General procedures across divisions (and genders) are posted under… Procedures. Please follow, as always.

For Immediate Release
August 14, 2013
BOULDER, Colo. – USA

Rugby has launched a new concussion initiative and policy which emphasizes player welfare and safety as a top priority. The organization's emphasis onsafety is especially true with concussions and head injuries. USA Rugby’s concussion policy is intended to follow the International Rugby Board’s Regulation 10, and follows the “5 Rs” of concussion awareness: Recognize, Remove, Refer, Recover and
Return.

Official USA Rugby Concussion Policy

As part of the USA Rugby policy in accordance with IRB regulations, if a player has suffered a concussion or a suspected concussion, he or she must be immediately removed from play. The player should then be referred to and evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional to determine if the athlete has sustained a concussion. It is imperative that the athlete does not return to play until he or she is symptom-free and has been cleared for return to play by a qualified healthcare professional. USA Rugby strongly recommends that the player complete the GRTP (Graduated Return To Play) procedureprior to return
to full play and competition.

Know the 5 Rs
USA Rugby’s policy requires that ALL rugby players, staff, parents, referees, volunteers, and even fans follow these five basic steps when dealing with suspected concussions:
1. Recognize–
Learn the signs and symptoms of a concussion so you understand when an athlete might have a suspected concussion.
2. Remove– If an athlete has a concussion or even a suspected concussion he or she must be
removed from play immediately.
3. Refer – Once removed from play, the player should be referred immediately to a qualified healthcare professional who is trained in evaluating and treating concussions.
4. Recover– Full recovery from the concussion is
required before return to play is authorized. This includes being symptom-free. Rest and some specific treatment options are critical for the health of the injured participant.
5. Return – In order for safe return to play in rugby, the athlete must be symptom-free and cleared in writing by a qualified healthcare professional who is trained in evaluating
and treating concussions. USA Rugby strongly recommends that the athlete complete the GRTP (Graduated Return to Play) protocol.

For more information, and concussion education and resources visit www.usarugby.org/concussions

###

Further Information:
Laura Gill | Communications Manager | USA Rugby | lgill@usarugby.org
USA Rugby | 2500 Arapahoe Avenue, #200 | Boulder, CO | 80302

The new membership cycle takes effect August 15, 2013, through August 31, 2014.

To register for any role with USA Rugby go to www.usarugby.org and click on the red REGISTER button at the top of the screen.

Benefits & Improvements
NEW Member Center user experience with enhanced “View Roster” and “Member Search” tools and navigation
Continuation of our popular participant accident insurance program
Returning member information has been automatically transferred to make renewals easier

Membership Renewals
Renewing members will need to log on to complete registration
For security purposes, your email address is your user name and you will need to request a new password the first time you sign on

Membership Means Insurance!
Nationwide Insurance will continue to carry USA Rugby’s accident insurance policy. The new policy for the 2013-2014 membership cycle takes effect September 1, 2013
The policy covers only registered members who are participating in sanctioned USA Rugby activities
USA Rugby strongly recommends that all members retain primary medical coverage before participating this season. The new deductible for uninsured members is $3,500
Please visit http://www.usarugby.org/insurance/accident-insurance/accident-overview for more details about USA Rugby’s insurance policy

Tournament Sanctioning: Growing the Game!
USA Rugby continues to require a formal sanctioning agreement for all tournaments and events outside of regular season play and practice. For a complete list of sanctioned tournaments and the breakdown of the process, please go to http://www.usarugby.org/event-sanctioning.

USA Rugby Coach Development: Give back to the Game!
USA Rugby is leading American sports in Coach Development. We are now officially certifying all rugby coaches, partnering with the top coaching education programs in the country and focusing on player welfare more than ever before. Make sure you register early. Certification and background screening completion will be required before activation of any coach registration.

Further Information:
Lucy Zugschwert | Membership Manager | USA Rugby | membership@usarugby.org