THE CASE FOR FALL AND SPRING CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS IN COLLEGE RUGBY History For decades now, the

subject of seasonality and the effect weather has on the outcome of College National Championships has been debated. Those in colder climes have lamented their ability to adequately prepare their teams for spring competition and championships. Those in warmer climates cite the ability of cold weather teams to compete successfully at National Championships as evidence that the spring championships are fair and no one has a particular advantage. The advent of serious 7s competitions has exacerbated the already crowded schedule for rugby during the academic year for college teams. As a major spotlight and Olympic sport, there is growing interest in having a dedicated season or seasons for 7s. This has also highlighted the need for a defined 15s season for teams. The D2 Mens Colleges experimented with a full fall USA Rugby National Championship this past year with great success. However, a few conferences and would-be conferences have found the fall season does not fit their institutions academic calendars well and, in some instances, the teams were without on-campus fields to use in the fall. As a result, those conferences will not be repeating the fall 15s schedule but should not be excluded from post-season play. Furthermore, where and when do put the 7s competition? Thus, the difficulty in adding a viable 7s competition for all parts for the country at one location and time has become apparent. Moreover, I think its time we put the issue of seasonality to rest. Lets give our teams in all parts of the country a chance to schedule their 15s and 7s seasons in the months that make the most sense for them and their priorities. Recommendation After consulting a number of teams, conference commissioners, and analyzing our options and budget, I am recommending that we move to USA Fall Championships and USA Spring Championships in which some teams and conferences will play a Fall 15s schedule and championship, with 7s played in the Spring and other teams/conferences will play a Fall 7s schedule and championship, with the 15s competition during the Spring. Teams may play in either a Fall 15s or a Spring 15s Championship; the same goes for 7seither Spring or Fall or we move the National Championship to the Spring around Memorial Day. USA Rugby will support all four events, although the number of teams in each event will need to be determined based on the number of teams and conferences in each competition. We would be looking to the regional teams to determine the appropriate dates for all the championships, although those dates should be announced well in advance. Locations and structure for the playoffs 1

will be determined in concert with the conferences and independents in each region and with due regard for the available funds to conduct these championships. D1A & D1AA Whats the difference between D1A & D1AA? To those who signed on to the original College Premier Division, the difference was to reach a higher level of administration, coaching, player development and performance. Through a number of iterations, we still have lofty goals for D1A but are struggling with the performance variation of teams in D1A. This is not peculiar to D1A but more attention is needed to make sure we have unrelenting expectations of teams in that divisionfrom behavior (on and off the field) to eligibility compliance to game day protocol to performance and beyond. Those teams that cant comply with expectations need to be relegated. Our best teams in D1A should have the flexibility to schedule games that advance their missionwhether those games are in their sub-conference structure or outside of that framework. Furthermore, those teams in D1AA that have higher expectations of themselves should be included in those initiatives that are intended to make our teams better and our games safer through proper coaching, training and rehabilitation of our athletes. Additionally, our intent should be to put our best teams in the playoffs. D1A Playoffs will be limited to the best 8 to 12 teams in D1A. The D1A Championships will continue to be in the Spring and teams participating in the D1A playoffs will not be eligible for the D1AA playoffs. The D1AA Playoffs should consist of our next best teams from D1A or D1AA. Those games will happen in the Fall or Spring and teams can choose which competition dates work for them. The number of teams in those events will be determined based on teams work product during their seasons. Any USA Rugby National Championship game between the Fall and Spring Winners, both 15s and 7s, will be held at the same location as the D1A Championship in the Spring unless, of course, we move the USA Rugby National 7s Championship to late spring as discussed above.. Will this be confusing? Hardly any rational person can argue that our championships arent already confusingUSA, ACRC, ACRA, Varsity Cup, NSCRO, NSCRO Challenge Cup, etc. The point is not so much to artificially limit competition for the sake of simplicity, but rather to establish competitions that will make our teams seek to improve in all areas that will effect a change from mere teams to well-run programs. That transition means we must work to establish practices from internal audits that work to improve all facets of our college game. In the end, that means better and more competitions. If we do so, we all benefit.