USQRA

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

During the holiday season, tradition reminds us to remember those who have given something of themselves without much reward, gratitude or fanfare. Simple words are not enough to recognize the gifts we in Quad Rugby have been receiving all year long, and over the past eighteen years when it all began. Let's stop for a moment, put our personal wants and needs aside, and express our deep gratitude to those people that make this sport great.

To the referees who offer us their patience and hard work to maintain order in games throughout the country, thank you. To our classifiers who spend endless hours to ensure fairness and balance in athletes that play the game, thank you. To the coaches who lead, push and coerce us to be the best that we can be, thank you. To the virtual army of volunteers across the land that see to our equipment, and assist us in being ready to play when the whistle sounds, thank you. To the schools, churches and other organizations that provide us a place to practice, thank you. To the businesses and people who provide financial resources that allow us the financial ability to participate in tournaments, thank you.

We likely will never all be together at one time so you can be properly recognized for your contributions. So, during this holiday season we join together with the entire USQRA membership in expressing our humble and heartfelt gratitude for all that you have given. The sacrifices you have made to support Quad Rugby and the athletes who play the game have made this the greatest sport in the world.

To each and every one of you, wherever you are, regardless your role, we wish you the happiest holiday season, a most prosperous New Year, and our sincerest Thanks!

The USQRA Executive Board

President's Message

Another rugby season is here, and I expect it to be an exciting and competitive year. The U.S. National Team kicked it off in fine form by winning the gold medal at the World Wheelchair Games in Christchurch, New Zealand. I would like to congratulate the entire team for a job well done, especially the staff of Kevin Orr, James T. Gumbert, John Bishop, Jane Thomas, Nancy Lehrer and John Ershek.

The USQRA Executive Committee started the new season with a working retreat in Warm Springs, Georgia this past September. Committee members spent three intense days meeting on a variety of topics important to our organization. The groundwork was laid to move forward in many areas, and a great deal of work was done towards reorganizing and streamlining the USQRA's structure and lines of communication. More work needs to be done, but I feel we are heading in the right direction. I would like to thank the committee members as well as Angie Seals, Kathy Nelligan, Reggie Richner and Dan McCauley who donated their time and energy towards the improvement of our organization. It is important to remember that we are all part of the same organization. Feel free to contact me if you have thoughts on how to help make our organization better, or if you have talents that we can use.

Nationals have been scheduled for April in Warm Springs, Georgia and Birmingham, Alabama. We are looking for hosts for the Regional and Sectional tournaments. Anyone who is interested in hosting one of these tournaments should contact Bob Jackson so we can set dates and begin to finalize the schedule.

I would like to remind everyone that we are accepting nominations for the USQRA Hall of Fame. There are some great players and support personnel deserving of recognition. Members should nominate prospects for the USQRA's two annual awards, The Spirit of Achievement, and the Athlete of the Year. The appropriate nomination forms can be found on the web page. I encourage everyone to think of individuals worthy of these distinctions.

Finally, I would like to congratulate Rick Draney who was selected as the Wheelchair Sports USA Athlete of the Year. Rick was chosen based on his many rugby and tennis accomplishments, as well as his great attitude and leadership skills. I was honored to be able to present the award to Rick at WSUSA's recent Hall of Fame banquet. It was great to see such a deserving individual recognized by an organization with a long history of serving many different sports. Once again, Congratulations Rick!

The 1999-2000 rugby season looks to be competitive and exciting. I wish everyone luck, and look forward to seeing you on the court.

News from the Secretary

Some of you know me, many of you do not know me. My name is Bob Jackson, secretary of USQRA. I guess you could call me the "new kid on the block." The problem with that is, I've been a quad for over 31 years. I'm married with children, own and operate my own business and have played rugby with the Chicago Bears for the past seven years. I guess this means, I'm new to the USQRA. Like most of you, however, I didn't think I would ever be able to play a competitive sport again, until I was introduced to quad rugby. Who would have thought back in 1981 when the sport began that we would see over 100 teams playing here and abroad and quad rugby as a Paralympic sport in the 2000 Paralympic games in Australia. Much has been accomplished, but much more needs to be done, and that is why I agreed to serve as secretary. Before we discuss the future, let me take this opportunity to express a sincere thank you to people like Brad Mikkelsen. Brad was the driving force to introduce quad rugby in the United States and to the hundreds of coaches, referees, classifiers, and volunteers who have given so much of their time, expertise and resources to develop the game of quad rugby into the skilled, competitive sport it is today.

Much is happening in quad rugby, all over the world, which is probably fueling many of your concerns about our sport and USQRA. As I read your comments on the web site, and speak with you via telephone and e-mail, it is clear some of you are concerned about recruiting, others about classification, equipment, finances, and some about the future. Rest assured, the executive board has heard you and is addressing your concerns. Of all the issues you have expressed, one thing stands clear, the game of rugby is changing and the USQRA is in the midst of a transitional time. The game is growing, athlete's skills are improving, needs of our membership are greater and USQRA will have to be structured to meet those demands. This is why the Executive Board and several experienced volunteers met in Warm Springs, Georgia from September 24-27 to discuss the state of quad rugby and develop a plan for the future. Issues ranged from policy and procedure to public relations. Almost every conceivable issue was touched upon and all participants were given assignments in areas of responsibility that paired their interest with their expertise. My primary responsibility, along with day-to-day operations, is to develop a new operating structure that will allow the membership to play a more active role in the activities of USQRA and develop a computerized database as a tool to manage the association for the future. To accomplish these goals, we need your cooperation and input. For example, each team has already received a registration confirmation via e-mail requesting review, additions, deletions or changes to team information. This format is an important step in the process of listing accurate information for each team in the database. We would appreciate as much accuracy, clear and thorough as possible, when filling out the confirmation forms.

Here are some highlights of the new structure:

• Sections have been redefined to eliminate confusion about geographic location of teams. They are Atlantic, Heartland, Mountain and Pacific.
• Every team, individual player, referee, classifier, RAC and committee will be listed in a database to improve communication and keep everyone apprised of current events.
• Standing committees are being expanded to distribute workload evenly and address issues provided by the membership.
• Each Executive Board member, RAC, team rep, and committee will be provided written job descriptions and be accountable for various activities within their area of responsibility.
• Regional Assistant Commissioners (RAC's) will have a more active role in policy and decision making.
• Team reps will have a means whereby they can express the concerns of individual team members and have them heard by the Board.
• Registration format will be more automated, with forms available on the web site. Starting in the 2000/2001 playing year, completed forms from the previous year will be sent to each team for upgrading and changes.
• The new operating structure will eventually be posted on the web site, and will be interactive to provide pertinent information about USQRA and it's structure.
• Information on teams, players, and all members will be stored to ensure confidentiality of information and only accessed by authorized personnel and not to be shared.

There are many new and exciting events in the works at USQRA. You will learn about some of them in this newsletter, others you will hear about as they become available. In the meantime, please be patient, provide input when necessary, and keep your eye on the web site as this is the fastest, easiest way to stay informed. I join with all the members of the Executive Board in wishing you all a most happy holiday season and prosperous new year.

Classification Committee Report

There will be United States classification panels at the Portland and Tampa tournaments to handle new players, 3 year re-checks and protests. Currently, we are looking at two tourneys for a basic classification workshop, either at Sarasota or Tampa, but nothing is firm at this point. If any teams have therapists or MD's interested in classification, please contact Angie Seals via email at Aseals@matrix-rehab.com  or by phone (w) 509-235-1940 or (h) 509-455-5515.

We are currently working to secure panels for regional and sectional tourneys, but it is dependent on need, availability and cost. We will attempt to cover all sectionals, and as many regionals as possible. Both the Division I and II National tournaments will have panels to handle any classification issues.

Classification Panel Schedule

The USQRA Classification committee is working with tournament directors to identify tournaments where a classification panel is desired. If your team needs classification and will be attending a tournament not listed below, please contact the tournament director to request a classification panel. 

Listed below are tournaments that will host a classification panel. Please take a moment to think about the PT's, OT's and MD's within your community that would like to get involved in classification. We always need new classifiers to assist in the process. Clinics have also been established at several tournaments to help facilitate training of those professionals.

  Best of the West - November 12-14 - San Diego, CA   
  Beast of the East - November 12-14 - Philadelphia, PA 
*Valdosta Cup - November 19-21 - Valdosta, GA          
   Desert  Showdown - December 3-5 - Tempe, AZ          
*Pasadena Open - December 10-12 - Pasadena, TX       
*Wright State Rumble - December 10-12 Dayton, OH     
   Conveen International - January 21-23 - Tampa, FL 

*Indicates that a classification clinic will be held at tournament
If you have any questions regarding classification please do not hesitate to contact Angie Seals. She can be reached at work (509) 235-1940, home (509) 455-5515 or e-mail Aseals@Matrix-Rehab.com

Wheelchair Specifications Report

As the new season rapidly approaches, the time to prepare your equipment for the upcoming hits is now. Whether you intend to dust off your old chair or purchase a new one, everyone needs to be sure they are in compliance with the latest USQRA wheelchair specifications. 

The following wheelchair specification changes and clarifications were passed at the 1999 AGM meeting, and are in effect for the 1999-2000 season. These rules will be enforced.

Bumpers

The maximum allowable height of the bumper is 30 centimeters from the floor.
The lowest allowable height of the bumper is 3 cm. from the floor.
Reminder: Connections of the bumper to the main frame of the chair must include one on either side of the bumper (at the widest point) to the main frame. These side connections must be straight. They cannot be made at less than 45 degrees to the bumper and to the main frame, in the horizontal plane.

Wings

Wings cannot extend laterally beyond the center of the tires.
The maximum allowable height of the wing is 30 cm. from the floor.
Wings can extend lower than 11 cm. The portion of the wing below can be as wide as, but not wider than, the wing at 11 cm.
The lowest allowable height of the wing is 3 cm. from the floor.

USQRA National Championships Announced

The United States Quad Rugby Association (USQRA) is pleased to announce that Birmingham, Alabama and Warm Springs, Georgia have been selected as sites for the 1999-2000 National Championships. In previous years, the USQRA held one 12-team National tournament at the conclusion of each season. Beginning in April 2000, there will be two 8-team National Championships in order to accommodate the newly implemented "Division I and Division II" playing structure.

The Division I National Championship will be held April 7-9 at the Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, Alabama. The eight teams that finish first or second at their sectional championship will compete at this tournament. The winner will receive the Mikkelsen Cup trophy for a one-year period, and shall be recognized as the Division I National Champions.

The Division II National Championship will follow on April 13-15 at the Roosevelt Institute in Warm Springs, Georgia. The eight teams that finish third or fourth at their sectional championship will advance to compete for the Division II title. The winner will receive a National trophy, recognized as Division II National Champions.

Tying together the two events, the USQRA's Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on Wednesday, April 12th at Roosevelt Institute. All members and interested parties are encouraged to attend this important meeting.

Proposed dates for Regional and Sectional Playoffs

The proposed weekends for Regionals are February 4-6, or 11-13, 2000, with the second date being the preferred weekend. Sectionals can take place the weekend of March 3-5, or 10-12th. Tournament hosts are still needed for many of these events.

Regional and Sectional tournament hosts sought

The USQRA is seeking hosts for this season's Regional and Sectional tournaments. Hosting one of these prestigious events provides a great opportunity for you to showcase your team, and our sport, in your local community!

The USQRA has been successful in helping to provide sponsorship money to our post-season tournament hosts. Keep in mind that a properly planned tournament can turn into a nice fundraising opportunity. If you would like to host one of these competitions please contact Ed Suhr at (503) 238-1324 for more information.

1999-2000 USQRA Sectional Breakdown

The Sectional and Regional breakdown for the 1999-2000 USQRA rugby season has now been completed. The four sections have been renamed to better describe the areas that they cover and to help reduce confusion. The USQRA believes that this breakdown is in the best interest of fair competition between all registered teams. 

ATLANTIC SECTION
North Region Quebec Impact  NEPVA Boston Pitbulls  EPVA Strykers  Connecticut Jammers  Magee Rebels  Casco Bay Navigators		South Region  Tampa Generals  Sarasota Riptide  South Florida Rattlers  CIR Carolina Crash  Roosevelt Rolling Thunder  Jackson Jags
HEARTLAND SECTION
North Region  Chicago Bears  Michigan Patriots  Milwaukee Iron  Minnesota Ice  Springfield Smash  St. Louis Rugby Rams		South Region  Columbus Lowriders  Indy Quad Squad  Lakeshore Demolition  Pittsburgh Steelwheelers  Tennessee Titans  Wright State Raiders
MOUNTAIN SECTION
APVA Phoenix Heat I  APVA Phoenix Heat II  Texas Stampede  TIRR Hurricanes  Denver Harlequins  Arizona Wildchairs
PACIFIC SECTION
North Region  Team AllNight  Portland Pounders  California Quake  Sacramento Blitz		South Region  Sharp Shadow  Casa Colina Buccaneers  San Diego Bushwhackers  Long Beach X!  Northridge Knights

USQRA Election Terms

Officers are elected to serve the association for a period of 2 years at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) by the membership. Any individual, regardless of race, color, sex or national origin and physical or mental disability may be eligible for office to the United States Quad Rugby Association. Refer to the USQRA Constitution and Bylaws for details.

Positions elected in even years		Positions elected in odd years
President  First Vice President Secretary		Vice President Treasurer Commissioner
Please contact the Secretary's office if you are interested in serving your association.

USQRA Awards

Athlete of the Year Award

The USQRA will select an Athlete of the Year for the 1999-2000 season. The selected athlete is then submitted for consideration as Wheelchair Sports USA's Athlete of the Year.

If you would like to nominate someone for this award please complete a nomination ballot and fax it to the USQRA Secretary's office at (630) 960-5850, no later than March 1st. Please take into account the following when making a nomination: Sportsmanship, All Tournament selections, MVP selections, National Team participation, and contributions to the sport of Quad Rugby.

Spirit of Achievement Award

Nominations for the Spirit of Achievement award are now being accepted. This award is presented each year in recognition of a volunteer's unselfish contribution to the sport of Quad Rugby. You may nominate anyone who is in the sport as a support person, coach, classifier etc., as long as they are a volunteer and not in a paid position.

If you would like to nominate someone for this award please complete a nomination ballot and fax it to the USQRA Secretary's office at (630) 960-5850 no later than March 1st.

Advanced Clinic Hosts Needed

The USQRA and PVA would like to hold two 3-day long advanced rugby camps during the summer of 2000. Ideally, a clinic will be held on each of the east and west coasts, so that the members can attend a camp near them. Top rugby coaches and staff will give instruction.

Clinics will require a minimum of a two-court gym facility, reasonable hotels that are close to the gym, or the ability to provide reasonable transportation for participants not driving. Funding is available to pay for many expenses associated with hosting these events If you would like more information or have an interest in hosting one of these events please contact Wendy Gumbert at (706) 655-5720.

Commissioner's Note

We have great challenges ahead to move into the future. The more of you that chip in will make this organization a huge success. There are many committees and opportunities available. Contact any of us to get involved. Good luck, I am looking forward to seeing the two championships develop. Welcome to the USQRA goes out to Sacramento, Casco Bay, Quebec, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Michigan, and Jackson.

Kevin Orr

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