Proposal A – Postseason Fees

State who you are and any organization(s) or team(s) associated with the proposal - Bob Lopez, USWRA Commissioner     

This proposal  - amends the bylaws;

Identify the specific provision that will be changed: Article 5 Section 8 d.   

If current language will be removed, state it here: Host teams for post-season tournaments may charge a $250.00 fee to each team attending the tournament.

State the language of the proposal:  Host teams for post-season tournaments may charge a fee to each team attending the tournament. Maximum fee to be set by the USWRA board. The USWRA board will set the the maximum fee by the USWRA AGM for the following season.

State the reason the proposal should be passed: It is difficult enough to find post-season hosts without limiting the amount teams can charge attending teams. Also by having the amount specified in the Bylaws makes it that much harder to change as circumstances warrant.

 

Proposal B – Transportation Safety

State who you are and any organization(s) or team(s) associated with the proposal - Louise Sarofeen, PT, DPT.  Previous classifier, associated with NEP Wildcats.

This proposal  -  X amends the bylaws;

Identify the specific provision that will be changed: No previous provision     

State the language of the proposal: When transporting USWRA athletes at any level of competition, athletes are to be provided with seats for able bodied staff or those who do not use a wheelchair for mobility; wheelchair tie downs and seat belts for athletes who use wheelchairs for mobility.  If such options are not available, athletes must know in advance to secure their own transportation. At no time should an athlete or support staff be asked to ride unsecured.

State the reason the proposal should be passed:  Secondary to a bus accident on 4/3/22, transporting multiple athletes and support staff from the gym at 2022 Nationals to the hotels, unfortunately resulted in chairs moving while the bus was in motion; and injuries including: a fall onto an arm and head, right medial condyle femur fracture and L spiral femur fracture requiring surgery and immobilization; these injuries also kept the athlete from participating in the championship game. Besides a week now of physical pain, frustration, missed work, and surgery that could have been likely avoided if the athletes were secured safely.  Should never even be a question, should never have been an accident.  Every person deserves to be safely secured in a vehicle regardless of their ability or function.

 

Proposal C – Postseason Tournament Selection

State who you are and any organization(s) or team(s) associated with the proposal -  Nick Long and Christy VanHaver

This Proposal: X amends the bylaws;

Identify the specific provision that will be changed: Article V, Section 3, Subsection b.

If current language will be removed, state it here: From the remaining 16 teams, the USWRA Competition Committee will select who attends each tournament based on rank and geography.

State the language of the proposal: The remaining 16 teams will get to choose their playoff tournament location, in order of ranking, until one of the tournaments is full and then the rest of the teams will fill the other tournament. The highest ranked team will be offered first choice with the second highest ranked team offered second and so forth.

State the reason the proposal should be passed: This protocol would allow teams to choose based not only on geography but on other strategic factors like competition present, date of tournament, etc.

 

Proposal D – One-Arm Drive

State who you are and any organization(s) or team(s) associated with the proposal - Chris Cook, High Fives Storm

This proposal: X amends the bylaws;

State the language of the proposal: One Arm Drive will be allowed for players unable to push a chair with both arms if met by following criteria (Use of only 1 arm)

• Athletes must be classified as a 1.0 or below.
• If classification criteria is met, athlete must be re-classed in the One Arm Drive Chair and play at that classification.
• This proposal is for one year and should be revisited after that trial period only changes the bylaws until 2023

 

State the reason the proposal should be passed: Kyle Chaboya was born with Cerebral Palsy, he has a form of CP that causes his affected side to be spastic making the muscles on his left side contract whenever he engages movement with his functional right side. 

I am attaching a video of Kyle from a previous tournament that highlights the difficulty and distinct disadvantage that he faces while playing in a standard defensive rugby wheelchair.

By not allowing Kyle to use a one-arm drive wheelchair he is at a greater risk of injury, having to utilize poor body mechanics to operate and propel a standard rugby wheelchair. Because of the spasticity in Kyle’s left arm his shoulder range of motion is extremely limited, to non-existent making it impossible for him to push with his left arm. The use of a one arm drive would allow him to propel up and down the court and play his defensive position respectfully allowing him to be an asset to his team. The one-arm drive wheelchair should be considered for only those players that have the use of one arm!

By allowing one arm drive wheelchairs you would open the sport to greater popularity, inclusivity and making the game fair for all. Right now, Kyle is operating at a distinct disadvantage as evidenced by not even being able to participate in the handshake line due to being unable to stay in a straight line.

Thank you for your consideration and please find it in your heart to do what is right.

 

Proposal E – Postseason Realignment

State who you are and any organization(s) or team(s) associated with the proposal - Keith Newerla Magee Eagles

This proposal: X  amends the bylaws;

Identify the specific provision that will be changed: Article 5 section 2 & 3

State the language of the proposal: 

• Change the national tournament to 3 divisions of 6 teams.
• The top 6 teams will automatically qualify for division one, and the 7th 8th seed would automatically qualify for division 2. 
• There would still be two 8 team national semifinal tournaments, and the format for them would stay the same.
• The remaining 4 spots for division 2 will be granted to the top 2 teams of each national semifinal.
• The remaining 6 spots of division 3 will be granted to the 3nd 4rd and 5th place finisher of each semifinal.
• If the tournament host does not qualify, they will be granted a spot in division 3, and the remaining spot will be decided by the competition committee between the 5th place finisher of each semifinal.

 

At nationals, the tournament format would be a 6 team round robin to determine who plays for 1st and 2nd, 3rd and 4th, and 5th and 6th.  Every team is guaranteed 6 games.  Schedule format is determined by the tournament director with no more than 3 games during any day of the tournament.  Preferable format being 2 games each day but three games a day is allowed provided that teams are given at least an hour break on days where they play three games.

This will add 14 games to the entire tournament, and game play may need to start Thursday night to accommodate scheduling issues.  Scheduling format must be announced by the first national semifinal to allow for all teams to coordinate appropriate transportation.

I ask that we explore doing this for 2 seasons, and revisit after that time period to see if we want to make this a permanent change.    

State the reason the proposal should be passed: This will allow for more competitive games, and expand nationals by 2 additional teams, allowing for more participation, and opportunity to qualify.  Historically speaking the bottom teams in division 1 are not competitive with the top of the division, the same can be said for division 2.  This restructure will allow teams closer in ability to compete against each other.  The round robin format allows all teams to play against each other, removing the possibility of a bad crossover matchup that puts the losing team in the bottom half of the pool.

 

Proposal F – Low Point Division Proposal

State who you are and any organization(s) or team(s) associated with the proposal - Steve Kearley, TIRR Texans

This proposal: 

    X  amends the constitution;

    X   amends the bylaws;

    X  changes a rule;

    X  is a resolution (sets a short term policy.)

State the language of the proposal:  A USWRA Low Point Division season will be played May  - September beginning 2023 (USWRA Low Point Season). 

Teams will be comprised based on the following:

• $500 Team Registration, $750 Team Registration with 1 player import (max)
• USWRA/Intl Classification .5 - 1.5 (Original Classification)
• Up to 8 rostered players (No Residency Requirements/Restrictions)
• If not explicitly stated otherwise, this division will follow USWRA rule and guidelines

 

Games will be played based on the following:

• Max 3.5 points with no extra point allowances
• Extra .5 allowance per female player on the court
• Extra .5 allowance per player > age 45 on the court
• Max 4.5 points with extra point allowances
• Same USWRA game rules apply: 12 seconds to move ball over half-court, 40 second try-clock (this is different from traditional low point tournaments played in the US, with 15 seconds to move ball over half-court and no try-clock)

 

Season Requirements:

• 5 total official games played against at least 2 different officially rostered Low Point Teams from May – August
• Official Score Sheets must be submitted to the USWRA to count toward official game requirements and rankings
• To be eligible for postseason, each rostered player must compete in at least 5 total official games played against at least 2 different officially rostered Low Point Teams from May - August
• Top 6 Ranked Teams based on Low Point Competition Committee rankings will compete at the USWRA Low Point Division National Championships in September
• National Championships Game Format is 2-3-1, round-robin Fri-Sat, Sun 5 vs 6, 3 vs 4, 1 vs 2 (Championship Game)
• Same USWRA tie-breakers apply

 

State the reason the proposal should be passed: It takes the game back to its roots.  The USWRA Low Point Division will allow many players that do NOT get court time during the USWRA season to further develop and compete against other players with similar function during the USWRA Low Point Season.  Additionally, this will allow further development of players in the USWRA to enable a higher level of play at International Competitions.

 

Proposal G – Play-in Game Proposal

State who you are and any organization(s) or team(s) associated with the proposal - Keith Newerla Magee Eagles

This proposal: X  amends the bylaws;

Identify the specific provision that will be changed: Article 5 Section 8

If current language will be removed, state it here: If a Nationals host has been selected, they may note, at the time of selection, that they represent or are in partnership with a local team, which must be housed within 100 miles of the proposed Nationals site. If that team qualifies for Nationals, then, the structure for Nationals will remain unmodified. If that team attempts to qualify through traditional post-season mechanisms, and fails, the host site team will be included in a play-in game, with the 16th seeded team, which qualifies for Nationals. Whichever team wins, will be included as the 8th team for Division II.

State the language of the proposal: If a Nationals host has been selected, and the host site team does not qualify for the national tournament, they will automatically receive the 16th seed.  The 15th seed will be chosen by the ranking committee between the 4th place finisher of each semifinal.  

State the reason the proposal should be passed: Although the play in game gives insensitive for a team to host the national tournament, it is too costly to do so, and provides too much of an advantage to the host program.

The play in game is essentially a home game for the tournament host, and a road game for the team that already qualified for the national championship.  The host is playing with nothing to lose, while the team that has already qualified has all the pressure on them for one game.

On average if a team takes an airplane to the national tournament it will cost the program between $10,000 and $15,000 to attend the event.  Spending all of that money to play one game and be eliminated, is a misuse of donor dollars for the foundations that sponsor rugby teams, and very expensive for programs that are self-funded.

If a host is on the west coast and the 16th seed is on the east coast, the team potentially will fly across the entire country to play one game.  Given the size of our country, the coordination of travel, and the cost of attending national tournaments, this is not practical.    

 

2022 Annual General Meeting Elections

Candidates:

President – Noah Currier

1st Vice President – Dr. Michael Cottingham

Secretary – Michael Klonowski