COVID-19 Safety Protocols – Midwest Rugby Union

COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS – Updated: 09/08/2021

THESE WILL BE REVIEWED SHORTLY FOR FALL 2022.

UPDATE RTP GUIDELINES FOR COMPETITIONS (FALL 2021)

As we progressed through the spring and into the summer of 2021, we were experienced a significant drop in COVID-19 cases outbreak. However, since mid-July, that trend has unfortunately reversed with cases climbing at an exponential rate lately. Given the information available, the MWRFU has made the decision to proceed with a full fall league schedule. It is still the Union’s hope that we will be able to complete the schedule as designed.

The following regulations are designed to assist in keeping our members safe and limit COVID-19 interruptions on our Union’s competitions. There may be some gray area with how these regulations are applied in practice, however no Member Club or player is permitted to advance their interpretation to its advantage and to the detriment of an opponent. Any questions must be brought to the MWRFU Competition Committee for clarification.

The following Competition Policies/ Regulations are to be considered an addendum to the normal Union policies and are effective immediately:

All Member Clubs must maintain a diligence of care as required by federal, state, and local authorities. Member Clubs unsure of current Regional Health Mandates must seek the guidance of their Local Area Union (LAU) Compliance Officer.
All Member Clubs must immediately resume the use of the MWRFU World Rugby Symptom Checker. This may help mitigate both the spread of the virus and assist with contact tracing at team events.
All match participants must sign the Midwest COVID-19 Waiver of Liability. This document must then be retained by each Member Club’s Compliance Coordinator and made available upon request.
All match participants must adhere to the Regional Health Mandates in effect for the location where the match is being held.
For a given match, the hosting club/ home side must inform the opposition and the applicable Referee Organization about any requirements imposed by the match by governmental authorities. This disclosure of information must take place three (3) calendar days prior to the match. For Saturday fixtures, the disclosure must occur by end of business on the Wednesday preceding the match.
All Member Clubs must inform the opposition club, the applicable Referee Organization and their Competition League Coordinator as soon as possible of any potential COVID-19 outbreaks or exposures leading up to the match. If an outbreak or exposure occurs, the match must not be played if the club can not validate mitigation efforts against the spread of the virus.
If a Member Club fields sides in multiple levels competition, that club must demonstrate how they mitigated the spread of the virus that could allow one if their teams to compete while another sides seeks to reschedule or cancel a match due to a COVID-19 outbreak or exposure. Examples of acceptable mitigation strategies include: different sides/ teams training separately, training using a POD System (see USAR RTP), players were not present at exposure event, etc.
If a match is cancelled due to a COVID-19 exposure, Member Clubs should endeavor to make up/ reschedule this match.
If a make-up date is not possible due to scheduling constraints, the game will be nullified. Neither team will be allotted Standings Points, or will points be deducted. It is the desire of the MWRFU to encourage clubs to be responsible without fear of punitive action. For the purposes of match rescheduling, league competition matches must always supersede a friendly, non-league scheduled match.
If it has been determined that a Member Club is not actively following the COVID-19 Safety Protocols, the team may be subjected to disciplinary sanction.

DISCIPLINE SANCTIONS FOR NON-COMPLIANCE

Infractions should be reported to LAU Disciplinarians for escalation to the Midwest Discipline Committee if necessary. Imposed sanctions will follow traditional MWRFU Discipline policies and procedures. The following sanctions may be applied to member clubs who are found to be conducting activities out of compliance with MWRFU protocols. pending review of the severity of the non-compliance:

First Offense: the member club in violation will receive a disciplinary sanction of minus two (-2) league points for the current or next immediate competitive league season.
Second Offense: the member club in violation will receive a disciplinary sanction of minus five (-5) league points and forfeit eligibility for MWRFU and USAR playoffs and championships for the current or next immediate competitive league season.
Third Offense: the team in violation will be sanctioned by the MWRFU Executive Committee up to and including the revocation of sanctioning. This would prohibit a member club from being in good standing with the union and their ability to compete in league or friendly matches.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

In order to qualify for MWRFU Playoffs, a Member Club must compete in a minimum number of league matches based upon the division in which they compete.
1. Men’s Division 1 – 8 of 10 matches (80%)
2. Men’s Division 2 – 6 of 8 matches (80%)
3. Men’s Division 3 – 70% of matches
  1. Leagues with 8 matches must compete in 6 (75%)
  2. Leagues with 7 matches must compete in 5 (71%)
  3. Leagues with 6 matches must compete in 5 (83%)
4. Women (All Divisions & Leagues)
  1. Leagues with 6 matches must compete in 4 (66%)
  2. Leagues with 4 matches must compete in 3 (75%)
On or before October 10, 2021, an evaluation will be made if it is feasible to complete enough of the league schedule to have playoffs and the MWRFU Championships in November 2021. If 2/3 of the competitive leagues are unable to complete at least 75% of their scheduled matches up to that date due to COVID-19 related cancellations, the season will be extended in the spring of 2022.
1. Scheduled playoff weekends in October and November of 2021 will be moved to the spring of 2022. These vacated weekends should be used to rescheduled previously cancelled matches.
2. MWRFU Playoffs would begin no sooner than April 23, 2022.
3. The MWRFU Championships would be played on May 7, 2022.
League Standings would be determined at the conclusion of competition using the following metrics:
1. Standings Points (PTS)
2. Number of Wins (W)
3. Head-to-Head Standings Points
4. Head-to-Head Number of Wins
5. Head-to-Head Point Differential (PD)
6. Head-to-Head Tries Differential
7. Head-to-Head Points For (PF)
8. Head-to-Head Tries For
9. Overall Points Differential
10. Overall Points For
11. Overall Tries For
12. Coin Flip
If a League finishes with Member Clubs not all having played the same number of games, the standings will be decided at the conclusion of competition using the following metrics:
1. Average Standings Points (PTS)
2. Average Point Differential (PD)
3. Average Tries Differential
4. Average Points For
5. Average Tries For
6. Coin Flip
If Regional Health Mandates prevent a league from competing, the MWRFU Competition Committee will convene to determine the appropriate course of action. The goal of the Union would be to allow Member Clubs at the top of the table to the opportunity to compete for a Championship.

DISCIPLINE SANCTIONS FOR NON-COMPLIANCE

First Offense: the member club in violation will receive a disciplinary sanction of minus two (-2) league points for the current or next immediate competitive league season.
Second Offense: the member club in violation will receive a disciplinary sanction of minus five (-5) league points and forfeit eligibility for MWRFU and USAR playoffs and championships for the current or next immediate competitive league season.
Third Offense: the team in violation will be sanctioned by the MWRFU Executive Committee up to and including the revocation of sanctioning. This would prohibit a member club from being in good standing with the union and their ability to compete in league or friendly matches.

DOCUMENT LINKS