
coach before practice starts day following the week in which practice was missed – player
can be utilized as a replacement during the game
Miss 3 x practices with or without Player will not be considered to play for any team on game day
informing a coach before practices following the week in which the practices were missed
started
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Injured player/s Required to attend practice in order to absorb and learn by
watching when team plays are practiced. This is important as
the player will return to play after injury and will be required to
be fully aligned. Injured players will alos not be allowed to return
to practice or play any sort of contact rugby, until he is fully
recovered from injury and cleared to play
Team Events
All players are expected to attend all team events. Players who have work obligations will be excused on
that basis and spot checks will be executed by the coaches to verify the validity of being absent from a
team event. Players are expected to inform one of the coaches, prior to the event, of his inability to attend
such an event. Informing the coaches during or after an event, will count as unjustified absence. Team
events are family events where we encourage the players’ families to attend as well. We use these events
to build cohesion between team members as well as provide information and feedback on club affairs to
parents.
Event Type Description
Team Dinners Takes place every Friday evening prior to a game day Saturday.
Held at a volunteering parent’s house. Takes form of a pot luck.
Opportunity for coaches and parents to meet, address and
motivate the team.
Team Building Events Events to enhance team spirit and cohesion between players.
End of Season Banquet Final team dinner event of the season (normally the weekend
after State Finals). Various prizes are awarded for
achievements throughout the season. Every player receives a
memorable gift. The following individual prizes are awarded at
the banquet:
1. Best attendance at practices & games
2. Backline player of the season (voted for by the players)
3. Forwards player of the season (voted for by the players)
Team Kit
Every player is expected to come to training prepared for physical, strenuous and often dirty work. Please
bring and wear to training:
1. A winner’s attitude
2. Sturdy shorts and shirt (rugby gear preferred – other shorts types torn easily) – don’t know where to
buy, talk to the coaches.
3. Cleats – Rugby does not allow a center front toe cleat. Soccer cleats are the best option.
4. Mouth Piece – fitted and worn at all times during contact rugby.
5. Water – We live in New Mexico
2018 Parent & Player Information Pack 11LA CUEVA BEARS RUGBY
6. Cold Weather Gear (it normally stays cold until end March – this year might be a totally different story!)
5. SEASON SCHEDULE
The schedule for all matches is posted at the New Mexico Youth Rugby website and will be posted on our club
website. We will also distribute a detailed schedule, including scrimmages, special clinics, all-star try outs and
tournaments at practice when that information becomes available.
The first tournament this year is the 505 Showdown on Feb 9 & 10. Match play begins February
25 & 26 with the High Desert Tournament at Balloon Fiesta Park. All regular season matches
take place on Saturdays. There are no matches on the weekend of Easter. The state playoffs
take place May 6th and 7th. The state championship matches (places 1-6) takes place on May
13th. The venue still needs to be confirmed.
This year all Albuquerque matches will be played at Balloon Fiesta Park – Rugby Saturday.
This includes the u11, u13 and u15 matches. Bring along family and friends and check out the
Bears doing what they do best…. PLAYING RUGBY!!
Competing Teams
15’s: 10’s:
La Cueva Bears Montazuma (Las Vegas) Albuquerque Eagles El Paso Spartans
El Paso Cathedral Albuquerque Owls Los Alamos Nukes San Juan Spartans
Rio Rancho Rebels El Paso Cathedral St. Pius
La Cueva Bears
Schedule
Date Event
February 7 Parent / Player information evening
USA Rugby Registration (“CIPP”) Deadline for players to be able to partake in contact
February 8
rugby and League Play
February 10 & 11 505 Showdown 10’s Tournament – Rio Rancho Sports Complex
February 24 High Desert Tournament (Balloon Fiesta Park)
March 3 League Play versus ________________
March 10 League Play versus ________________
March 16 Travel to Woodlands, TX (after school)
March 17 & 18 La Cueva Tour to Woodlands, TX – “Come and Take It” Tournament
March 18 Travel to Albuquerque
March 24 League Play versus ________________
March 26 to 30 APS Spring Break
March 31 Easter Weekend – no rugby
April 7 League Play versus ________________
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Date Event
April 14 League Play versus ________________
April 21 League Play versus ________________
April 28 Make-up versus ________________
May 5 State Championship Playoffs (Round Robin)
May 12 State Championship Finals
May 19 Celtic 7’s Tournament
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6. INJURY MANAGEMENT
Players will not be allowed to participate in or continue playing in a game of contact rugby if they:
have not been appropriately conditioned for rugby and their specific position,
have not been appropriately and technically coached specific to their position,
have not been instructed on safe rugby techniques relevant to their position,
are injured or carrying an injury, and
have not been completely rehabilitated after injury.
Concussion
Concussion is for obvious reasons a concern to every parent / player. There is a general belief that rugby is
much dangerous than football due to the fact that there are no helmets and protective padding. In fact, as
already explained in the introduction letter, the rugby tackle is far more safe than the football tackle, as the
technique eliminates the head from the tackle equation.
The World Rugby Concussion Guidance document1 has been developed to provide guidance and information
to persons involved in the Game of Rugby (including the general public) regarding concussion and suspected
concussion.
Individual member Unions are strongly encouraged to develop their own guidelines and policies, and must use
this Concussion Guidance as minimum standards.
These guidelines apply to all male and female Rugby players including adults(over 18 years), adolescents (18
and under) and children (12 and under). Unions can adjust these age levels upwards at their discretion.
What is concussion?
Concussion is a traumatic brain injury resulting in a disturbance of brain function. There are many symptoms of
concussion, common ones being headache, dizziness, memory disturbance or balance problems.
Loss of consciousness, being knocked out, occurs in less than 10% of concussions. Loss of consciousness is
not a requirement for diagnosing concussion but is a clear indication that a concussion has been sustained.
Typically standard brain scans are normal for someone with concussion and therefore a normal brain scan is
not a reliable test of whether or not a player has concussion or suspected concussion.
What causes concussion?
Concussion can be caused by a direct blow to the head, but can also occur when blows to other parts of the
body result in rapid movement of the head, e.g. whiplash type injuries.
1
World Rugby Concussion Guidance document can be downloaded from
http://media.wix.com/ugd/21c957_00c0a9986887494e8879b425d348ce9a.pdf
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Concussion Facts
Who is at risk?
Concussions can happen at any age. However, children and adolescent athletes: • are more susceptible to
concussion • take longer to recover • have more significant memory and mental processing issues • are more
susceptible to rare and dangerous neurological complications, including death caused by a single orsecond
impact.
Recurrent or multiple concussions
Players with a history of two or more concussions within the past year are at greater risk of further brain injury
and slower recovery and should seek medical attention from practitioners experienced in concussion
management before return to play. In addition, a history of multiple concussions or players with unusual
presentations or prolonged recovery should be assessed and managed by health care providers with
experience in sports-related concussions.
Onset of symptoms
It should be noted that the symptoms of concussion can present at any time but typically become evident in the
first 24-48 hours following a head injury
World Rugby has developed a Concussion Awareness Recognition Guide, which is a quick guide to
identify possible concussion in a player:
2018 Parent & Player Information Pack 15LA CUEVA BEARS RUGBY
2018 Parent & Player Information Pack 16LA CUEVA BEARS RUGBY
Rugby takes the prevention of concussion very serious and has put several controls in place to
minimize concussion injuries. Dangerous and illegal tackling is always penalized and depending
on the severity of the dangerous / illegal tackle, the offending player could be sent off the field of
play for either a cool down period (yellow carded) or the remainder (red carded) of the game.
World Rugby requires all rugby referees and coaches to take concussion awareness training as part of their
qualification, in order to enable them to (1) coach players on how to avoid concussion as well as (2) how to
identify possible concussion situations / scenarios and remove the player from play if any hint of concussion is
suspected, until a thorough diagnosis has been made.
However, rugby is a physical game and like in any type of contact sport, concussion may occur for other
reasons than dangerous, illegal or high tackles. If a player is diagnosed with concussion, the Graduated
Return To Play (GRTP) protocol will be followed. This process removes the player from any participation in
sport, allowing the player to fully recover, for a period of time, before he will be allowed to gradually start
practicing again – see the “What is Gradual Return To Play (GRTP)?” section below.
What is Graduated Return To Play (GRTP)
Following a concussion or suspected concussion the management of the GRTP protocol will be undertaken
with the full cooperation of the player in order to return the player to play. The GRTP starts once the medical
professional has cleared the player in writing as either having not had a concussion and being symptom free,
or if after a concussion was diagnosed by the medical professional, the player has rested for the mandatory 14
days and then been cleared in writing by the medical professional as being symptom free.
GRTP incorporates a progressive exercise programme that introduces a player back to sport in a step-wise
fashion. This should only be started once the player has completed the requisite physical rest period and is
symptom free and off treatments and/or medication that may modify or mask concussion symptoms, for
example drugs for headaches or sleeping tablets.
If a player already had symptoms prior to the head injury incident which resulted in the player’s concussion or
suspected concussion, the player’s symptoms must have returned to the pre-concussion level prior to
commencing a GRTP. However, in these circumstances, extra caution must be exercised and it is
recommended that a player specifically seeks medical advice in respect of those pre-existing symptoms.
As a minimum, a GRTP programme must be consistent with World Rugby’s GRTP Protocol below. World
Rugby’s GRTP Protocol reflects the Zurich Concussion Consensus Statement GRTP protocol which contains
six distinct stages.
STEP 1: No physical/sporting activity.
Complete the Return to Learn protocol before beginning the Return to Play process. Refrain from
participating in any sporting and physical activities. Only indulge in activities that do not worse symptoms.
Once symptoms are gone, a physician, preferably one with experience managing concussions, should be
consulted before beginning a step wise return to play process.
STEP 2: Light aerobic exercise.
Activites such as walking or stationary cycling. The player should be supervised by someone who can
help monitor for symptoms and signs. No resistance training or weight lifting. The duration and intensity
of the aerobic exercise can be gradually increased over time if no symptoms or signs return during the
exercise or the next day. Symptoms? Return to rest until symptoms have resolved. If symptoms persist,
consult a physician. No symptoms? Proceed to Step 3 the next day.
STEP 3: Sport specific activities.
2018 Parent & Player Information Pack 17LA CUEVA BEARS RUGBY
Activities such as skating or throwing can begin at step 3. There should be no body contact or other
jarring motions such as high speed stops or hitting a baseball with a bat. Symptoms? Return to rest until
symptoms have resolved. If symptoms persist, consult a physician. No symptoms? Proceed
to Step 4 the next day.
STEP 4: Begin Drills without body contact.
Symptoms? Return to rest until symptoms have resolved. If symptoms persist, consult a physician. No
symptoms? The time needed to progress from non-contact exercise will vary with the severity of the
concussion and with the player. Proceed to Step 5 only after medical clearance.
STEP 5: “On Field” practice with body contact, once cleared by a doctor.
Symptoms? Return to rest until symptoms have resolved. If symptoms persist, consult a physician. No
symptoms? Proceed to Step 6 the next day.
STEP 6: Game play.
World Rugby requires that each stage of the GRTP (Steps 2 to 5) be a minimum of 24 hours. GRTP stage
length may be increased by member Unions at their discretion.
It is critical that all concussion or suspected concussion symptoms have cleared prior to commencing a GRTP
program. The player must only start a GRTP program or proceed to the next stage if there are no symptoms
of concussion during rest and at the level of exercise achieved in the previous GRTP stage.
World Rugby strongly recommends that a medical practitioner or approved healthcare professional
confirm that the player can take part in full contact training before entering Stage 5.
Rehabilitation stage Exercise at each stage of rehabilitation Objective of stage
1. Minimum rest
Complete body and brain rest without symptoms. Recovery – No Activity
period
2 Weeks
Light jogging for 10-15 minutes, walking, swimming or
stationary cycling at low to moderate intensityLA CUEVA BEARS RUGBY
7. GENERAL
Communications
Your coaches are of a cyber generation where dinosaurs once roamed and we are not fully up to speed with
the modern day communications methods which the young guns use. Email and text messaging our preferred
and priority means for communicating all information about the team. We also have a Facebook page which is
updated regularly with news and information about the team.
Facebook page: La Cueva Bears Rugby Team (https://www.facebook.com/LaCuevaBearsRugby/?fref=ts).
Team website: This is the first year that our club has an official website, where all club information, roster,
calendar of events, photos and videos are posted. The site is still very basic, but we are working towards
adding new content and functionality. Please visit our website at www.lacuevarugby.org. Any suggestions
for improvement are more than welcome. If there are any web developers who are willing / able to offer
their services, it will be most welcome!!
Please do not hesitate to contact the coaches at any time if you have any questions or need any information
about the team.
Sponsorships
In addition to team dues, which is the minimum amount required to operate the club and provide a quality
service to the players (and parents), we require additional funding in order to procure new and maintain
current training equipment and cover other unforeseen expenses like subsiding players who cannot afford the
club membership or USA Rugby registration fee. For this reason, we rely on donations / sponsorships from
individuals and / or businesses to help us fund all these expenses. Please refer to our detailed sponsor letter,
attached to end of this document.
Uniforms & T-Shirts
The club provides rugby jersey and socks for all matches and tournaments.
From time-to-time we will sell special team t-shirts and apparel to inspire the players and raise funds.
2018 Parent & Player Information Pack 198. GOOD PARENT / SPECTATOR CODE OF CONDUCT
SPECTATOR AND PARENT
CODE OF CONDUCT
Show respect for officials and other players
Encourage in your support
Be courteous to all
Applaud good play
Verbally support in proactive manner
Remember victory is not everything
Children are playing for their own enjoyment
Enjoy the day and transmit that enthusiasm to the players
SPECTATOR AND PARENT
CODE OF CONDUCT
Do not force your child to play
Do not stray onto the pitch at any time
Do not verbally abuse match officials - remember , they
are volunteers
Do not verbally abuse players or other spectators
Do not use bad language
Do not threaten or intimidate
Do not become involved in physical aggression
Do not do anything which is likely to offend by way of
insult, humiliation or discrimination
2018 Parent & Player Information Pack 20SPECTATOR GUIDE TO RUGBY
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