Field of Play: A Matter of Standards

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It’s probably very safe to assume that very few rugby players in the Midwest, especially in the lower divisions, have played on a regulation rugby pitch. This is to be expected because there are very few rugby complexes in the US or sports complexes equipped to hold a rugby pitch to begin with.

There is, though, a big difference between a field that is a little too short or a tad too thin. There is even a case to be made for fields that are not the most level or well manicured patches of earth in existence. These allowances have their limits, though.

Land is not cheap, especially in this climate of worthless 40IKs and $5.00 gallons of gas (All rights to that saying reserved for Roger Mazzarella), but if teams are going to invest the money they have in a location they should at least find themselves a decent piece of land. Neglecting to do so is a detriment to the game in a number of facets and irresponsible.

First, if a field is not level to an extreme degree it is hazardous to the well-being of players who are going to be competing on it. Take, for instance, the line-out. If one team is on a higher patch of land than the other they are at a clear advantage; but more than that, if the jumper comes down funny on the unlevel turf at the very least that’s a hurt ankle. At worst, the downed player could get trampled. Also, if a player is running the ball and does not see a sudden drop in elevation he or she could bring their weight down ont their wrong and severely injure their foot.*

Second, finding a field that is somewhat out in the open is important to have as well. If the only field that is available is in a fenced-in area then that is fine. There is a big difference between setting a field inside a park and shoving it onto a plot of land sized for use by children. The issue comes into play here when the fence interferes with play. There’s a field in Pennsylvania where the fence surrounding the pitch juts out into one of the try zones. Not only does this make for an awkward try zone considering the field’s boundaries extend past the point of the fence, but it is a serious health hazard to the players competing on the field. hay bales in front of a metal post can only do so much.

Also, shoving a field into a park surrounded by busy city streets creates a dangerous atmosphere. Not only is there the possibility of debris on the field, but when every kick goes into the street it puts players in danger of getting hit by cars. Nobody wants to lose a rookie that way.

Once a team finds a field, outfitting it with the proper amenities is a must. This doesn’t mean a team needs to shell out thousands of dollars for the finest of IRB USA Rugbyregulation goal posts, flags, cones and pads, but it also doesn’t mean to half-ass your field set-up. Times are tough and wallets are notoriously light but there are cheap and effective alternatives available at most stores.

Need flags to mark the lines? Dicks Sporting Goods has sets for sale online. Need cones? They’ve got that too. Field paint can be found at just about any paint shop.

Cones, flags and paint are cheap and easy fixes, though. Goal posts are bigger more complicated issues. There is virtually no way to purchase a cheap set, so teams often turn to creating their own. Everything from PVC pipe to metal pipes have been used to construct uprights and crossbars on rugby fields. Those, if done right and with care, will more than do the trick. The key is that is should be done right. This means care should be taken to ensure that:

1. the pipes are straight
2. the pipes are the proper height
3. the crossbars should be level with one another
4. the goal posts are proper dimensions
5. the crossbars are straight
6. the goal posts are sturdy

The goal posts are the most important part of a club having a legitimate field and, on the same token, a legitimate team. This is because these elements of the pitch play a pivotal and direct role in scoring points during a game. Plus, if the posts are not as strong as they would be they could fall down and seriously hurt the players and referee on the pitch.

Having, essentially, a bullshit, half-assed rugby pitch is a detriment to everybody involved with the sport. It sends the message to outsiders that a crap field with goal posts that have caution tape for crossbars is passable by our standards. It shows incoming rookies that are new to the sport that they have just gotten involved with a program and a sport that has low standards and expectations from its players. It shows people who the ruggers at that pitch doesn’t take themselves, their club or their sport seriously.

Midwest Rugby Union

Perhaps it would help to have people inspect fields clubs play on. Perhaps referees could do note it as they officiate a match. It would add more responsibilities to the already big job that comes with being an official, but it would only be a benefit to the sport of rugby as a whole. Standards help people have an idea of what level they need to reach. Setting standards higher, even at the lower divisions, will raise the bar for everybody and give the sport, its clubs and its players a newer, better look.

*I know that rugby is a rough sport and that every player that signs up for it does so knowing the inherent risks involved, but why take any chances and create more opportunities for injuries to happen?

 

Outlook on the Spring for the ESRFC

The Annual General Meeting for the Eastern Suburbs Rugby Football Club took place Saturday Jan. 29, 2011. Old officers stepped down and new faces changed the Exec. Board landscape. Some old faces remained and some issues were left unresolved.

The new Exec. Board consists of, President, Mike Ciccolini; Vice President, Frank Black; Treasurer, Drew Roberts; Secretary, Justin Rutledge and Match Secretary, Mark Viviani.

Elections were a long drawn out process, with everyone in attendance lobbying for their respective choice for each position. Ciccolini was eventually picked due to his past success in re0building the University of Dayton rugby squad and his experience in leading the Iron Maidens. Black was a close second choice for the presidency, but was elected Vice President based on his tenure with the team as well as his drive and forward thinking. Drew Roberts retained his position as Treasurer because of the good work he had done in the past. Rutledge was tapped as Secretary because of his recent experience with the position as well as his knowledge of social media and traditional media outlets. Viviani was elected to his position due to the fact that the team is looking to face higher levels of competition in the near future. Those in attendance felt his connections with other teams and experience at higher levels of rugby were what was needed to secure such competition. John Hummel regained his position in the Board of Directors as well.

Most of the “old guards” will still be active in the behind-the-scenes actions of the club. Dominic Matteo, the former president, will still help with fundraisers and managing relationships with sponsors, while former Match Secretary Mark Derrickson will most likely work alongside Viviani in putting together future schedules.

 

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Prior to the election of new members, Derrickson announced the schedule for the Spring, which is filled with an exception of two dates. Highlights of the season include Midwest and games against Bowling Green, Rochester and Scioto Valley’s DI squad. Possible additions to the schedule include the Savannah, Mad Anthony and Teapot Dome Scandal tournaments.

 

The largest issue still up in the air is that of a venue for Winter practices. Fields on the CSU campus, the Field House at Mayfield High School and GaReat are being followed up on.

A final copy of the team’s handbook was also circulated. The document will be distributed to the team as a whole soon.

 

ESRFC to share practice field with CSU

Winter practices will be held at CSU’s Krenzler Field on the school’s campus. What is Krenzler Field? During the warmer months it is a soccer field. During the colder months it is the odd looking dome in the middle of Cleveland.

The Green Horde will be sharing practice time and space with the upstart CSU Viking rugby club.

 

Winter months hardly “off” season for Cleveland rugby

 

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The fall season ended with what was rugby’s version attrition warfare – both teams were dug in with solid defense, making slow advances on the offensive. Due to the muddy and wet conditions, both teams opted to keep the ball with the forwards. For 80 minutes the big boys threw themselves at one another. Eventually, the Green Horde’s opponents, the Cleveland Rovers, broke.  This allowed the ESRFC to secure the final victory of the season by a score of 40 – 7. This leaves the Green Horde in line to face the Cincinnati Kelts on April 30. Some would think, as of now, all there is to do is wait. They would be wrong.

 

Now, it is November approaching December and the weather has become too frigid for short shorts and the ground is too hard to tackle or run on. The lines of the field will be covered by leaves and snow soon. That  doesn’t mean that the season has stopped. The tireless efforts of the ESRFC merely switch indoors for a while. During these cold months the brain trust behind the players will be making moves to ensure the future of the team is full of rugby, though at this time nothing is set in stone.

The most immediate issue the Green Horde is setting up practices for the winter. They need a venue and a schedule. So far, there has been talk about moving practices to a facility of Cleveland State‘s campus, but places in Mentor and other area have been mentioned as possible locations as well. What has been pretty well established, though, is that practices will begin in February and likely run from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. These practices won’t just be for the veterans of the squad. Rather, the focus of many of the indoor sessions will be to help the newer players learn the basics of the game.

Looking at one of CSU’s fields as a practice option isn’t a random inclusion, nor is it because the brain trust really likes the cut of the turf. It is was thrown in the mix, however, as a part of an effort to build up some numbers. One way the location could help do this is be accessible. For those who may not be able to make it to the usual haunts of the Cleveland squad, the downtown field should be easier to reach for everybody. Also, a group of ruggers at CSU are trying to form a team and are in need of some help and leadership. Joint practices with them have been discussed. During these practices, the Green Horde would mix the CSU players in with their ranks and help them as best they can. Should everything go according to plan, a partnership should form that benefits both teams in the future.

The inclusion effort doesn’t stop with the young bloods, though. The current incarnation of the team is going to be looking to its roots a bit more this season than they had in the past. Representatives from the Old Boys will be brought into the decision-making fold in the near future. More importantly, they will be recognized for the contributions they have made in the past that have gone relatively unnoticed.

The fact that the club us reaching out to other local ruggers and their older members is part of an overall change going on within the organization. This includes the establishment and distribution of a club handbook. This handbook will have laws governing eligibility of players, getting CIPPed, paying dues, etc. The overhaul in the team’s attitude is also an effort to make the team more inviting to new members, which will hopefully bring in more bodies and keep them around. The friendlier attitude should make the team closer as well.

As always, a main concern for the Winter is the Spring season. While no games have been set in stone yet – apparently it’s too early to start scheduling games for some teams – the goal of the Spring is clear: Get good competition to prepare for playoffs. A rough mock-up of what the schedule could look like had the team traveling most Saturdays to play teams like Dayton and Scioto Valley. While nobody like driving almost three hours to play, it is something that has to be done and something the team will have to get used to when preparing for playoffs. Every installation of the playoff process is set a long distance away from the Green Horde’s home.

Though nothing is set in stone for the upcoming season, there are a few things that are certain. First, there will be a Cleveland Cup and an Old Boys game. The elderly Cleveland side still needs competition. Serious talks about going to Savannah and Nash Bash have been tossed around as well. Finally, May is going to be a big rugby month this year. Not only will there be the final leg of the Midwest tournament, but a touring side from the UK will be making its way to Cleveland. The Basset Rugby Club will be touring Chicago and Cleveland during the final days of May. During the time they will be on American soil, the English side will practice, scrimmage, play and socialize with the Green Horde. The dates they are scheduled to be in Cleveland are May 20 – 26.

Like all teams, the ESRFC will be chasing the ever-elusive dollar bill as well. Findraisers will be planned and put into action. So far, big-ticket raffles and events surrounding the Six Nations tournament have been in talks amongst the big wigs. There has also been talks about doing at least one fundraiser at Claddagh in Legacy Village. Chasing down outstanding debts are going to be a large part of padding the bank account. Sales of team sweatsuits and obtaining sponsors are also attractive options for the Green Horde. Details on all of the financial fronts will be forthcoming.