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2001 USQRA Annual General Meeting Results

Below are the results from the proposals that were voted on during the AGM held on April 8, 2001 in San Diego, California. When a proposal passed, and the wording of the original proposal was amended all proxy votes were voided. The results of each proposal are listed below. The passed amendments with changes are noted as such and show the changes to the original proposal in blue print.  

1)      A new team may be formed only if there is no more than two members from a preceding team, including the Coach, otherwise they may change their name at any time but will not have new team status unless they meet this criteria set. 

Article I - Membership

1)      A team may not disband and form a new team with more than two members from the original team, including the coach. They may change their name at any time, but will not have new team status unless they meet the set criteria. 

2)      Teams that gain a player from a registered team via a transfer must pay a $500 transfer fee which will go to the player’s former team.  Existing transfer rules will still be in effect.  The team must pay this in order for the player to be eligible in Post Season.  If the player sits out post season his new team would not have to pay the transfer fee.  

3)      Any schedule change to accommodate a team in the post-season must be approved by the Host, RAC and the USQRA Commissioner.  If changes are approved, the team involved will pay a $200 fee to be divided by the league and the host.

4)      Due to several protests in the past year, it has become apparent that the USQRA needs to purchase Directors and Officers insurance.  In order to cover the cost of this insurance, dues need to be raised to $350.

5)   Section 2 - Requirements of rostered players

a)      Notice of teams intention to add, substitute or transfer must be sent to the Commissioners office by December 15 of the current season. Players may be added after December 15 as members in order to receive benefits but will not be eligible to compete in sanctioned tournaments.  

b) No player may be listed on more than one national member team's roster.  

c) All rostered players must participate in two registered games prior to post season play defined as February 1st. Except for extenuating circumstances which may be brought before the Executive Committee. All International players must have played in two games with rostered team by December 15^th.   

Change: December 15th to January 15th. 

see note below

6) 1. To promote rugby in 3 major regions during the year. The USQRA should sponsor and sanction three tournaments in these areas:

a. West Coast

b. Plains

c. East Coast

The idea is to form a CONSISTENT tournament each year that is run by members of that region working together to host a multi level tournament every year. The USQRA would lend nominal funds to tournament hosts, waive any sanctioning fees, and would lend support from all board members working on committee's throughout the year to coordinate dates and compatibilities with other tournaments. The goal is to provide 3 KNOWN tournaments each year that teams could budget, train, and work around to improve calendar tournaments. It also would be beneficial in hosting referee and classification clinics throughout the year.

Although this proposal did not pass, the USQRA will work with any tournament host to help  provide sanctioning or clinics at their events upon request.

see note below

7) A formal proposal to change from 8.0 points on the floor to 7.5 points.  This is based primarily on U.S. numbers with international numbers to support.  You may want to read the article out of QRT or the by Peter Schreiner.

This may be an issue at the IWRF AGM in October. The membership felt it best to see what actions are taken there before making changes here in the US. 

This will be an issue at the IWRF AGM in October. The membership felt it best to see what height is selected internationally before approving any changes here in the US.

9) A proposal that wings be tubular or of a rounded nature. For safety reasons they cannot have an edge on them created by plates or by using channel style metal that has an edge.  There are a lot of plated wings that create a safety issue.

The Chair Specs Committee will comment on this ruling and it will be published in a upcoming newsletter

10) If player has no push rim, the widest point of wheel may be the spokegaurd.  This will allow players to take weight off the most important place, the wheels thus allowing Rugby athletes to perform at a higher level and increase speed.

11) Art. 36            VIOLATIONS OF THE THROW-IN

The following violations can occur during a throw-in:
a) A player who has been awarded the ball for a throw-in, cannot (after the throw-in) touch the ball on the court before it has been touched by another player.
b) The inbounding player cannot consume more than 10 seconds before the ball is released and touched by a player on the court.
c) The inbounding player may not come onto the court until he has clearly released the ball.
d) The inbounding player may pivot but not move laterally from the throw-in spot. Note: This does not apply for a throw-in after a goal.  
e) After it has been released, the ball may not touch the out-of-bounds before it has been legally inbounded; however the ball may be bounced once if it is to be batted onto the court.

f) No player on the court (defensive or offensive) may be within a one (1) meter radius from the point of the throw-in. The neutral area outlined by the radius is required to permit the inbounding player to enter the court after the throw-in. A violation will result in a one (1) minute penalty for the defense and a loss of possession for the offense.

g ) A defender may not obstruct the inbounding player from completely entering the court after a throw-in. To do so will result in a one (1) minute penalty.

h) The inbounding player must enter the court at the point of the throw-in.

Penalty:  for violating a, b, c, d, e, h             - loss of possession 

Change: add section i)

The inbounder cannot cause a meter violation by moving down the baseline.  If a player moves along the baseline to inbound the ball thereby putting players on the court within the meter, he must wait for the players on the court to clear the space before entering the court. 

Classification

Proposal One

We propose that the international classification (IWRF) supercede any USA classification (USQRA).  An athlete may protest the international classification at the next tournament where the proper international panel is present, but will play in the US with the international class.

Rationale

Our ideal suggestion is that the IWRF Classification of an athlete stand until it is challenged by another international panel.  Wheelchair rugby is an international sport with full Paralympic medal status and increasing exposure and growth throughout the world.  We feel it is important to uphold and respect the international classification process.  We believe international classifiers are well qualified to make objective and accurate decisions regarding class.  The classifiers involved at the international level average a minimum of six years involvement in wheelchair rugby and have ample experience at international tournaments (i.e. tournaments where more than one zone is present).  The current IWRF classifiers are very skilled at both bench testing and court observations which are imperative to performing the current rugby classification system properly.

We recognize that a considerable time and cost factor may be involved in this scenario.  However, it is our opinion that at this time when the sport is expanding throughout the world and also becoming increasingly competitive internationally it is in the best interests of the USA to hold their athletes to the same standards as those athletes in other counties.  Setting our system apart and above those throughout the world sets a dangerous precedent of superiority that will only harm our reputation in the world sphere.

Classification

Proposal Two

A US athlete has the option of protesting an international class should there be a discrepancy between the USQRA and IWRF class that the athlete does not agree with. Our alternative recommendation would be that the athlete be seen by at least a qualified upper level panel (i.e. USQRA level III-IV).  Until the proper panel can be arranged and the protest completed, the athlete would play as the IWRF class.  Once the protest is conducted, if the appropriate protest panel of USQRA classifiers arrive at a different class than that of the international panel, the athlete would play in the US with the new class from the protest, a class different than his/ her International class.

Rationale

The athlete playing at a higher IWRF class (when there is a discrepancy between international and country class) until an opportunity for protest is available, may play most of a season at the international class (if, for example, the protest cannot be arranged until sectionals or nationals).  Playing at the international class (especially if the IWRF class is higher than the USQRA class) may limit a player’s playing time in the current team plan.  The player will have limited playing time and consequently will not develop the skills and abilities in the sport.  By allowing the player to play at his current USQRA class in the USA, and his IWRF class if in international competition, playing time may be greater. 

Classification

Proposal Three

Any USQRA classified player who receives an international classification which is different from their US class shall continue to use his/her USQRA class for all US tournaments until such time as their international classification can be reviewed by an appropriate US panel. Once the review has been conducted and a classification difference continues to exist the player will maintain their USQRA classification for all US play and their international classification will be in effect for all IWRF sanctioned events, team USA try outs and all team USA play.  (A US panel cannot override an international classification for international play)

Player Transfer Proposal - re-vote from last year

Any player in the USQRA may transfer to another team if they wish. However, if a player chooses to transfer, both the player, and the team they transfer to, must agree to the following guidelines:

1) The proposed transfer must take place prior to October 1st of the upcoming rugby season.

2) The transferring player must notify the Commissioner and Secretary’s office in writing of the proposed transfer no later than October 1st.

3) A written resignation letter must be given to the current team’s coach or representative by September 15th. Copies of that resignation letter must also be sent to the Commissioner and Secretary’s office, and be received no later than October 1st.

 4) The transferring player must take up permanent residence within 150 miles of the city in which the team they are transferring to is located. Furthermore, the transferring player must obtain, and maintain, a valid driver’s license or State ID from the state that they are transferring to. The license must show their new address of record. A copy of the new driver’s license must be provided to the Commissioner and Secretary’s office by December 15th of the year in which the transfer takes place.  If a player does not live within 150 miles of a team, the player must choose one of the two closest teams to play with.

5) If a player transfers to a higher ranked team, the transferring player will not be allowed to play in any USQRA post-season tournaments such as Regionals, Sectionals or Nationals in the first full season of their transfer.  If a player transfers to a lower ranked, the player can play in post-season play.

6) The transferring player can participate in unsanctioned tournaments with his new team in the first year of play. Results from tournaments where the transferring player has participated may, or may not, be considered when ranking teams, or seeding tournaments for the USQRA post season.

7) Any player that has transferred to a team in the past must abide by the 150-mile rule, and must also hold a valid driver’s license or State ID from the state in which they live. The driver’s license must show their current address of record, and can be asked to be presented at anytime by a board member as proof of compliance. Failure to comply can result in an immediate temporary suspension pending a formal hearing.

8) International players must abide by these same rules with the exception of taking up residence, and obtaining a local driver’s license. If an international player chooses to change teams at the end of a season, and the team they are transferring from has no objections, an exemption allowing post season play the next season may be allowed by the Commissioner’s office. International players must continue to meet dates and specifications currently outlined in the bylaws.

9) The Commissioner’s office must give all transfers final approval.

5) If a player transfers to a higher ranked team, the transferring player will not be allowed to play in any USQRA post-season tournaments such as Regionals, Sectionals or Nationals in the first full season of their transfer.  If a player transfers to a lower ranked, the player can play in post-season play.

6) The transferring player can participate in unsanctioned tournaments with his new team in the first year of play. Results from tournaments where the transferring player has participated may, or may not, be considered when ranking teams, or seeding tournaments for the USQRA post season.

7) Any player that has transferred to a team in the past must abide by the 150-mile rule, and must also hold a valid driver’s license or State ID from the state in which they live. The driver’s license must show their current address of record, and can be asked to be presented at anytime by a board member as proof of compliance. Failure to comply can result in an immediate temporary suspension pending a formal hearing.

8) International players must abide by these same rules with the exception of taking up residence, and obtaining a local driver’s license. If an international player chooses to change teams at the end of a season, and the team they are transferring from has no objections, an exemption allowing post season play the next season may be allowed by the Commissioner’s office. International players must continue to meet dates and specifications currently outlined in the bylaws.

9) The Commissioner’s office must give all transfers final approval.

The proposal above was approved with changes only to section 8 as amended below.

8) International players must abide by these same rules with the exception of taking up residence, and obtaining a local driver’s license. International players must continue to meet dates and specifications currently outlined in the bylaws.

Elections

The USQRA membership has elected Tom Hamill as Commissioner, and Ellen Kaitz as Vice President. Both positions are two-year terms that will run until April 2003. The position of Treasurer was not filled and will be continued by John Bishop until a replacement is named by the board.

Other notes of interest:

• The USQRA 2002 Division I and Division II National Championships will be hosted by the Denver Harlequins in Denver, Colorado on April 11-13th, 2002. The AGM will be held on Thursday, April 10th preceding the start of Nationals.
  
• The USQRA adopted a Mission Statement as shown below 

The mission of the United States Quad Rugby Association is to administrate, facilitate and promote wheelchair rugby in the United States, thus providing people with quadriplegia and similar disabilities with a competitive, athletic outlet that provides an atmosphere in which athletes are encouraged to reach their physical, social and emotional potential.

• The following teams have expressed interest in hosting rugby clinics.
  Roosevelt Rolling Thunder
  Northridge Knights
  Texas Stampede - Texas Ruff Riders

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