| March 2004 | ISSUE NO. 0304.02 | ||
Secretary’s Message
The USQRA’s Annual General Meeting will be held prior to the start of Nationals on Thursday, April 22nd. Included in this newsletter are the proposed amendments to the USQRA Constitution and Bylaws and the AGM agenda submitted by the membership. Each team is encouraged to have a representative at this important meeting so that you can have input into our organization. A proxy (pages 9-10) is included for those of you who will not be able make the AGM meeting in person. This is your opportunity to have your voice heard, please take advantage of it. A completed and signed proxy must be received or faxed to (503) 238-1324 (call first) before 8:00 AM (CST) on Thursday, April 22, 2004 to be considered as representation of your vote. If mailed – Charles Ray 13792 NW 22 St. Sunrise, FL 33323.
One proposal on the AGM agenda is to adopt all IWRF rules and equipment specifications so I’ve included the Article 13 chair diagram at the end of this letter. The 2003 AGM minutes are accompanying this newsletter as a separate document.
The dates and locations for Sectionals are as shown below and more details are available on the Rugby Calendar. Atlantic March 19-21 Sarasota, FL Heartland March 19-21 Milwaukee, WI Pacific March 19-21 San Diego, CA Mountain West March 26-28 San Antonio, TX . Motivated individuals are being sought to serve on the USQRA board. There are four positions up for election at this year’s AGM: President, 1st Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Please contact me if you’re interested in serving our organization.
Good luck in post season play! Charles Ray, USQRA Secretary Twelve US Wheelchair Rugby Athletes Nominated to Compete in Athens Birmingham, Alabama -- After four days of intense tryouts and years of hard work and dedication, the 2004 U.S.A. Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby Team was named at the Lakeshore Foundation Olympic and Paralympic Training Site in Birmingham, Alabama. The 12 nominated athletes, all members of the United States Quad Rugby Association, will represent the U.S. this September at the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece pending United States Olympic Committee approval. The Paralympics are the world’s second largest sporting event and are held two weeks after the Olympics. Approximately 4,000 athletes from more than 130 countries will participate in the summer games, which will feature nineteen sports over 10 days of international competition. Wheelchair Rugby is a fast paced - full contact team sport that is played indoors on a modified basketball court. The United States will be defending their 2000 Gold Medal win from the Sydney Paralympics and are strong contenders to repeat in Athens. Athletes nominated to the 2004 U.S.A. Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby Team are as follows: Cliff Chunn * – Nashville, Tennessee Nominated as alternates are; For more information on USA Paralympic Rugby please contact John Bishop at (561) 707-9686 or visit www.quadrugby.com. To learn more about the 2004 Paralympic Games visit www.athens2004.com. * indicates athlete is a previous Paralympic Gold Medalist.
I. Approve Minutes II. Roll Call III. President’s Report IV. Commissioner’s Report V. Treasurer’s Report (Proposed Budget) VI. RAC Reports 1 Atlantic Ed Hooper and Bill Bouffard 2 Heartland Bob Crandall and John Ershek 3. Mountain Terry Gumbert and Mark Hansen 4. Pacific Lynn Nelson VII. Committee Reports A. Officials B. Classification C. Wheelchair Specification Committee Report D. Hall of Fame Committee E. Clinics F. High Performance Training Program VIII Constitution and Bylaws · Add a Recreational team status (1 below) · Restore international players to 2 players per team. · The $500 fee levied against teams that roster international players be lifted. · Canadian teams be included within the USQRA · Proposal to eliminate the Team Transfer rule (2 below) · Remove the requirement to to sit out postseason for a transfer to a higher ranked team. (3 below) · Repeal the requirement to play in two tournaments. (4 below) · Request for medical exemption from game requirements (5 below) · Definition of a game (6 below) · Proposal to amend dues to include classification costs (7 below) · Amend team transfer procedures (8 below) . Rule Change · Adopt IWRF rules in full (9 below) X. Old Business XI. New Business XII. Elections – President, 1st Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary XIII. Regional, Sectional, and National Bids
1) A proposal to amend the USQRA Constitution and Bylaws so as to introduce a new class of membership.
Section 3. Classes of Membership Membership shall be of the following two classes: National member teams and developing member teams. Bylaws may prescribe the procedures by which national member teams and developing member teams may participate in USQRA competition. a. National member teams shall be those teams approved for active membership in a region specified by the USQRA. They shall be entitled to all the privileges of members under the Constitution, Bylaws and Executive Regulations of the Association, and all privileges incidental thereto. b. Developing teams shall be those teams whose development status does not warrant their compliance with a regional schedule. They shall provide sufficient evidence and intent in becoming members of the national organization and a specified region. Developing teams shall be entitled to privileges of members under the Constitution, Bylaws and Executive Regulations of the Association and all privileges indicated thereto, except participation in Regional and National play. 1. Developing team status can only be maintained for one (1) year.
Add to Article V, Section 3, paragraph c. introducing a new class of membership to read as follows:
c. Recreational teams shall be those teams who wish to participate as USQRA members without a post season obligation. They will be subject to the same conditions as developmental teams except for the expectation of becoming a national team and payment of dues. Recreational teams shall be entitled to the privileges of members under the Constitution, Bylaws and Executive Regulations of the Association and all privileges indicated thereto, except participation in Regional and National play. 1. Recreational status may be maintained indefinitely.
Addition of a recreational membership will require a change to the USQRA Bylaws Article I, Section 3, paragraph a.
Section 3. Dues a. Annual dues for membership shall be $350.00 for National Member teams and $150.00 for developing Member teams.
Proposed change: a. Annual dues for membership shall be $350.00 for National Member teams, $250 for recreational teams and $150.00 for developing Member teams.
2) Eliminate Article VI, Section 6 entitled Option to Transfer.
Reasoning: This rule is unprecedented among all other major sports, it is unnecessary, it is discouraging to teams in the weaker regions and it favors teams with money.
I can't think of any other situation where teams can transfer into weaker conferences/regions/sections etc so they can compete against weaker teams. It has been brought up that the NCAA March Madness does this however, that is not really true. The teams still have to play in their respective conferences. They can't transfer into weaker conferences to get an automatic bid to play. As it happens, there are teams in every sport that make it further than some other teams that may be better. That’s just the way the ball bounces.
The rule is unnecessary and has a negative impact on teams in weaker regions. Today, the USQRA is slowly dying on the vine. No one is any longer saying that this sport is the fastest growing wheel chair sport. We are shrinking more and more every year and I think we are all concerned about it. If I recall, some of the sections only have six teams and few have more than eight. There is not as much of a need for transfers as evidenced by this year with only one team requesting a transfer. In fact, I only recall one or two over the past few years. On the other hand it has caused consternation among many more teams than it has helped. The right to go to Nationals in our sport goes to 4 different sections. Each section should have allotted two spaces at D-1 and two places at D-II. It is unfair that those allotted spots are up for grabs by teams from other sections who simply request a transfer. In essence, what they are saying is "our section is just too hard. We want to go to another section where it is easier on us." Meanwhile, the teams in the weaker sections such as the Heartland go through the season knowing that no matter how well they play within their section they may not go to Nationals or even sectionals It is possible under the rule that 4 teams can transfer into a region, thereby eliminating all or nearly every team from moving on to sectionals or nationals. This year Milwaukee has planned for some time on hosting sectionals. Now they face the very real possibility of net even playing in their own tournament. Pittsburgh also considered this when debating on whether to host sectionals. For teams hosting regionals they face the added burden and expense of having to provide transportation to teams transferring in to take their potential spot at sectionals or nationals. This causes animosity among the teams. We need to stop discouraging teams in the weaker regions.
Do we still need to have the grief associated with the team transfer rule for one team? If the U of A team does not make it to Nationals and Pittsburgh, Chicago, Milwaukee or another Heartland team does is it really so bad that we should have a rule unlike every other sport and let them seek out the weakest region. Going to Nationals last year taught us in Pittsburgh a great deal and gave us much enthusiasm in our team and sport. It is something we should be able to look forward to and strive for every year based on how we do against the teams in our region/section, not to have to wait until January 15th to find out who is transferring in and whether we still have a chance.
Last year the transfer rule was amended as a knee jerk reaction to the fact that Chicago was at D-I. Now every section, including the Heartland, has at least two legitimate D-I teams. There was no consideration given as to how this would work and who would be forced to host an otherwise unnecessary regional.
Finally, what if another team is better but can't afford to make potentially two trips across the country? The rule favors teams with money. They can buy their way into Nationals!
In the best interest of our sport it is time for the rule to go.
3) Delete Article 3, Section 3 paragraph e of the Bylaws
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 team, the player can play in post-season play.
Rationale:
The problem with some of the rules passed by the USQRA in recent years is that they were not well thought out as to how those rules would affect the whole league. Good or bad, we all vote our team’s interests first. We banned more than one international player (and put a $500 fee onto having one) because we could, using scare tactics, self-interests, and pontificating, knowing the majority of teams didn’t have international players so they’d vote for some kind of change, not because it helped anyone. In reality, it has hurt. We should be holding our hands out in a gesture of friendship, not making fists.
Several years ago, we instituted a “last minute no debate” amendment to the transfer rule (a rule that was initially soundly defeated by all the teams) that had a player from a lower-seeded team transferring to a higher ranked team sit out a year. Unfortunately all the significant transfer damage had already been done, and the rule does nothing except penalize a person’s right to choose where they live. Fact is, just the residence and proximity part of the rule would suffice.
There’s also the “playing in two tournaments rule” which has merit, but again a compromise was made without too much forethought and we had to scramble to keep players and teams eligible. This is a “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander” scenario. If a guy from New Zealand must play in 2 tournaments, why can’t a guy from the USA play in 2? Here, as in many other cases, the commissioner should have decision-making discretion.
Now we have “the team transfer rule” but really there’s no easy trip to D-I. But if a team is well funded and has D-II as a goal, the point made about transfers is worthy of serious debate.
In one way or another all these rules have, could or will in the future cause controversy and adversity in quad rugby. Sometimes doing nothing is the right thing to do. I say repeal them all and discuss something that makes long-term sense for our sport. I’m hereby proposing that very thing for the next AGM.
The league is still in decline. It’s my hope that we can get past our differences to see the big picture. Sadly, with 31 teams and sinking, it’s a pretty dismal picture right now.
4) Article 1, Section 2, paragraph d
Remove d) All players must have played in two games with their rostered teams by December 15th, as well as two more games at a different tournament prior to February 1st.
Reinstate d) All International players must have played in two games with rostered team by December 15th.
Rationale: This rule was adopted after an AGM amendment last year. While it was well intentioned, it is difficult to administer and almost resulted in numerous players and teams being ineligible for postseason. There may be a place for it in our bylaws but in needs to be reworked and brought back sometime in the future, we can’t afford to discourage teams from playing in postseason at this point in time.
5) A player may request an exemption from the requirement to play two games prior to December 15 for medical reasons. (a) The player must submit a petition to the Commissioner certifying: (1) generally the medical reasons that prevent the player from meeting the December 15 deadline; (2) a statement from the team setting forth the player's participation in team events in the season thus far; and (3) a phone number and likely available times for the Commissioner to contact the player, if necessary. The request for an exemption must be submitted to the Commissioner prior to January 31. (b) Should the Executive Board later determine, by a 2/3 vote, that a player willfully falsified a request for a medical exemption, the player shall be suspended from membership in the U.S.Q.R.A. for one season and the team shall be fined $1,000.00.
6) For purposes of determining the eligibility of a player to participate in post season, an official game is defined as follows: A player must play on his/her officially rostered USQRA team, the game must consist of four 8 minute quarters, must be officiated by at least one certified USQRA official, must have a scorekeeper and a penalty box keeper. Score sheets from the game must be submitted to the Commissioner within 14 days. The games must be with at least one other officially rostered USQRA team. The player must be present, in a legally measured playing chair and in legal uniform for the duration of the game. Team representatives for both teams may be questioned by the commissioner to confirm official participation. NOTE: A player does not have to physically check into the game in order to officially play in a game.
7) Proposal to amend dues to include the cost of regional classification panels based upon a pro rata portion of the actual cost of regional panels the previous year and a good faith estimate by the classification committee of any additional expenses for the current year. The proposed amount shall be submitted to the Board by August 1, approved by the Board, and included in each team's dues bill.
8) Change Article VI, Section 6, Option to Transfer to read:
a) Any team may request an option to transfer to a different section. The team must submit a written request to the Commissioner’s Office and a $50 nonrefundable fee by Jan.15th. Teams must also submit a phone number where their team rep can be reached. The Commissioner’s Office will notify the requesting team of available options and teams will have thirty minutes to accept or withdraw their transfer. The Commissioner will then move down the list in rank order.
Rationale: The current system of allowing teams five days to decide on a transfer does not conclude in a timely fashion. Other teams, as well as regional and sectional hosts, need to know as early as possible which teams will be competing at each sectional.
9) Propose the USQRA adopt the IWRF rules in full, including the most recent equipment modifications. Items such as uniform numbers (1 to 15) could be given a 12 to 24 month phase in period to allow those teams with new jerseys a chance to get use from them.
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