This section is about safety. It is about how to lessen the chances of players getting injured. The material addresses the ways to manage the risks of playing rugby.
Since 1995, the EPRU has been pro-active in making rugby a safer sport with its publication of "Safety Precaution Recommendations". In 1998, a more comprehensive safety publication "Making Rugby Safer" was issued. This document was well-received by the rugby community nationwide and is used by many Unions as "their" safety document. In continuing its pro-active approach to rugby safety, the EPRU has issued its "Safer Rugby Program" and feels its 7-step approach to rugby safety will help to make the rugby experience even better for all involved. Please start using it today.
In recent years, safety has received more focus by both National and International Rugby governing bodies as seen by the wealth of information found at USA Rugby's website (www.usarugby.org ) as well as the IRB (www.irb.com). USA Rugby has partnered with the National Center for Sports Safety ( www.sportssafety.org) to provide its sports safety course "PREPARE" which is now part of the Coaching Certification Program. PREPARE can also be taken directly online at the NCSS website. The IRB has produced its "Rugby Ready Program" ( www.irbrugbyready.com) and can be taken online. Both of which are part of the EPRU's "Safer Rugby Program".
Comments and suggestions for the improvement of this program are both welcome and encouraged and should be sent to the EPRU President at president@epru.org.
This section is also about another kind of safety - safety from legal entanglements for the coach and administration. The litigation explosion in America has not skipped the world of athletics. The EPRU's Safety/Risk Management officer is Dr. Richard Borkowski. Dr. Borkowski has prepared a series of articles which are a kind of defensive game plan to lower the chance of injury to players and litigation problems for coaches. That is a "win-win" situation. The key to good risk management is preparation, foreseeability and vigilance. Understanding and applying the simple safety strategies in this section is most important. It is your coaching duty.
Richard P. Borkowski, EdD, CAA, is a sport and recreation safety consultant based in Narberth, PA. He served as the Director of Physical Education and Athletics at the Episcopal Academy in Merion, Pennsylvania for 33 years. He founded and coached the rugby team at Episcopal Academy for over 20 years. He also served as the chairman of USA Rugby's Safety & Risk Management Committee and is currently a member of that committee. He offers seminars, does evaluations and writes on the subject of sport safety
His second book, titled "The School Sports Safety Handbook," published by LRP Publications in Horsham, Pennsylvania contains a Rugby Safety Checklist. His third book, "The Athletic Administrator's Scheduling Book," was published in March 2001. Dick can be reached via email at drbork@epru.org.
EPRU Medical Coverage Questionnaire for College and High School/U19 Clubs - Completion by ALL Colleges and HS/U19 clubs is due BY May 15. The EPRU Medical Committee has a vision in which all participating members will be cared for appropriately when injured while playing. Contact: Bryan McCloskey, eprufeedback@gmail.com
03/09/08
Rugby Safety News - Scrum Pox Alert - Proper care can avoid skin infection from methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MSRA). It is incumbent on the rugby community to take a proactive stance on this issue. Contact: Dr. Lyle Micheli, Michelilyle@aol.com
03/08/08
EPRU Sets Standards of Conduct for Participants and Supporters - A high degree of sportsmanship and fairness is expected from players, coaches, match officials and supporters. Contact: Steve Cohen, president@epru.org, phone: 609-714-2203, details
03/08/08
EPRU Improves Its Standard for Rugby Safety - The EPRU continues to lead the way in making rugby a safer experience for everyone. Contact: Steve Cohen, president@epru.org, phone: 609-714-2203, details
01/24/08
Spicing Up Safety - The Coach is The Key - It Ain't Rocket Science - How do you keep your coaches interested (and awake) during safety lectures? Try one or all of these ideas, techniques, and shameless gimmicks. Contact: Dick Borkowski, PhD, drbork@comcast.net, phone: 610-664-3593, details
01/22/08
Making Rugby Safer - Obtaining a Trainer - Have you read the EPRU's proactive safety practices "Making Rugby Safer"? If not, please take the time to do so. Do you have an ATC at your matches? Contact: Steve Cohen, president@epru.org, phone: 609-714-2203, details
11/02/07
IRB Launches Rugby Ready Program - A must for all players, coaches and referees., details
06/23/07
Summer Rugby: The Art of Staying Cool - Hydration - learn how to keep your cool and play at your best during the hot summer months, details
07/05/06
RUGBY SAFETY: Free Tool Kit on Concussions - The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has made available a valuable and free tool for all rugby coaches, players and parents. More than 300,000 people sustain sports and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries every year in this country., details
02/26/06
Injury Survey Report Validates Rugby Safety - HS Rugby Tends to Have Lower Injury Rates than Youth Football and Hockey, details
04/01/04
Complete Conditioning for Rugby - This book will provide you with the knowledge to become rugby fit. Contact: Human Kinetics, phone: (800) 747-4457, details
03/07/04
Enhancing Safety in Youth Rugby - In the past several years USA Rugby has devoted much of its effort to increasing youth rugby participation in this country. Grants from the International Rugby Board (IRB) have enabled USA Rugby to create promotional materials, hire a full-time Youth Manager, and host clinics and camps to demonstrate the game and how it is played safely at the youth level. These monies have also been used to establish clubs and leagues at high schools, YMCAs, boys and girls clubs, and local parks and recreation departments across the United States. USA Rugby now has 27 Youth Development Officers (YDOs) throughout the U.S., details
02/28/04
Are You Ready for Some Rugby? - Players and Coaches can be ready - mentally and physically - with the skills in RUGBY TOUGH, a book from Human Kinetics. Chapters include Psyching Up for Rugby, Motivation & Confidence, Visualizing the Perfect Match, Using Stress for a Competitive Advantage, Cohension & Teamwork, The Attacking Mindset, Tough Defense, and more. To purchase this book, click , details
03/06/03
The Daily Dozen, A quick safety checklist - The tenth in a series of articles by Dick Borkowski, details
02/20/03
The Need for a Certified Athletic Trainer - In the EPRU, we have found that a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) at our championship and all-star events is an invaluable asset in the proper care and well being of our players, details
This section is about safety. It is about how to lessen the chances of players getting injured. The material addresses the ways to manage the risks of playing rugby.
