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EPRU High School Divisional Play Rules & Regulations
adopted by EPRU Executive Committee on 12/09/99, revised 01/06/00

EPRU HS Championship
Match Reports
Determination of Final Standings
CIPP
Tie Breaking Procedure in Final Standings and Playoff Ranking
Match Dates and Referees
Player Rules
Coaches Code of Conduct
2002 Law Interpretations
USARFU Guidelines, Directives & Variations
Procedure for Under 18 Players Transferring to Senior Clubs
Eligibility
CIPP Transfer

EPRU HS Championship
The EPRU HS Championship will be played the weekend before the MARFU Championship. The top two teams from each District, based on regular season standings, will compete for the Championship. Quarterfinals will be played at the higher seeded team Thursday evening at 5:30 PM before the Semi-finals and finals on Sunday.

Teams ranked #1 will host teams ranked #2. Playoff ranking (seeding) will be based the points awarded as identified in Determination of Final Standings with ties broken by the Tie Breaking Procedure in Final Standings and Playoff Ranking. Nonetheless, ranking will be adjusted, if necessary, so that quarterfinal matches do not pair teams from the same District.

Match Reports
All teams must report their scores via a Match Report form to the EPRU HS Coordinator within 24 hours of the match. A forfeited match will be credited with a score of 10-0. There is no overtime play in divisional play.

Determination of Final Standings
4 points for a win
2 points for a tie
0 for a loss

CIPP
All teams must also be fully CIPP enrolled (club & all players and coach/es), have paid $100 EPRU dues and $10 renewal fee (if applicable) to EPRU to be eligible to compete in divisional play and be assigned referees.

Tie Breaking Procedure in Final Standings and Playoff Ranking

1. Results between tied teams
2. Cumulative point differential in all division games (points for minus points against = differential except as indicated below.
   Note: Max. scoring differential for standings will be limited to 25 points
3. Number of tries scored in division games (tries must be reported on Match Report form)

If there is a 2-way tie and these teams tied each other during division play, cumulative point differential for both teams shall be based on matches that do not include opponent(s) who forfeited their match to either or both of the tied teams.

If there is a 3-way tie and each team beat the other during division play, cumulative point differential for these teams shall be based on the 2 matches they played against each other.

Match Dates and Referees
Games are to be played on Sundays and mid-week as established by the HS Coordinator. Scheduling will be done by the District Scheduling Coordinator for league matches. Non-league match scheduling may be done between the teams and must be submitted to the Scheduling Coordinator prior to the start of the season.

The East Penn RRS will assign referees to "A" side league matches; referees must be Grade C3 or higher for the match to take place. If a C3 or higher grade referee is not available for this match, then the match is not to played and is to be rescheduled in coordination with the Boys HS Coordinator. For "B" side matches only, anyone who was complete their referee certification, even if they are not Grade C3, may referee by mutual agreement of the coaches from both teams.

For Div. 3, Ninth Grade and non-league matches, coaches who are certified as a referee may referee the match.

Player Rules

1. Players must be 18 years or younger as of September 1 of each respective year. Players must be enrolled in high school full time or be enrolled full time in an equivalent program leading to a GED.
2. All players must enroll in CIPP (signed by parents) and provide proof of medical/sports accident insurance coverage of at least $100,000 and/or the maximum amount available through school-offered insurance programs.
3. Players who qualify to play high school rugby, but choose to play, full-time or occasionally, with a college or men's side during a competitive season may not participate in high school rugby during that particular competitive season.
4. No more than four non-resident exchange students may play for a club. No more than four GED enrolled students may play for a club.
5. A student has four years of high school eligibility that commences on the date of enrollment in 9th grade.
6. To participate in any match which in any way leads to any Men’s National High School Championship, players must have been enrolled full time in high school or enrolled full time in an equivalent program leading to a GED at the beginning of the current competitive season. If a player leaves school prior to graduation or receipt of their GED, they are ineligible to play. (If graduation occurs during the competitive season, but prior to the National Championship, the player is eligible).
7. A player must be enrolled prior to the start of the competitive season. A player may not change teams within the Local Area Union without the permission of the Local Area Union High School Chairman. A player whose family is relocated during the competitive season may apply for a waiver to the USA Eligibility Committee. If a waiver is granted, a player must have played in two games in the competitive season to be eligible for any playoffs.
8. Each player shall meet and remain in compliance with all amateur standards.
9. Games are to be played on Sunday unless known conflicts exist. Conflicts should be communicated promptly to the High School Chairman.
10. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at the pitch or on the sidelines. Drinking by players or spectators is forbidden.
11. Foul language by coaches, players and spectators is absolutely forbidden. Coaches are responsible for the behavior of their team, spectators and assistant coaches. They should also be aware of their position as role models to young players, therefore encouraging good sportsman- ship and proper behavior no matter the circumstance.
12. Each team shall play a minimum of 3 halves to accommodate those teams with two sides.
13. Matches will be played under the "USARFU Guidelines, Directives and Variations for Youth Rugby" found in the USA Rugby Law Book.
14. Referees shall be assigned by the Referees Society.
15. All High School teams must be affiliated with:
    
    1. a Full or Associate EPRU member in good standing OR
    2. be a team fully affiliated with the high school as a recognized school activity
16. In order to participate in the EPRU High School game schedule, all participating teams must maintain membership in the EPRU and pay dues as set (see Treasurer's Guidelines). Delinquent accounts must be paid in full by the H.S. Organizational Meeting. Failure to pay all delinquent dues will eliminate the team from the schedule and the High School Tournament. Current yearly dues must be paid to the EPRU Treasurer no later than two weeks before the EPRU High School Championship Tournament or the team will be ineligible to compete.
17. All clubs, players and coaches must be fully enrolled in CIPP prior to April 1st or the team will be ineligible to compete. (see "CIPP Policy")
18. At the beginning of each new season, all teams must register their colors (jerseys, shorts, socks) with the High School Coordinator, and provide the name, address & telephone number of their Coach(es).
19. All high school coaches must attain and maintain, at a minimum, a Level I USA Rugby Coaching Certification and should work toward a Level II Coaching Certification. All coaches must submit a copy of the their USA Rugby Coaching Certificate to the EPRU, PO Box 393, Exton, PA 19341
20. All coaches must sign the Coaches Code of Conduct form and mail to the address on the form.
21. Beginning in January of 1999, all high school clubs must file the four page Permanent Application form for membership in the EPRU. Returning high school teams must file the two page Renewal Application. Deadline for filing Permanent and Renewal Applications is January 15th. A check payable to "EPRU" for $10 must be enclosed with your application.

Coaches Code of Conduct
In an effort to raise the standards and quality of play and player behavior as well as improve the image of the sport of rugby, every high school and collegiate coach is expected to abide by the Rugby Coaches Code of Conduct. This Code is based on the premise that rugby should be an integral part of the education process of the student-athlete and that coaches are, above all, teaches with an ethical duty to enhance the physical, mental, social and moral development of student-athletes and teach them positive life skills that will help than become personally successful and socially responsible.

USARFU Guidelines, Directives & Variations on The Laws for Youth Rugby can be found in the USA Rugby Law Book available from any rugby supplier or the USA Rugby office. These variations are considered "Law" and will be enforced in the EPRU. The USA Rugby High School Eligibility Guidelines can be found at www.usarugby.org/membership/eligibility/2006EligibilityRegulations.pdf

Procedure for Under 18 Players Transferring to Senior Clubs

USA Rugby's General Eligibility Regulations advises that any player under 18 who is participating in any way with a senior side needs to have their eligibility waived. The exact wording in the eligibility regulations is:

"Any player under 18 who desires to play in men's or women's senior level competition may seek a waiver from the Eligibility Committee based on the following provisions:

1. A statement from the applicant describing the reason for senior level play; AND
2. A signed statement from the participant's parent or guardian certifying their approval (waiver and release); AND
3. A statement from their current or proposed certified USA Rugby coach stating his/her perspective of the participant's ability to perform at the senior level of play." (page 4, General Regulations).

Written request for exemption from these General Eligibility Regulations must be received by the USA Rugby Eligibility Committee at least 15 days prior to any match for which the player is requesting an exemption. The USA Rugby Eligibility Committee will have ten days from receipt of any such request to respond to the applicant.

Waiver and Release Form:
www.usarugby.org/membership/eligibility/appeals.html

Once you have the completed Waiver and Release form and additional documentation, please send to:
USA Rugby
1033 Walnut Street, Suite 200
Boulder, CO 80302
Attn: Eligibility Committee

The National Office contact person for this is Lindsay Tiernan (LTiernan@usarugby.org and 303-539-0300 ext.106).

Eligibility
Please recognize that if your U18s are registered for senior clubs and participate in any matches that would be considered a game leading to the National Championships within the defined competitive season, they would be ineligible for any games with any other club. In other words, they would be considered ineligible for any of their high school games (leading to a National Championship) in the spring. So be careful. This does not apply to your clubs' "B" side (as long the "B" side is not entered in a Championship series) or non-league matches. At this time, USA Rugby only has an official Boys HS National Championship and so this concern does not apply to the Girls HS players; so they could play for Senior Women's Club "A" side.

CIPP Transfer
In addition, the player must be enrolled in CIPP under your club. Since they should already be enrolled for their high school/U19 club, they need to do a CIPP transfer. Go to: www.usarugby.org/membership/forms/transfer.html for details. Below are some highlights, etc.

Only an individual may transfer him or herself, by logging in to the individual account. Just as a transfer form must be completed by the individual, there is no feature in the system that allows club administrators to transfer players into or out of a club.

Transfer may be performed by the individual online at http://register.usarugby.org

Therefore, only if the player has given the administrator an individual login and password to the player's record would the system allow the transfer. (USA Rugby strongly discourages individuals from sharing their login information.) This is not a failure of the system, but is there to allow individuals protection over their CIPP affiliation.

Therefore, if your did not require players to complete this process, you should probably complete the transfer request paper forms (available online and attached) and have players sign where indicated.

If players cannot complete the transfer online, they should simply complete the paper forms and the transfer will be completed ASAP -- usually within 1-2 days. The CIPP rosters are updated each night at midnight.

If special circumstances dictate -- either timeline or problems with the system -- you may wish to contact Lindsay Tiernan or Kelley Robinson by phone (303-539-0300x106 or x105) and they can work with you directly.

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